älykästeinen

älykästeinen is a term used in Finnish-language speculative fiction and modern folklore to describe a stone that possesses intelligence or computational capabilities. It combines älykäs (smart) with kivi (stone), and the form älykästeinen is used to refer to the intelligent stone itself.

In fiction and online narratives, älykästeinen is typically depicted as either a sentient artifact or a data-storage interface that can communicate with humans, store memories, or interface with digital networks. Its physical form is often ordinary-looking, making the object's intelligence a hidden attribute. Some portrayals connect its intelligence to ancient geology or to future technologies embedded during quarrying or natural processes.

Common narrative uses include exploration of knowledge access, autonomy of artifacts, and the responsibilities that accompany intelligent objects. Ethical and philosophical themes address the rights of a sentient stone, stewardship of information, and the relationship between technology and nature.

Scholarly discussions treat älykästeinen as a cultural and literary device that reflects Finnish attitudes toward technology, memory, and the environment. There is no consensus about its reality; it is primarily a fictional or folkloric concept used to explore speculative ideas.

See also: artificial intelligence in fiction; intelligent artifacts; Finnish speculative fiction.