Genetish

Genetish is a 2000 generative-art toy by Tobias Peciva that turns aesthetic taste into a genetic algorithm: the screen shows nine machine-generated images and the user simply clicks on whichever one looks most beautiful or interesting to seed the next generation.

Pick what you like

Each round presents nine candidate images. Selecting one tells the program that this picture is the fittest, and it becomes the parent for the next batch of offspring.

Under the hood

Every image is generated from a tree of mathematical functions, including sine, cosine and square root, so the output is a direct visualization of an evolving formula rather than a hand-drawn asset.

Mutation and reproduction

The chosen image reproduces with random mutations to its formula tree, gradually steering the population toward the kinds of patterns the user keeps rewarding.

Where it sits

Catalogued under science, math and visual arts on Macintosh Garden, Genetish is a small but pure example of interactive evolutionary computation on the late classic Mac OS desktop.