Transhumanism could bring superhuman abilities to some and mind control to others: Opinion
An internet of bodies ecosystem could lead to an internet of brains sometime between 2035 and 2050, according to a report by the UK defense commissioned RAND Corporation.
“The ‘Internet of bodies’ may also eventually lead to the ‘Internet of brains,’ where the human brain is connected to the Internet to facilitate direct brain-to-brain communication and enable access to online data networks”
RAND Corporation, March 2024
The research was commissioned by the UK Defense Science and Technology Laboratory and conducted by RAND Europe and Fraser Nash Consulting”Cultural and technological changes in the future information environment” looks at six technology and information environments and their impact on UK defence.
They include:
- Automated information system
- virtual virtual world
- Augmented reality and mixed reality
- Advanced connectivity
- human enhancement
- information security
A major theme running through these information environments is transhumanism—the merging of humans and machines.
“While some experts predict tactical improvements in human capabilities, others explore the potential emergence of ‘transhumanism’ during the 2050s”
RAND Corporation, March 2024
The report stated, “Advances in object connectivity may eventually extend to the human body. Researchers call the potential development of interconnected networks of humans and machines that collect end-user biometric data the “Internet of Bodies.” […] An “internet of bodies” may also eventually lead to an “internet of brains,” where the human brain is connected to the internet to facilitate direct brain-to-brain communication and enable access to online data networks.’“
The Internet of Bodies and the coming Internet of Brains specifically fall under the category of “human augmentation technologies,” which “refers to technologies that enhance human physical or cognitive abilities.”
According to the report, the most relevant technology applications for human augmentation include:
- Wearable devices and implants For tracking and analyzing physiological and environmental data (e.g. biochips and implantable sensors).These technologies are designed to enable real-time, continuous monitoring of physiological data to understand human health and performance
- sensory enhancement technology Examples include hearing and retinal implants designed to improve or enhance sensory activity, particularly vision and hearing.Smart prosthetics is a related category that includes exoskeletons, full-body robotic suits that augment the end-user’s physical capabilities, improving their mobility, strength, endurance, and other abilities
- Brain-computer or brain-brain interface Establish direct communication between the human brain and/or computer equipment
Elon Musk’s Neuralink, the latest example of a brain-computer interface, has received widespread attention for helping people with paralysis, but what happens when human enhancement goes from cure to enhancement?
Transhumanism may lead to superhuman abilities, but these abilities may be reserved only to a select class, while the rest of us programmable civilians may be subject to constant surveillance and control until we become irrelevant.
The report stated, “While some experts predict tactical improvements in human capabilities, others explore the potential emergence of “transhumanism” during the 2050s.
“The concept describes “a new form of humanity (the transhuman)” […] Information and communication technology and biomedicine will fundamentally improve human living conditions and greatly improve human intelligence, physical strength and psychological abilities.“.
For the chosen ones, they gain access to human performance enhancements that will allow them to never tire, think smarter, move faster, jump higher, see further, and hear better than anyone else , hits harder, lasts longer, is more adaptable, and calculates faster. Others on Earth.
Meanwhile, the Fourth Industrial Revolution has merged our physical, biological, and digital identities to monitor, manipulate, and reprogram our behavior.
If and when humans are fully integrated with machines at scale, where will technology end and humanity begin?
The authors of the RAND report stated: “Given that technology is directly embedded in human cognitive, physical, and psychological functioning, vast increases in human augmentation capabilities may “[blur] concepts of identity and what it means to be human,” introducing new normative perspectives on humanity and creating new stigmas for those who are not seen as living up to those norms“.
On a personal level, if you wish to remain a natural person and not become “technology wise,” you may not be able to compete in the workplace and you may become part of a useless class of humanity.
At the international level, countries, cultures, and communities that do not participate in transhumanist experiments may find themselves vulnerable to subjugation by those that do.
The report added, “Social dynamics of the adoption of human enhancement technologies may include disparities in access to relevant technologies, thereby introducing new forms of digital exclusion, whereby economically disadvantaged groups are unable to access the same levels of enhancement as other social groups“.
At the same time, natural people who are not microchipped may have an advantage in that they may not be as easily manipulated and controlled by thoughts or memories that are not entirely their own.
In other words, transhumanism might bring superhuman abilities to some people and mind control to others.
“Advances in brain-computer interfaces may translate into the development of brain-to-brain communication technologies, leading to entirely new models of interpersonal communication.”
RAND Corporation, March 2024
“Human augmentation may undermine end-users’ cognitive safety and impact their ability to evaluate the trustworthiness of information they receive when using human augmentation technology”
RAND Corporation, March 2024
Manipulation and control are other areas of focus for human augmentation, the Internet of the Body, and the Internet of the Brain.
One day, false information, images, sounds, memories and thoughts may be downloaded onto these devices and uploaded into the human brain, with devastating effects.
The report stated, “Sensing technologies in particular, such as hearing implants, present a risk of interference where the device can be manipulated to provide incorrect information to the end user.
“This manipulation of sensory input would greatly amplify current threats from the artificial creation or manipulation of visual and auditory information such as images and videos.
“Therefore, body augmentation may compromise the cognitive safety of end users and impact their ability to evaluate the trustworthiness of information they receive when using body augmentation technologies.“
“Significant advances in human augmentation technology are likely to occur between 2035 and 2050”
RAND Corporation, March 2024
The Pentagon has also been studying how to fundamentally change what it means to be human, funding research to create smarter, faster, and stronger superhumans by enhancing human performance.
Once technology becomes embedded in the human mind and collects as much intimate data about you as possible, you have gone down the path of transhumanism and begun the worst totalitarian surveillance regime in human history.
Worse than becoming serfs, those who cannot keep up with this brave new transhumanist world will become irrelevant, redundant, useless—even unnecessary for manual labor.
After the gene editing and technological manipulation brought about by the Fourth Industrial Revolution, can we still call ourselves human?
Humanity as we know it may split into an entirely new species, one that has not been gene-edited or technologically modified, and will never be able to compete with the gene-edited or technologically modified species.
What does this mean for human rights in a future where humans are no longer considered natural persons?
Image source: kjpargeter [cropped] on free images