Presentation: Transhumanism and the future of identity

Here is the presentation I gave in class on Tuesday 3/10:

Transhumanism is going beyond our biology by melding human and machine and eventually creating non-human conscious entities.

The brain evolved over millions of years to get to the state of self-awareness that it now has.

VERY few organisms have this biological characteristic.

What we see now is the process of natural selection creating a self-aware brain, understanding itself (our science/technology), creating a new biological form (genetic/neural engineering), and creating a new form of mind that is not a result of a brain evolved over millennia (Artificial Intelligence).

So what happens to natural selection?

•Neural Engineering/Cybernetic technology allows for further development in:

•Brain-Computer Interface (BCI) Technologies:

–BrainGate, created by the company Cybernetics in 2003, allows brain to control computer with thoughts, not action from the rest of the body.

–Brain (Neural) Implants that allow for direct brain-computer interaction: Cochlear Implants (hearing), Pacemakers.

–Chronic Electrode Implants: Electronic devices implanted into the brain. They record electrical impulses or stimulate the neurons using an outside electrical source. Implications in simulating damaged senses or senses not natural to humans.

•Machine-Human evolution revolution. Machines evolving MUCH faster than we did…

•Neural Engineering: Already formed brain can be engineered/adapted to fit with computer pieces (eg Matthew Nagle-BrainGate) using electrode implants.

•Literal “Intelligence Supplements”: Already do this with internet-human/computer interface will become blurred line-already see this (MIT, 3D Computer Interface)

•Artificial Intelligence Developments:

•Recursive Formula-“Recognition-Based Pruning Algorithm” (Kurzweil) Ex. Draw with best chess player in the world in 2002.

•Not just replication of human thought processes. Rather, machine “thought”, with sometimes human model.

• Quantitative ability far surpasses human abilities, Qualitative abilities in humans mark the difference. (eg data analysis)

•What will happen to previous notions of human identity?

•EVERYTHING will be radically different including: the way we interact, language, sexuality, sexual reproduction, values, religious belief, recreation, dogmas, emotion, ethics, perception, biological evolution, biological “necessities”, etc…

•How will machines develop an identity within a world created by humans (including their own awareness)?