Do neural networks count as biomimicry? Are there good examples of software mimics life.
Schmitt trigger, one of the fundamental components in electronics is based on nature (and its creator is called as the father of biomimicry/ biomimetics https://ehistory.osu.edu/exhibitions/biomimicry-a-history).
Swarm optimization algorithms (genetic algorithms, particle swarm optimization, Ant Colony optimization etc) are more openly based on nature.
I do mean extremely basic I can't emphasize this enough, so much so that I normally say its not even close
But, yes, it is biomimicry. Computer scientists looked at actual neuronal networks in animals, and said 'let's try to do some extremely simplified version of that' and that is how we got "neuronal networks" (bad name, but what we gonna do).