"Estalo"—a snap, a flash, an almost immediate moment. Within the reader published alongside the 14th Mercosur Biennial, Iordanis argues that the ethical-political implications are radical. If “we are our connections,” then politics must be oriented toward caring for, sustaining, and expanding those bonds. Solidarity appears not as a moral choice but as a structural imperative: each person’s well-being depends on the well-being of the whole. Kerenidis thus proposes a quantum ethics of shared responsibility that situates the care of connections—human, technological, and ecological—as the very condition of possibility for a common future.
In the last century, quantum mechanics has revolutionized our understanding of the universe, challenging deeply held assumptions about the nature of reality. Quantum mechanics reminds us that the rigid divisions between objects, living beings, and even between time and space, are not as clear-cut as we once believed. Instead, we exist within a web of connections—dynamic, intertwined, and inseparable from the fabric of reality itself. Central to quantum theory is the concept of "entanglement", a phenomenon that suggests particles, once connected, remain linked regardless of the distance between them. It defies classical intuition and hints at a deeper truth: we are our connections. This text explores how quantum mechanics, with its emphasis on interconnectedness, uncertainty, and superposition, offers new ways to rethink our relationships with one another and with the world itself.
Albert Einstein famously described "entanglement" as “spooky action at a distance.” To understand entanglement, one must first grasp a core tenet of quantum theory: particles can exist in a superposition, meaning they can occupy multiple states at once until they are observed. When two particles are entangled, their states become linked. Regardless of the physical distance between them, the measurement of one particle instantaneously determines the state of the other. In other words, entanglement are the connections we carry with us wherever and whenever we are. This interconnectedness defies the classical notion of locality, which holds that objects are only influenced by their immediate surroundings, and shows that the universe is not locally real.
Another provocative insight of quantum mechanics is the role of the observer in shaping reality. In classical physics, the act of observation was considered passive—a mere recording of an objective world. However, in quantum mechanics, the act of observation collapses the superposition of states, determining the reality that unfolds. The observer and the observed are not independent entities; they are part of a dynamic relationship where each influences the other. They are, indeed, entangled.
While quantum entanglement is often discussed in terms of space, it also has profound implications for how we think about time. Traditionally, we experience time as linear, moving inexorably from past to present to future. However, quantum theory offers a different perspective. If particles can be entangled across space, why not across time as well? Recent theoretical developments in quantum mechanics suggest that entanglement may not be constrained by time, meaning that events in the future could influence the past and vice versa.
This temporal entanglement challenges our conventional understanding of causality and offers a radical new way of thinking about our place in the universe. The past is not a fixed, immutable point that we leave behind, but a part of the ongoing present. Just as particles remain entangled regardless of distance, so too are moments in time connected in ways that we are only beginning to understand.
In this light, the past becomes something we can revisit and renegotiate. Rather than being trapped by our histories, we can engage with them in constructive ways, reshaping them to inform our future. This opens up possibilities not only for how we understand time but also for how we understand ourselves. We are not bound by linear narratives of cause and effect, but are instead part of a continuous, entangled flow of time where past, present, and future are inextricably linked.
Karen Barad’s ideas, as they appear in their book Meeting the Universe Halfway, offer a compelling philosophical expansion on many of the concepts discussed above. Barad challenges the conventional understanding of interactions as exchanges between distinct entities and propose the concept of intra-action, where entities do not pre-exist their relationships, but emerge through them. This shifts our perspective from a world of independent objects affecting one another to one where connections themselves constitute the very existence of those objects. In quantum terms, this resonates with the idea of entanglement—particles, or even living beings, are not separate entities that later become connected; they are fundamentally co-constituted through their entanglement. Barad also introduces the idea of phenomena, where the observer and the observed are not separate but entangled in the very process of observation. This blurring of boundaries between entities and the active role of the observer echo the quantum idea that reality is co-created in the moment of observation, one could say through a snap in spacetime. Barad’s work extends this beyond the physical sciences to argue that our entire world is a network of intra-actions, continuously forming and reforming connections that define both matter and meaning. This provides a powerful lens to understand how quantum mechanics informs our scientific understanding and also how we perceive relationships, identity, and our embeddedness in the world.
Returning to the notion of entanglement, its implications extend even further—it is not only responsible for the connections between particles, subjects, and objects within spacetime; it plays a key role in the creation of spacetime itself. Recent advances in theoretical physics suggest that spacetime may emerge from the entanglement of particles at the edge of the universe. In other words, the very fabric of the reality in which we exist—the dimensions of space and time—could be a product of quantum entanglement. This means that space and time do not exist independently as a backdrop to the universe but are woven from he entanglement between particles.
This idea radically shifts how we conceive of our place in the universe. The notion of connections transcends mere relationships between objects or entities that are spatially or temporally close; these connections create the environment within which everything else occurs. Spacetime itself becomes a manifestation of quantum linkages, with each point in the universe potentially connected to others through invisible threads of entanglement. From this perspective, we are not just entities within a pre-existing world—we are the connections that form the world, both locally and cosmologically.
To bring this abstract concept closer to the tangible, let us consider how these ideas of connection manifest within our own biology, specifically in the brain. The brain itself is a web of connections, a dense and intricate network of neurons that communicate with one another through synapses. It is these neural connections that give rise to thought, perception, and memory. Memories, for example, are not isolated events stored in neat little boxes within the brain. Instead, they are the result of networks of neurons firing together,connected in dynamic patterns. Same with vision, when we see something, light enters our eyes and is converted into electrical signals that travel along the optic nerve to the visual cortex in the brain. The brain does not see in the way a camera takes snapshots; instead, neurons in different parts of the brain work together, combining visual input with prior knowledge, emotions, and expectations to construct what we perceive as “reality.” This neural network-based understanding of the brain mirrors the entanglement we observe in quantum mechanics—our thoughts and memories are not fixed entities but are formed and reformed continuously through connections. The brain itself is an example of how interconnected systems create meaning, echoing the entanglement that structures the universe.
In the realm of Artificial Intelligence, the classical model of intelligent agents is centered around problem-solving through human-like intelligence. Classical Artificial Intelligence operates within closed systems where intelligent agents are designed to perceive their environments, learn from them, and optimize their behaviors to solve specific tasks. These systems are driven by algorithms that model human cognitive processes, creating machines that mimic human abilities to learn, recognize patterns, and even make decisions.
However, this approach is fundamentally limited. Classical AI is human-centric; it assumes that human intelligence is the standard against which all forms of intelligence should be measured. This framework ignores the larger web of connections and entanglements that quantum mechanics has revealed and operates under the assumption that intelligence can be understood as isolated within a brain-like structure, separate from its environment. But we now understand that intelligence is not confined to such a closed system. Everything is connected—neural networks, external environments, even quantum phenomena.
The limitations of classical AI pave the way for the next frontier: Quantum Intelligence. This emerging field seeks to combine the insights of quantum mechanics with artificial intelligence, enhancing intelligent agents with the ability to perceive and operate within the quantum world. Quantum Intelligence would not merely replicate human cognitive abilities; instead, it would leverage the non-locality, uncertainty, and entanglement that define quantum mechanics to create systems that are more attuned to the fundamental nature of reality.
These agents would not just learn from their immediate environments— they would operate within a broader web of quantum connections, perceiving and responding to the entangled systems in which they are embedded. This would represent a paradigm shift, moving beyond the limitations of classical AI to create systems that are capable of understanding and interacting with and within a quantum world. Crucially, these quantum-intelligent agents would operate not as isolated entities but within a vast, interconnected network—constantly shaping and being shaped by their environments.
In conclusion, the notion that we are constituted by our connections takes on even greater significance when we consider the full scope of entanglement, both in quantum mechanics and in the networks that shape our brains, our technologies, and our lives. Connections are not just relational— they are constitutive. They create the very fabric of spacetime, the structure of our memories, and the architecture of intelligence itself.
The recognition that we are our connections doesn’t just reshape our understanding of physics, intelligence, or ontology—it fundamentally shifts how we must think about politics, ethics, and society. If our very existence is defined by the connections we form, then politics must center around the nurturing and protection of those connections. The entanglement that structures the universe calls for a politics of collectivity—one that rejects isolationism, individualism, and division in favor of recognizing our inherent interconnectedness. This is not merely a philosophical stance, but a necessity: if our reality is co-created through our chines, and with the environment, then collective action becomes the only viable way to address global challenges, from climate change to technological inequality.
In this new politics, solidarity is no longer a moral choice but a structural imperative. Just as entanglement shows that particles are not independent but inseparable from one another, so too are humans and their societies fundamentally interconnected. The well-being of one is tied to the well-being of the whole, and the ethical response is to act in ways that support the flourishing of these connections—both between people and between humans and the non-human world. This politics of solidarity calls for new forms of cooperation, shared responsibility, and collective stewardship of both our planet and the technologies we create.
Finally, this perspective introduces a new ethics that must guide our actions. If the entanglement of everything shapes reality, then the ethical implications are profound. Every action, every decision we make, ripples across the web of connections that constitute the universe. Our ethical responsibility, therefore, is to act with an awareness of how our choices impact this broader web. This extends to how we design and deploy AI, how we engage with environmental crises, and how we interact with one another. Ethics, in this framework, is about fostering connections rather than severing them, about creating systems that respect and enhance the complex entanglements that make existence possible.
In a world defined by quantum connections, politics must embrace these principles of collectivity, solidarity, and ethical responsibility. Only then can we build a society that not only understands but thrives on the interconnectedness that shapes both our personal realities and the universe itself.
The above was written by a human (Iordanis Kerenidis, Research Director CNRS and CTO, Quantum Signals), an AI agent (ChatGPT), and a lot of tea leaves infused in hot water.
_______
Credits:
1.- Zoe Leonard, Corner House, Chora, Anafi, 2024
Installation view, Corner House, phenomenon 5, June 24-July 7, 2024, Anafi
Photo © Alexandra Masmanidi
2.- VASKOS, We Will Not Be Silent, 2020
Video still. Photo courtesy of the artists
Courtesy of the Kerenidis Pepe Collection
3.- Chitti Kasemkitvatana, Untitled (the universe is not locally real), 2023
Photo courtesy of the artist
Courtesy of the Kerenidis Pepe Collection
4.- Dora García, Two Planets Have Been Colliding for Thousands of Years, 2017
Exhibition view, SOMEWHERE, TWO PLANETS HAVE BEEN COLLIDING FOR THOUSANDS OF YEARS (The Thinker as Poet) at La Verrière, Brussels. Courtesy of the artist and Michel Rein Paris/Brussels. Photo © Isabelle Arthuis. Fondation d’entreprise Hermès
Courtesy of the Kerenidis Pepe Collection
In the last century, quantum mechanics has revolutionized our understanding of the universe, challenging deeply held assumptions about the nature of reality. Quantum mechanics reminds us that the rigid divisions between objects, living beings, and even between time and space, are not as clear-cut as we once believed. Instead, we exist within a web of connections—dynamic, intertwined, and inseparable from the fabric of reality itself. Central to quantum theory is the concept of "entanglement", a phenomenon that suggests particles, once connected, remain linked regardless of the distance between them. It defies classical intuition and hints at a deeper truth: we are our connections. This text explores how quantum mechanics, with its emphasis on interconnectedness, uncertainty, and superposition, offers new ways to rethink our relationships with one another and with the world itself.
Albert Einstein famously described "entanglement" as “spooky action at a distance.” To understand entanglement, one must first grasp a core tenet of quantum theory: particles can exist in a superposition, meaning they can occupy multiple states at once until they are observed. When two particles are entangled, their states become linked. Regardless of the physical distance between them, the measurement of one particle instantaneously determines the state of the other. In other words, entanglement are the connections we carry with us wherever and whenever we are. This interconnectedness defies the classical notion of locality, which holds that objects are only influenced by their immediate surroundings, and shows that the universe is not locally real.
Another provocative insight of quantum mechanics is the role of the observer in shaping reality. In classical physics, the act of observation was considered passive—a mere recording of an objective world. However, in quantum mechanics, the act of observation collapses the superposition of states, determining the reality that unfolds. The observer and the observed are not independent entities; they are part of a dynamic relationship where each influences the other. They are, indeed, entangled.
While quantum entanglement is often discussed in terms of space, it also has profound implications for how we think about time. Traditionally, we experience time as linear, moving inexorably from past to present to future. However, quantum theory offers a different perspective. If particles can be entangled across space, why not across time as well? Recent theoretical developments in quantum mechanics suggest that entanglement may not be constrained by time, meaning that events in the future could influence the past and vice versa.
This temporal entanglement challenges our conventional understanding of causality and offers a radical new way of thinking about our place in the universe. The past is not a fixed, immutable point that we leave behind, but a part of the ongoing present. Just as particles remain entangled regardless of distance, so too are moments in time connected in ways that we are only beginning to understand.
In this light, the past becomes something we can revisit and renegotiate. Rather than being trapped by our histories, we can engage with them in constructive ways, reshaping them to inform our future. This opens up possibilities not only for how we understand time but also for how we understand ourselves. We are not bound by linear narratives of cause and effect, but are instead part of a continuous, entangled flow of time where past, present, and future are inextricably linked.
Karen Barad’s ideas, as they appear in their book Meeting the Universe Halfway, offer a compelling philosophical expansion on many of the concepts discussed above. Barad challenges the conventional understanding of interactions as exchanges between distinct entities and propose the concept of intra-action, where entities do not pre-exist their relationships, but emerge through them. This shifts our perspective from a world of independent objects affecting one another to one where connections themselves constitute the very existence of those objects. In quantum terms, this resonates with the idea of entanglement—particles, or even living beings, are not separate entities that later become connected; they are fundamentally co-constituted through their entanglement. Barad also introduces the idea of phenomena, where the observer and the observed are not separate but entangled in the very process of observation. This blurring of boundaries between entities and the active role of the observer echo the quantum idea that reality is co-created in the moment of observation, one could say through a snap in spacetime. Barad’s work extends this beyond the physical sciences to argue that our entire world is a network of intra-actions, continuously forming and reforming connections that define both matter and meaning. This provides a powerful lens to understand how quantum mechanics informs our scientific understanding and also how we perceive relationships, identity, and our embeddedness in the world.
Returning to the notion of entanglement, its implications extend even further—it is not only responsible for the connections between particles, subjects, and objects within spacetime; it plays a key role in the creation of spacetime itself. Recent advances in theoretical physics suggest that spacetime may emerge from the entanglement of particles at the edge of the universe. In other words, the very fabric of the reality in which we exist—the dimensions of space and time—could be a product of quantum entanglement. This means that space and time do not exist independently as a backdrop to the universe but are woven from he entanglement between particles.
This idea radically shifts how we conceive of our place in the universe. The notion of connections transcends mere relationships between objects or entities that are spatially or temporally close; these connections create the environment within which everything else occurs. Spacetime itself becomes a manifestation of quantum linkages, with each point in the universe potentially connected to others through invisible threads of entanglement. From this perspective, we are not just entities within a pre-existing world—we are the connections that form the world, both locally and cosmologically.
To bring this abstract concept closer to the tangible, let us consider how these ideas of connection manifest within our own biology, specifically in the brain. The brain itself is a web of connections, a dense and intricate network of neurons that communicate with one another through synapses. It is these neural connections that give rise to thought, perception, and memory. Memories, for example, are not isolated events stored in neat little boxes within the brain. Instead, they are the result of networks of neurons firing together,connected in dynamic patterns. Same with vision, when we see something, light enters our eyes and is converted into electrical signals that travel along the optic nerve to the visual cortex in the brain. The brain does not see in the way a camera takes snapshots; instead, neurons in different parts of the brain work together, combining visual input with prior knowledge, emotions, and expectations to construct what we perceive as “reality.” This neural network-based understanding of the brain mirrors the entanglement we observe in quantum mechanics—our thoughts and memories are not fixed entities but are formed and reformed continuously through connections. The brain itself is an example of how interconnected systems create meaning, echoing the entanglement that structures the universe.
In the realm of Artificial Intelligence, the classical model of intelligent agents is centered around problem-solving through human-like intelligence. Classical Artificial Intelligence operates within closed systems where intelligent agents are designed to perceive their environments, learn from them, and optimize their behaviors to solve specific tasks. These systems are driven by algorithms that model human cognitive processes, creating machines that mimic human abilities to learn, recognize patterns, and even make decisions.
However, this approach is fundamentally limited. Classical AI is human-centric; it assumes that human intelligence is the standard against which all forms of intelligence should be measured. This framework ignores the larger web of connections and entanglements that quantum mechanics has revealed and operates under the assumption that intelligence can be understood as isolated within a brain-like structure, separate from its environment. But we now understand that intelligence is not confined to such a closed system. Everything is connected—neural networks, external environments, even quantum phenomena.
The limitations of classical AI pave the way for the next frontier: Quantum Intelligence. This emerging field seeks to combine the insights of quantum mechanics with artificial intelligence, enhancing intelligent agents with the ability to perceive and operate within the quantum world. Quantum Intelligence would not merely replicate human cognitive abilities; instead, it would leverage the non-locality, uncertainty, and entanglement that define quantum mechanics to create systems that are more attuned to the fundamental nature of reality.
These agents would not just learn from their immediate environments— they would operate within a broader web of quantum connections, perceiving and responding to the entangled systems in which they are embedded. This would represent a paradigm shift, moving beyond the limitations of classical AI to create systems that are capable of understanding and interacting with and within a quantum world. Crucially, these quantum-intelligent agents would operate not as isolated entities but within a vast, interconnected network—constantly shaping and being shaped by their environments.
In conclusion, the notion that we are constituted by our connections takes on even greater significance when we consider the full scope of entanglement, both in quantum mechanics and in the networks that shape our brains, our technologies, and our lives. Connections are not just relational— they are constitutive. They create the very fabric of spacetime, the structure of our memories, and the architecture of intelligence itself.
The recognition that we are our connections doesn’t just reshape our understanding of physics, intelligence, or ontology—it fundamentally shifts how we must think about politics, ethics, and society. If our very existence is defined by the connections we form, then politics must center around the nurturing and protection of those connections. The entanglement that structures the universe calls for a politics of collectivity—one that rejects isolationism, individualism, and division in favor of recognizing our inherent interconnectedness. This is not merely a philosophical stance, but a necessity: if our reality is co-created through our chines, and with the environment, then collective action becomes the only viable way to address global challenges, from climate change to technological inequality.
In this new politics, solidarity is no longer a moral choice but a structural imperative. Just as entanglement shows that particles are not independent but inseparable from one another, so too are humans and their societies fundamentally interconnected. The well-being of one is tied to the well-being of the whole, and the ethical response is to act in ways that support the flourishing of these connections—both between people and between humans and the non-human world. This politics of solidarity calls for new forms of cooperation, shared responsibility, and collective stewardship of both our planet and the technologies we create.
Finally, this perspective introduces a new ethics that must guide our actions. If the entanglement of everything shapes reality, then the ethical implications are profound. Every action, every decision we make, ripples across the web of connections that constitute the universe. Our ethical responsibility, therefore, is to act with an awareness of how our choices impact this broader web. This extends to how we design and deploy AI, how we engage with environmental crises, and how we interact with one another. Ethics, in this framework, is about fostering connections rather than severing them, about creating systems that respect and enhance the complex entanglements that make existence possible.
In a world defined by quantum connections, politics must embrace these principles of collectivity, solidarity, and ethical responsibility. Only then can we build a society that not only understands but thrives on the interconnectedness that shapes both our personal realities and the universe itself.
The above was written by a human (Iordanis Kerenidis, Research Director CNRS and CTO, Quantum Signals), an AI agent (ChatGPT), and a lot of tea leaves infused in hot water.
_______
Credits:
1.- Zoe Leonard, Corner House, Chora, Anafi, 2024
Installation view, Corner House, phenomenon 5, June 24-July 7, 2024, Anafi
Photo © Alexandra Masmanidi
2.- VASKOS, We Will Not Be Silent, 2020
Video still. Photo courtesy of the artists
Courtesy of the Kerenidis Pepe Collection
3.- Chitti Kasemkitvatana, Untitled (the universe is not locally real), 2023
Photo courtesy of the artist
Courtesy of the Kerenidis Pepe Collection
4.- Dora García, Two Planets Have Been Colliding for Thousands of Years, 2017
Exhibition view, SOMEWHERE, TWO PLANETS HAVE BEEN COLLIDING FOR THOUSANDS OF YEARS (The Thinker as Poet) at La Verrière, Brussels. Courtesy of the artist and Michel Rein Paris/Brussels. Photo © Isabelle Arthuis. Fondation d’entreprise Hermès
Courtesy of the Kerenidis Pepe Collection
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