Scientific and speculative articles about the future of human evolution regarding to artificial intelligence, genetic engineering, transhumanism, nanotechnology, space colonization, time travel, life extension and human enhancement
Researchers at Biodesign Institute have revved the engine of biological
evolution to unheard of speed, creating completely new proteins in an
infinitesimal fraction of the time it took nature to do the same thing.
I hope you've had a chance to watch Ray Kurzweil's presentation
on yesterday's post. My interest was piqued by several things he
mentioned. (I wish I could think about them all at the same time, but
possessing that kind of capability will have to wait for some heavy
duty augmentation.) One thing in particular got a good grasp on my
attention. Ray spent about 2 seconds on the idea that technological
advances in virtual reality and artificial intelligence will allow me
to create several virtual personalities to perform the routine
transactions made necessary by modern life.
I wish everyone would watch this presentation by Ray at the Killer App
Expo in Fort Wayne, Indiana. There's a natural skepticism people feel
when they first hear or read about the predictions made by Ray's Law of
Accelerating Returns, but when you listen to him explain how it has
worked and will work, you can't help but take him seriously.
Now, why would these theologians find fault with the idea of extending
human life? The message we're used to hearing from them is that life is
sacred. I guess it is sacred only so long as you don't have too much of
it.
When you hear about nanotechnology (and you will hear
about it more and more since it's moving into the mainstream of
manufacturing), you might wonder what a nanomachine might look like.
Since you can't see them with your unaided eye, you have to look at
highly magnified images. But for the folks whose job it is to design
the tiny parts for the nanomachines, some powerful design software
comes into play.
One of the most onerous limitations against which we are forced to
labor as human beings is our handicapped stream of consciousness. We
seem to be capable of only one each. Why is that? It has been
postulated that humanity as a whole may possess its own consciousness,
of which its individual components are unaware and to which we are
denied access.
A bit of backstory is required here. I spent half of my life as a
Christian minister. I am no longer a Christian, and obviously not a
minister. Today I am an atheistic blogger, although the focus of my
blogs is unrelated to atheism. I tell you this not to offend those of
you who believe in God, not to curry favor with those of you who do
not. I only mention it because I will quote some scripture in this
post, but the post is about religion. It is about the singularity,
transhumanism, and radical life-extension. So please bear with me.