Cybernetic 'immortality'

Mile Bozicevic

Mile Bozicevic

Well-known member
I thought calling this topic ''Ghost in the nuShell'', but maybe it would be unclear...

Short article:

http://news.discovery.com/tech/human-immortality-2045-120727.html#mkcpgn=emnws1

And the web-site is:

http://2045.com/

It's very interesting to me. This is not 'immortality', but rather anti-aging. According to Moore's law etc., it seems this is not SO crazy. A bunch of experts or 'experts' are already on the roll.

This is all very soon happening... it's not anymore 'in a 100 years'. It's 10 years now.

At least they say that. :Drogar-Love(DBG):
 
Many sci-fi stories deal with this idea -- the "mind transfer." Most make it pretty clear that whatever comes out on the other side isn't actually you. It's something which thinks it's you.
 
First of all, you can never trust scientists and their time frames for things happening. They are almost always wrong.

Secondly, I don't understand why anyone would actually want this. It's making a COPY of yourself, it's not really "you". It's not like YOU would wake up and be a hologram. You would still die, and some weird pseudo-you would live on. I don't see the benefit.

If you are truly interested in "immortality", that will come through cybernetic implants into our bodies, in my opinion. But that still begs the question of whether we should even be immortal. There will always be those that will pursue it of course, but I don't think people realize that for a VERY long time, it will be an option only available to the very rich. I can just see the class struggle that will occur.
 
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I think their estimates are wildly optimistic, but it makes for fun speculation. Read Charles Stross Accelerando if you want an interesting look at the implications of this kind of thing. One of the cooler ideas is that a guy could make copies of himself in cyberspace, send them off into a faster than realtime simulation to test out an idea, or gain experience, then meld that knowledge back into his original mind. Crazy stuff. He and Cory Doctrow also have another book coming out on this topic called 'The Rapture of the Nerds'.
 
I've always thought the first step would be a genetics approach, in the sense that we'd be able to extend our lives, but not live forever. For example, instead of living approx. a century, with some fancy futuristic gene therapy and maybe some nanotech thrown in for good measure, one could live say 500 years. I suppose you could add in some sort of cryogenic or suspended animation and one could theoretically extend their lifespans for a thousand years or so. I don't know if I'd want to be immortal per se, but living several centuries from now would be an amazing experience. Also, just knowing that I had more time to accomplish goals and see the world, meet more people and experience various cultures, etc... that would be great.

Some sort of extended lifespan would also solve the whole conundrum of "is this COPY really ME, or just a facsimile of ME" that mind transference and all that kind of stuff brings up.

jghenderson said:
If you are truly interested in "immortality", that will come through cybernetic implants into our bodies, in my opinion. But that still begs the question of whether we should even be immortal. There will always be those that will pursue it of course, but I don't think people realize that for a VERY long time, it will be an option only available to the very rich. I can just see the class struggle that will occur.
Click to expand...

That is also what I was thinking. Are we as a society ready for this? Now, I'd say no. In 50-100 years even, doubtful. Especially with the notion of copying, as Batutta has brought up via the Accelerando example. I can see the rich people who can afford this and can afford to run copies of themselves all over the place, gaining way more power and taking up more space. Then if and when this tech gets down to a price that the masses can afford, the population could swell tremendously. We are going to need to actually start building space colonies and terraforming the solar system (Mars) so that all these immortal people have a place to live. I can see the probable outcome will be the lower and middle classes will be trapped in virtual existences run by the rich and powerful of the world. I wouldn't be surprised that if we even had a true chance for a post scarcity society of immortality, that the powers that be would still insist on a rampant capitalist system of order and control.

Also, the notion that the wealthy will have this immortality tech first, brings up the notion that we'll see wealthy dictators in foreign nations becoming immortals and making copies of themselves incase of a revolution or attack from a more powerful nation attempting to end their rule. Or even look at democracies, where immortal senators and representatives could become a reality. I bet John McCain would keep on running for office if he was an immortal.

So we'd see a stagnation of politics, business, and artistic development for quite some time I'd wager. Maybe even stagnation in science and tech fields, as the same minds would be in control of labs and universities possibly for centuries. Although, in certain cases immortality could benefit science. Someone like Albert Einstein or Carl Sagan living longer than a normal lifespan could allow for some great new discoveries or insight into their respective fields.
 
Tnx Battuta, looks like a good read. Will check it. :beer:

Hologram part is kinda confusing and seems out of reach. I can see brain/spine cord transfer into new robotic body with life/vital support system, and I think I'll live to see it. But this hologram part, mind transfer... I just don't understand it. On the list of experts for the Russian guy there, among neuroscientists and futurologists are yoga masters, ortodhox bishops etc. Guess they're serious about it.

I guess more than one replica for ANY mind is freaky. Even if that mind is a genius one, it doesn't mean it will bring good stuff for humanity.

We'll see 'till 2045. Or even earlier (I heard they looking for volunteers :Drogar-Love(DBG):)
 
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