Two things go by this name: the fractal flame algorithm, created by Scott Draves in 1992, which renders glowing, smoky forms and powers Electric Sheep; and Flame, high-end visual-effects software now made by Autodesk.
I think what Karl did and what the flame algorithm did was we were both using genetic algorithms and genetic programming.
Scott Draves, 1990s Net Art: Auriea Harvey, Joshua Davis, LIA, Draves