# Artificial Selection
> **Machine-Evolution Nexus:** [[articles/Digital Darwinism and the Invisible World of Machine Evolution|Digital Darwinism and the Invisible World of Machine Evolution]] places this node within the history and governance of substrate-independent evolution.
**Domain:** Evolution / Breeding / Governance
**Doc Type:** Canonical Wiki Node
**Maturity:** Developed
## Definition
Artificial selection is differential reproduction directed by human choices about which variants breed or persist.
## Nexus Context
Genetic algorithms and current evolvable-AI techniques usually operate in this breeder regime because designers choose encodings, objectives and retention rules.
## Evidence Boundary
Human direction does not eliminate evolution, but it changes control, fitness and accountability. Selection criteria can still produce unexpected or harmful solutions.
## Relationships
[[wiki/Breeder Scenario|Breeder Scenario]], [[wiki/Genetic Algorithm|Genetic Algorithm]], [[wiki/Natural Selection|Natural Selection]], [[wiki/Objective Function|Objective Function]]
## Sources / Provenance
- Darwin’s comparison of artificial and natural selection; evolutionary-computation literature.