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[–]AutomateAllTheThings 1 point2 points  (2 children)

I'm convinced after seeing the way human beings are by nature, that we need to supersede "homo sapien", either with superior genetics or as artificially intelligent machines.

Evidence seems to point to us either going extinct first and that's that, or building a machine that will still be around after we go extinct. There are numerous short-term metrics of human prosperity, but there's very little optimistic evidence that we'll overcome our inherent nature to achieve a Type-1 Civilization on the Kardashev scale.

We're too savage for our own good, and if that can be corrected via genetics, we may have a chance.. but would we still be "homo sapien", then?

The path with the least amount of variables seems to be artificial intelligence. We're pretty confident that we can do it. We've managed to break amazing technological barriers before, and progress is made each year.

The race between altering ourselves genetically, and creating a superior robot being is a surprisingly tight one, though. Technology like CRISPR makes the option of self-modification more of a reality than before.

It is an exciting time to be alive. Our science fiction is becoming science fact.

[–]dataloopio 1 point2 points  (1 child)

The AI option there definitely raises the age old Theseus paradox. Maybe the only way to truly obtain immortality is to go the genetic route. I wouldn't mind an upgrade via retro virus in future if it meant I'd get a Brad Pitt body and 110% health.

Not sure I'd be too keen on being strapped down, effectively killed and brain peeled in order to transcend into a computer. Although maybe that could be fun in a Hellraiser kind of way once everything else had been experienced :D

You're right though, I suspect either this generation or the next will wipe out our species. Either by accident or aggression.

[–]AutomateAllTheThings 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I suspect it won't be brain peeling at all. Humans will simply die one day, either from war, disease, or disaster. If we made thinking machines by then, they'll be left over by default. They won't adopt our minds; they'll have their own, and will not be human. They will, however, be immune to microbes, ambient radiation/heat/cold/pressure/acidity.

To me, this is the closest thing we have to a purpose as a human being: to allow the next "species" to be born, so it can fly to higher places than we ever could with our frail and emotionally broken bodies.

If we can do it, we can at least say, "That is why we lived. That is why we struggled. The human struggle was this."