There are a lot of outrageous claims being made within the halls of neuroscience and artificial intelligence. Whether exaggerations, wishful thinking, the dreams of the egocentric and megalomaniacal to be immortal, or just drumming up funding for a never-ending round of “scientific investigation,” the year 2045 seems to always be cited as a target date.
Ray Kurzweil popularized the notion of The Singularity – the threshold when computing power would match or exceed the human brain and human biological systems – in his 2006 book The Singularity is Near: When Humans Transcend Biology. In that book, and subsequent articles, he theorized that 2045 would be the far end of when we could expect full integration of human and machine that would create immortality.
So far there have been indications that we are indeed proceeding in this direction. Beyond the gadgets we all use to augment our intelligence, each day seems to offer a new medical development that reads more like science fiction than reality. Just the other day there was an article in The Seattle Times that a new type of flexible brain implant could enable the paralyzed to walk again. We have robotic prostheses, humanoid robots, artificial human skin, and a range of nanotechnology applications used in medicine and the military that are quickly redefining life and nature itself. In fact, it’s been proclaimed by scientists that the era of cyborgs has begun.
Here are just a few of the articles that have sounded outlandish to those unfamiliar with the advancements being made which put into context what some factions of science are reaching for … by 2045.
- Robots to Breed With Each Other and Humans by 2045
- Humans Fully Outsourced to Robots by 2045?
- DARPA’s Top 3 Predictions for the Future – Visions of 2045
While immortality is often laughed off as manifestly impossible and/or never to be desired, the quest for immortality has been with the human race since its inception; anyone who maintains their health or has a medical procedure in order to extend their own life, or those whose faith incorporates a “life everlasting” engages in this pursuit. Now that recent advances make it a near-term likelihood, however, the ethical debates are ramping up.
A new artificial intelligence company called HUMAI is pursuing two avenues to usher in immortality: cryonics, which is the science of deep-freezing the brain to preserve it for transplant into another living vessel; and the even more radical notion of extracting a still-living brain and putting it into a robotic body before the brain can die naturally.
From their website:
We want to transplant your brain into an elegantly designed bionic body called Humai.
Your Humai will use a brain-computer interface to communicate with the sensory organs and limbs of your bionic body.
Artificial intelligence will be integrated into synthetic organs, so they can operate independently. Sensor technology will allow you to feel the essence of human experience.
As your brain matures, genetic engineering will help fight the aging process, while advancements in nanotechnology will offer extensive tissue repair and regeneration, including the repair of individual brain cells, one molecule at a time.
Nothing stated above is not already a success in the laboratory, or being worked on extensively under multi-billion dollar government projects like the US BRAIN Initiative, or the European Human Brain Project.
The following TEDx video outlines other paths that could see us transcend biology:
The “problem” of immortality actually might not be how to get there, but what happens after. Aside from the complications of redefining consciousness, religion, and philosophy, there are some practical matters to consider.
For example, Dr. Rebecca Roache and her research team at Oxford apparently seek to correct the inadequacies of criminal sentencing applied to the most heinous acts. Dr. Roache penned an article titled, “Enhanced punishment: can technology make life sentences longer?” This “ethicist” goes on to argue for the wonderful opportunities immortality could provide for making the condemned suffer eternally right here on planet Earth … seriously. This at least should illustrate why there needs to be open debate taking place as rapidly as possible for what type of world awaits us if immortality is truly on the horizon.
Whether or not immortality is ever finally achieved, it should be evident that there are people at the highest levels of influence and power who are preparing for the strong possibility that it will happen soon. Are you?
Nicholas West writes for ActivistPost.com. This article may be freely shared with author attribution and source link.
You will be assimilated by the Borg….
Science vs Salvation with Jesus Christ. No contest!
First, let’s be clear: The Christian notion of “eternal life” has nothing whatsoever to do with living on earth forever as some unholy half-man-half-machine. That’s just shockingly ignorant. Second, I predict that the abysmal failure of this project will be the final nail in the coffin of materialist epistemology. “Life” is not what fools like Kurzweil think it is. We are not mere material biological machines (at least not in the same way that robots are mechanical or electrical machines). What these fools need to understand is that no one has the first clue as to what consciousness is, or what the spark of “life” is, or where in the material world it is to be found, or how the inanimate can be made animate.
Besides, the moment you replace your physicality with something else, you run the risk that you will cease to exist as you were. You will no longer be you. Think about it for a moment and you will know it is true. If you have no fear of death; if this is no longer an inevitable reality for you or others like you, would you live your life in the same way? Would you treat others the same. Would you have the same concerns, hopes, and fears?
People like Roache et. al, if what is reported is true, are true monsters. I would much rather die than live to fulfill her sadistic pleasures, as I have little doudt her victims would.
Good comment
Doc Frankenstein did this in 1818.
Plus we don’t need to “bring back” anyone from the dead. That is pure craziness! Let ’em RIP as their spirit moves on to where ever they are judged to go. Too many people now on the stressed planet, younger people get older and cycle will repeat. The environment can only hold so many people and we don’t want to end up living shoulder to shoulder like in some cities. Traffic grid is getting worse all over. Look at China and other places, pollution and smog so bad kids can’t play outdoors, and people can’t see to drive-nightmare!. No, I am not an environmental activist either. Call it common sense.
We’re not here to jam-pack the planet. We’re here to go. To the stars. But only if we’re mature enough to leave some of our old traits behind.
Time’s a-wasting!
“Seek ye not that which men can give unto thee, but that which will be everlastingly yours; having been earned and not received as a gift.”
John 6:
47 Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that believeth on me hath everlasting life.
48 I am that bread of life.
49 Your fathers did eat manna in the wilderness, and are dead.
50 This is the bread which cometh down from heaven, that a man may eat thereof, and not die.
51 I am the living bread which came down from heaven: if any man eat of this bread, he shall live for ever: and the bread that I will give is my flesh, which I will give for the life of the world.
_____________________________
“This bread, having reference to the bread mentioned in verse 48, is the truth and wisdom APPLIED, which comes from above (heaven), the Spiritual realm. It is not a substance but a method of life; of thinking; desiring and living which, if observed, will bring into life that which is dormant within, and brought into activity, has the power to CREATE THE LIFE WHICH KNOWS NO DEATH.
You can compare this with the air we breathe. Although you cannot see this air, cannot even feel it, nevertheless it is more constantly necessary to maintain life than is the material food we ingest. The Spiritual “bread,” which brings life to the Soul, is much like this, and although it isn’t air, it is an equally immaterial substance. It is a Fire, or Light, essential to the Spiritual or Soul-self of man. This Light is as present about us as is the air we breathe, yet, unlike the air that sustains life in the body, must come down — be drawn down by desire and effort — from above, heaven.”
There is no god, no jesus, no holy spirit, It is all made up. Think for your self, read your holy book and ask real questions. Does the bible support slavery? Yes, in both the new and old testament. Did god just make a bet with satan to destroy and torture someone who loved him and worshiped him just for the EFF of it (Job). Who is worse, god or satan? Who has killed more people, god or satan? Do you believe that everything that god does is righteous so he cannot be guilty of murdered (First born of Egypt, The flood, Job’s sons etc). What about rape, did god rape someone (Mary). The god of the bible raped Mary and impregnated her with him self which made him (jesus/god) a B@st@rd.
Gods do not exist and when you finally free your mind of such trappings you will experience your own personal renaissance, a level of freedom that you did not know existed. Best of all, without some invisible sky daddy watching over you 24/7, you will discover the real you. You no longer get your morals from some mixed up god and it feels so good to do real good in your own name.
Do your self a favor and put down the story book, you deserve better than what religion has to offer.
I Am
The brain is not the mind or being of a person it is just an organ. Most likely the brain transplant will give the body and the person that body belongs to new brain. The brain donor will be just dead.
so does this mean the end of cold days – simply trun up the internal thermostat – no need for food.
just your brain will be the only human part – no clothes either (have built in color codes to resemble clothes). Won’t need shelter – a little snow or rain never hurt a mechanical shell- might need to oil up every once in a while. no transportation necessary just walk all night.
of course no babies.
Dawgonit! Take away making babies an life jest ain’t fun no more.
Only stupid people afraid of death would buy into this.