Not symbolic arithmetic though, and the answer is not precise.
If people are going to argue that inanimate objects perform arithmetic, they will need to define arithmetic. Digital or analog calculators do it symbolically, subject to interpretation of the symbols by a human.
If a human is using a calculator or an abacus or blackboard to perform arithmetic, would we also say that the abacus or blackboard performs arithmetic? (Great, now we have to define "performs")
If people are going to argue that inanimate objects perform arithmetic, they will need to define arithmetic. Digital or analog calculators do it symbolically, subject to interpretation of the symbols by a human.
If a human is using a calculator or an abacus or blackboard to perform arithmetic, would we also say that the abacus or blackboard performs arithmetic? (Great, now we have to define "performs")