Posted on 05/25/2015 5:30:13 AM PDT by RoosterRedux
Wealthy humans are likely become [sic - Brit speak?] cyborgs within 200 years as they gradually merge with technology like computers and smart phones, a historian has claimed.
Yuval Noah Harari, a professor at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem, said the amalgamation of man and machine will be the ‘biggest evolution in biology’ since the emergence of life four billion years ago.
Prof Harari, who has written a landmark book charting the history of humanity, said mankind would evolve to become like gods with the power over death, and be as different from humans of today as we are from chimpanzees.
He argued that humans as a race were driven by dissatisfaction and that we would not be able to resist the temptation to ‘upgrade’ ourselves, whether by genetic engineering or technology.
“We are programmed to be dissatisfied, “ said Prof Harari. “Even when humans gain pleasure and achievements it is not enough. They want more and more.
“I think it is likely in the next 200 years or so homo sapiens will upgrade themselves into some idea of a divine being, either through biological manipulation or genetic engineering of by the creation of cyborgs, part organic part non-organic.
“It will be the greatest evolution in biology since the appearance of life. Nothing really has changed in four billion years biologically speaking. But we will be as different from today’s humans as chimps are now from us."
(Excerpt) Read more at telegraph.co.uk ...
Indeed. Both the author and the futurists.
The premise is an assumption that high technology culture will survive that long.
Remember Roman engineers, who built roads and aqueducts all over Europe and the Mediterranean, some of which are still in use today. I’m sure they thought Roman technology would continue to advance unbroken. Then there was this little 800-year Dark Ages thing.
This “historian” is ignoring the barbarian hordes now appearing to be about to over run Europe and the rest of Western civilization.
So, not even those two were perfect.
There is also the very real danger that high technology DOES survive that long.
If computers become self-aware, what's to stop them from deciding we are not necessary?
No they won’t.
And Chester Gould’s Dick Tracy radio watch before that.
Doubtful. The world should well into the Millenial Kingdom by then.
Lots of things going on today mess with the that order of things; probably not a good idea to mess with the supreme program.
(enough philosophy for one day)
the term ‘irreducible complexity” is one of my favorites..
This is an impossible prediction. In 200 years everybody alive today will be dead as well as their children, grandchildren, and great grandchildren. Humans haven't "evolved" in recorded history and all the technology and genetic engineering in the world won't make than do that.
Or study mathematics. It boggles the mind that everything is so microscopically ordered and synchronized.
I don’t know about God-like but cyborg is going to happen soon. Really if you take the broad view of some of the stuff we’re doing with replacement parts we’ve already got some cyborgs wandering around.
God will have the final word. Not man.
If my guess about the status of barbarian hordes is right, there’s not much time for computers to become self-aware. They may not have more than five years. Like someone said about bankruptcies, collapses go along slow, then happen all at once.
Somehow I doubt God will be willing to wait for that.
Another area that people have changed is speed. Running speed. At one point the three minute mile was 'impossible.' Now even some high schoolers have beaten it. Why? I believe, again, better nutrition and less disease enabling people to 'be all they can be.'
As for genetic manipulation, that is also already happening. It is called gene doping and it is something that has been experimented on in dogs and cattle (by working with a genetic defect that limits myostatin and makes them have huge muscles), and apparently in China, humans. In China gene doping has been part of their military program (be it ACTN3 for increased speed or, more importantly, erythropoietin for increased endurance). That last one was of special significance in the London Olympics when "16 year old Chinese swimmer, Ye Shiwen, came out of nowhere to win the Gold Medal in a World Record Breaking 400m swim performance. John Leonard, the highly respected American director of the World Swimming Coaches Association, described her performance as “unbelievable” and said that authorities should check to see “if there is something unusual going on in terms of genetic manipulation."
Is this 'evolution?' No, not really. But it does show that manipulation is possible ...even if the 'manipulation' simply means better nutrition and less disease to ravage the body. Definitely when it comes to real manipulation, such as work on genes, the case of Ye Shiwen, and the amount of money the Chinese are putting into their military programs, definitely shows it is possible.
This does not mean that Captain America will exist, or people who can fly or any such nonsense. But we will definitely see 'better people' from a genetic standpoint. Enhanced human beings that are on aggregate 'superior' to even a high normal-human average. In the same way today you find some people with better immune systems, or higher IQ, or a natural stronger will, than 'average.' Sure, anyone can work towards being healthier, or dedicate themselves to becoming smarter, and obviously will power is something anyone can do if they sufficiently dedicate themselves to it. But for some it is easier. Gene doping makes it even easier.
Bull with myostatin gene defect:
16 year old Ye Shiwen:
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