Many of the most interesting problems in computer science, nano-technology, and synthetic biology require the construction of complex systems. But how would we build a really complex system -- such as a general artificial intelligence (AI) that exceeded human intelligence?

Some technologists advocate design; others prefer evolutionary search algorithms. Still others would conflate the two, hoping to incorporate the best of both while avoiding their limitations. But while both processes are powerful, they are very different and not easily combined. Rather, they present divergent paths.