David R. Wood serves as the visionary leader and Chief Executive Officer of RSG Federal, a boutique IT consulting firm specializing in small business solutions. With a distinguished career spanning more than two decades, he has honed his leadership and management skills across diverse sectors, including military, finance, academia, and federal government. Recognized as an ITIL Master, David is widely acknowledged as a forward-thinking authority in IT service management, particularly in navigating the challenges of the Digital Age. His background includes service as a former enlisted soldier and commissioned officer in the U.S. Army National Guard, with qualifications in both infantry and signal branches.
Author Q&A
What inspired you to write your first book?
It was a complete accident. I originally set out to build a conceptual framework from Charles Darwin’s original book “On the Origin of Species.” That conceptual framework was then intended to be applied to building a best practice framework for digital transformation. This was to be intellectual property I would use to sell IT services. However, after I built the conceptual framework from Darwin’s book, I realized I had made an important scientific discovery. Humanity had a right to know that there was a second pattern of evolution – the process of artificial evolution by means of artificial selection. So, I set out to document this discovery in a book that is the pair to Darwin’s original book. Two patterns of evolution that together complete the full theory of evolution – both natural and artificial.
How did you come up with the title?
I intentionally selected the title “On the Origin of Artificial Species’ to pair with the title of Charles Darwin’s historic book “On the Origin of Species.” The two books are a pair that complete the full Theory of Evolution – both natural and artificial. Once I realized the historic scientific discovery I had made and set out to document it, this was the title most fitting for my book.
Do you have a specific writing style?
Yes. I model my writing style on that of Gaius Julius Caesar in his book “The Gallic War.” Caesar wrote his dispatches to the Senate in a style designed for public consumption in the forum, not for the senatorial elites. Marcus Tullius Cicero described Caesar’s writing style as bare, clean, and possessing lucid brevity. That Caesar stripped his writing of unnecessary rhetorical ornament to ensure the reader could not misinterpret his meaning. I deliberately aim to emulate Caesar’s style in my writings. It is my sincere belief that this gives every reader the greatest chance to access and grasp the most powerful ideas in history.
Is there a message in your book that you want readers to grasp?
There is a second pattern of evolution, artificial evolution, which is a variation of the first. Over billions of years nature worked out the most efficient way to turn information (i.e., DNA) into a thing (i.e., natural organisms like us) – the process of natural evolution by means of natural selection. Once humanity gained consciousness and imagination, we brought into existence a variation of the first pattern of natural evolution – the pattern of artificial evolution by means of artificial selection. As Napoleon Hill so eloquently stated, artificial evolution is the process by which homo sapiens turn thoughts (i.e., information) into things (i.e., artificial objects like a cell phone). It really is that simple. Submarines are artificial whales, planes are artificial birds, cars are artificial horses, swords artificial rhino horns, coats are artificial polar bear fur, etc. Every single artificial object we own is a product of artificial evolution – that includes artificial intelligence. AI is also a product of evolution which completely reframes the discussion around AI Safety.
What are your current projects?
I am currently applying my discoveries in natural and evolutionary science to reframe and enhance Nicollo Machiavelli’s book “The Prince.” Machiavelli is an evolutionary scientist – both natural and artificial. Once my current book is published all existing versions or interpretations of conceptual understanding of “The Prince” will become obsolete.
Did you learn anything from writing your book and what was it?
Yes. That the natural adaptation of human imagination is the most powerful adaptation ever produced by evolution. This includes the artificial adaptation of artificial intelligence. Billions of years of evolutionary competition has produced the ultimate adaptation for perceiving the patterns in nature. I now have a newfound awe for the imaginative power each and every human being possesses. All people need to do is learn how to systematically work the process of imagination I document in chapter 14 of my book.
What were the challenges (research, literary, psychological, and logistical) in bringing it to life?
The biggest challenge I had in writing the book was the existing set of concepts I initially started with. As I began my exploration into the patterns of nature, I repeatedly had to abandon existing human concepts that were restraints on the exercising of my natural adaptation of imagination. It was only after I abandoned the concept that the power of my imagination was set free to accurately discern the patterns present in the world around us. I now understand why Einstein always said imagination was much more important than knowledge. He was right.
What is your favorite quote?
“There is nothing impossible to him who will try” by Alexander the Great. I have always modeled myself on the pattern of Alexander’s example. I now know Alexander really meant that “There is nothing impossible to him who can imagine it.” By this he means if you can remove the constraint of disbelief from your imagination you can produce anything through the process of artificial evolution. It is only our doubt and disbelief that prevents us from turning our thoughts into things.
Who is the most supportive person in your life when it comes to your writing?
I know this sounds like a cliché, but it truly is my wife, Rebecca. She was a great teammate each day while I was working out the process of artificial evolution. I am single mindedly relentless when I am focused on solving a problem. She not only patiently listened and provided her own thoughts, which are always insightful, but put up with my constantly broaching the subject at breakfast, lunch, and dinner. Rebecca should get an award for generosity, patience, and restraint for the 9-month tour of duty she did until the book was published. God bless her.
Connect With David online at
Website: https://www.davidrwood.info
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61555790615864
X: https://twitter.com/drw_artevol
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/david-r-wood-6288519b/
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@DRW_ARTEVOL
On the Origin of Artificial Species: By Means of Artificial Selection is available for purchase on Amazon.