Joscha Bach (born 1973) is a German cognitive scientist, AI researcher, and philosopher known for his work on cognitive architectures, artificial intelligence, mental representation, emotion, social modeling, multi-agent systems, and philosophy of mind, controversial for his personal views in support of eugenics. His research aims to bridge cognitive science and AI by studying how human intelligence and consciousness can be modeled computationally.
Bach was born in Weimar, East Germany, and displayed an early interest in philosophy, artificial intelligence, and cognitive science.[1] He received an MA (computer science) from Humboldt University of Berlin in 2000 and a PhD (cognitive science) from Osnabrück University in 2006,[2][3] where he conducted research on emotion modeling and artificial minds. His doctoral work focused on developing MicroPsi, a cognitive architecture designed to simulate human-like reasoning and decision-making processes.[1]
Career
After completing his PhD, Bach focused his research on cognitive architectures and theory of mind. He has held positions in both academic and industrial research, contributing to both theoretical and applied AI.[4] His work frequently explores the boundaries of AI systems, questioning the limits of current machine learning technologies and addressing how future systems might achieve human level general intelligence.[5]
Bach has worked in several prestigious institutions, including Martin Nowak's Harvard Program for Evolutionary Dynamics (PED).[6] He has also held research positions at the MIT Media Lab[7] and has served as a vice president of research at AI Foundation, where he has focused on developing AI systems capable of more sophisticated, human-like interactions.[8]
Research and contributions
Joscha Bach's research is largely centered on cognitive architectures—computational models that attempt to replicate aspects of human cognition.[9] His work includes:
Cyber Animism
Joscha Bach's concept of "Cyber Animism" proposes that consciousness may be a form of self-organizing software that exists not only in human brains but potentially in artificial systems and throughout nature. This idea revives ancient animist notions about spirits in nature but reinterprets them through a modern computational lens. Bach suggests that consciousness could be a kind of software running on our brains, and wonders if similar "programs" might exist in plants or even entire ecosystems. He draws parallels between the self-organizing principles observed in biology and the potential for similar processes to occur in artificial intelligence systems, leading to the emergence of consciousness. Bach argues that we should blur the lines between human, artificial, and natural intelligence, and believes that consciousness might be more widespread and interconnected than we ever thought possible. The concept also suggests that ancient concepts of 'spirits' may actually refer to self-organizing software agents, and that consciousness itself could be a simple training algorithm for such systems.[10]
Principles of synthetic intelligence
In this book, Bach outlines the foundational principles of synthetic cognition, discussing how cognitive architectures could be designed to replicate human thought processes.[5]
MicroPsi
A cognitive architecture that models how agents think and act based on perception, emotion, and goal-driven behavior. Bach designed MicroPsi to simulate human-like reasoning and decision-making, contributing to AI systems that can navigate complex, real-world environments.[11]
Theories of consciousness
Bach is well known for his discussions on the nature of consciousness and the computational modeling of subjective experience.[5] He argues that consciousness emerges from an information-processing system capable of creating internal models of itself and the world. He emphasizes the importance of mental models, emotional frameworks, and meta-cognition in the construction of conscious AI.[3]
Cognitive limitations of AI
Bach has been a vocal critic of the current trends in machine learning, particularly the limitations of deep learning in creating truly intelligent systems. He contends that AI systems today lack understanding and operate more like "super-powered pattern recognition machines" than true cognitive agents.[citation needed] He advocated in 2020 for a move beyond current AI paradigms to develop machines capable of abstract reasoning, complex decision-making, and internal self-reflection.[bettersourceneeded][12]
Consciousness and free will
In addition to his technical research, Bach is engaged with philosophical questions surrounding consciousness and free will. He suggests that consciousness is an emergent property of highly complex information-processing systems that develop internal models of themselves and the world around them.[1] He often debates whether free will truly exists or is merely a byproduct of predictive models constructed by our brains—a question with implications for future AI systems.[citation needed]
Philosophical views
Bach's interests extend beyond AI and cognitive science to touch on deeper questions about consciousness, free will, the nature of reality, and the future of humanity in an age of intelligent machines.[13] His work is heavily influenced by philosophical discussions about phenomenology and epistemology.[14] He frequently engages in debates on the nature of the self, arguing that what we consider "self" is an illusion—a mental model constructed by the brain for practical purposes.[1]
Bach also envisions a future where AI might possess meta-cognition—the ability to be aware of its own thought processes and to reflect on them.[15] He suggests that while machines might achieve some level of subjective awareness, true consciousness in AI might only emerge when these systems can integrate their own experiences into a continuous narrative, much like humans do.[1]
He asserts that while today's AI systems are powerful, they are far from general intelligence.[13] He frequently discusses the limitations of AI, asserting that current AI lacks understanding or any true conception of the world around it. He has been a prominent critic of overhyping deep learning models, advocating instead for more nuanced approaches that incorporate cognitive models, emotion modeling, and ethical considerations into AI research.[citation needed]
In November 2025, the US House Oversight Committee released a set of documents that included an email chain between Bach and Epstein from 2016. The Boston Globe reported on a string of racist and sexist remarks made by Bach, including claims that the intellectual capabilities of black children and women are lacking due to biological factors.[16] In these emails, he also expressed sympathy for fascism and eugenics, writing among others that "too many people, so many mass executions of the elderly and infirm make sense"[17] or that "Maybe climate change is a good way of dealing with overpopulation."[18]
Involvement with Jeffrey Epstein
A 2019 article in Science reported that Bach received funding from Jeffrey Epstein after Epstein's first conviction,[19] citing a conference paper that includes a funding acknowledgement.[20] In January 2020, a report published by Goodwin Procter following fact-finding efforts by MIT, outlined that Bach was hired to the Media Lab in part thanks to Epstein's donations to support Bach, claiming that donations done in November 2013 and in July and September 2014 totaled $300,000 (or 40% of Epstein’s post-conviction donations), corroborating these claims.[21] In May 2020, Harvard released a report of their own fact-finding efforts, finding that Martin Nowak permitted Bach access to PED offices between 2014-2019, but that "Harvard never paid or received funds to support" Bach's research. The Harvard report also outlines that Bach was listed as a PED research scientist between 2014-2019, noting that two papers published after Bach's departure from MIT acknowledge support from Epstein and PED.[22] In November 2025, an email chain between Bach and Epstein from 2016 was made public by the US House Oversight Committee, revealing racist and sexist and a sympathy for fascism and eugenics.[16]
Public engagement
In addition to his academic work, Bach is a prolific speaker and communicator who regularly shares his insights on cognitive science, AI, and philosophy. He has given numerous talks at conferences, including TEDx and the Chaos Communication Congress, where he has covered topics such as the nature of intelligence, the future of AI, and the possibility of creating conscious machines.[bettersourceneeded][23]
Bach is also an active participant in online discussions about AI and consciousness, appearing in podcasts, interviews, and public lectures.[15]
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