Redefining Relevance: Human Enhancement in the World of AI
In my previous post, I discussed our secret weapon in the Artificial Intelligence (AI) era, which revolutionises how we learn, work, communicate, and entertain ourselves. We are all witnessing the rapid advancements in AI and its impact on various aspects of our lives. This raises concerns about our relevance and purpose in a world where machines could outsmart and outperform us.
While remarkably adaptable, the human body evolves at a significantly slower rate compared to the pace of AI advancements. Our biological evolution involves gradual changes over generations, a process that is no match for the speed at which AI evolves.
We must acknowledge our inherent limitations. The human body is delicate and prone to fatigue, while AI remains robust and tireless. Our emotional susceptibilities can lead to upset, nervousness, and a loss of concentration β pitfalls AI does not encounter. Learning for us is a time-consuming process, while AI can quickly absorb and process vast amounts of information. Our knowledge sharing is significantly slower compared to AIβs ability to replicate and disseminate itself swiftly.
These challenges should not deter us, though. Instead, they emphasise the importance of enhancements in our race to stay relevant. What if we could harness the power of AI to enhance ourselves rather than be replaced by it? This notion is known as human enhancement, which focuses on utilising innovative technologies to improve our capabilities. Through biotechnology, nanotechnology, and cognitive science, human enhancement can make us more relevant, creative, and valuable in this era.
Throughout history, humans have sought self-improvement through education, exercise, diet, and grooming. Human enhancement pushes these traditional methods further by using cutting-edge technologies to modify our bodies and minds in unprecedented ways.
This is already taking place in various domains. Athletes use performance-enhancing drugs and prosthetics to boost their abilities. Soldiers utilise exoskeletons, helmets and implants to hone their combat skills. Artists employ neural stimulation and psychedelics to bolster their creativity. Patients benefit from cochlear implants and bionic eyes to regain sensory functions.
In fact, the field of bionics is gaining momentum as a form of human augmentation. Even mobile phones can be considered an external enhancement that augments our abilities, despite the latency between the device and our brain. Our eyes and ears are input interfaces, and our fingers and voice are output interfaces. However, these are very slow interfaces. To reduce latency, mobile devices have to be implanted directly into our brains in the future.
Our augmentation provides numerous benefits, such as improved health, happiness, and productivity. It allows us to transcend limitations like ageing, disability, and disease and venture into new realms of experience, including virtual worlds and heightened senses.
Nevertheless, it also poses risks and challenges, such as ethical dilemmas, social inequalities, and existential threats. These developments force us to contemplate the nature of humanity, our limitations, and the ultimate goals of human existence.
It is critical to approach human augmentation with careful consideration and deliberation, accepting our personal and collective responsibility in this area. Our enhancement is not merely a distant possibility; it is a present reality that we must confront and embrace, capitalising on the opportunities it presents.
Augmentation is not a threat to our relevance in the age of AI. Instead, it ensures our continued significance alongside AI β for a bit more time.
