Shocking Revelation: The Terrifying Truth about Machines Taking Over – What Will It Really Mean to be Human?

Our imaginations often give us clues as to what the future may look like.

Everyone remembers the future of the human race in the terminator series. Robots, almost indistinguishable from humans, roaming the world and destroying all human life they can find. In addition to indicating what may be the case, science fiction has also shaped the narrative that robots will eventually replace humans.

In an alternate ending, we can end up full of dunes: AI it becomes an artifact from the past, a cautionary tale told to generations of human ancestors about how autonomous machines tried to take over the universe, but were thwarted by humanity and outlawed altogether.

But amidst all the confusion, one essential question remains: How emerging technology change our understanding of what it means to be human?

From ancient times to contemporary thinkers, the definition of what makes humanity unique has varied. But as AI, biocomputing and the web3 advance, the boundaries between machines and humans they are getting blurrier. Many experts, optimistic or not, worry that these tools change essential elements of the human being.

What does it mean to be human in the age of hybrid intelligence, blockchain and machine learning? Let’s delve into recent technological advances and what moving towards hybrid intelligence means to traditional concepts of humanity.

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The intersection of biocomputing and AI

Biocomputing is a field of study that uses biobased molecules, such as DNA or proteins, to perform computing tasks. Mimicking nature’s genius can completely change the paradigm of understanding when it comes to computing and data storage. The field has shown promise in cryptography and drug discovery. However, biocomputers are still limited compared to non-biocomputers, as they are not good at cooling themselves and doing more than two things at the same time.

Advances in AI, however, have been booming. Since 2012, interest in AI, especially in machine learning, has been revamped, resulting in a dramatic increase in funding and investment. Machine learning models consume large amounts of data and infer patterns.

More recently, generative AI it has become extremely popular with the release of great AI models like MidJourney, ChatGPT, and Stable Diffusion. Generative AI is a class of AI algorithms that generate new data or content extremely similar to existing data, nearly identical to human-created data.

But AI has its limitations. Most generative models can only process one type of data: text, images, or sounds. Although the multimodal GPT-4 was released in mid-March, much more work is needed to combine AI with multiple modalities.

AI has given biocomputing the potential to unlock new insights into complex biological systems and accelerate scientific discovery. For example, AI can analyze large genomic data sets to identify genetic variations associated with specific diseases. AI can also be used in drug discovery by predicting the properties of new molecules or optimizing existing ones.

Going to augmented reality

Another field that has benefited from advances is augmented reality (AR). AR systems it incorporates three basic features: a combination of real and virtual worlds, real-time interaction, and precise 3D registration of virtual and real objects.

AR often requires virtual reality (VR) tools, such as large headsets. Headphones, while advancing in software, are limited by their hardware. Users have problems with nausea and using the headphones for too long. It is far from the imagined reality with Skynet as ruler.

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The rise of web3

The rise of Web 3.0 is also likely to play an important role in the convergence of these technologies. Web3 is the next evolution of the Internet, based on a different way of designing the Internet using blockchain, which provides a open, transparent and decentralized way of interacting online.

Web3 has the potential to remove the power of big tech corporations by return ownership of data to individual users from the internet. This could eliminate big data and solve data privacy issues.

Web3 also enables new interactions between humans and machines. For example, Web3 could enable secure, decentralized marketplaces for AI networks that are owned and controlled by those who use them.

All of these technologies are being developed in isolation right now. Eventually, some combination of human and mechanical hybrid intelligence will emerge.

The concept of humanity in an artificial age.

Hybrid intelligence combines human and machine intelligence, resulting in operations more capable than either alone, effectively blurring the boundaries between biology and technology.

But what does the fading distinction mean for humanity?

In ancient philosophy, the concept of humanity centered on the idea of ​​a soul. Plato, a Greek philosopher, student of Socrates, and one of the most important figures in Western philosophy, created a myth to describe the structure of the human soul in dialogue. Phaedrus.

According to myth, the human soul resembles a chariot drawn by two horses: one is white, which represents the spirit, and the other black, representing desire. The horses are connected to a cart, on top of which a rider sits. The rider represents reason. Human beings are often pulled in opposite directions by our spirit (bravery, pride, and honor) and our desire or appetite (lust, hunger or thirst). The charioteer’s task is to guide the entire ensemble through reason, which creates internal conflict.

The human soul is made up of desire and spirit, being guided by our reason. But machines already reason much better than most humans. If machines begin to experience emotions, desires, and empathy, what makes them different from us?

AI, the sun and electric sheep

Kazuo Ishiguro writes from both sides of man and machine in Clara and the sun. Klara is an AI-powered robot purchased by Josie, a girl who experiences the potentially lethal side effects of being genetically altered to improve her academic performance.

Although Klara is made of artificial materials, paradoxically it is nourished by nature, the sun. At one point, Josie’s mother pays for a “portrait” of Josie, a robotic replica of Josie. If Josie dies, she plans to transfer Klara’s consciousness into Josie’s robotic replica. Effectively, Klara would continue to live as Josie.

Philip K. Dick explores similar themes in Do androids dream of electric sheep?. In this post-apocalyptic world, androids are almost indistinguishable from humans. Rick Deckard is tasked with hunting down and “retiring” rogue androids. As he carries out his mission, Deckard begins to question the morality of his actions and whether androids are really “alive” or not.

Although human-like androids are far from the current state of technology, these stories highlight a fight we are getting closer to in the age of hybrid intelligence.

Some philosophers argue that, even now, we should consider electronic devices, such as smartphones, a extension of our minds. The rush of technology leads us towards internal conflict and confusion about what is human and what merely appears human.

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To infinity and beyond

Human-machine collaboration can vastly improve our quality of life. We are already approaching a world where we can work together with intelligent machines to solve complex problems, create new works of art, and explore uncharted territory. Imagine personalized medical treatments tailored to an individual’s unique genetic makeup.

The rise of hybrid intelligence is a testament to our ability as humans to push the boundaries of what is possible. As we explore the possibilities of biocomputing, AI, and augmented reality, we must be open to the idea that humanity will soon not be confined to the merely biological. And this is the promise of hybrid intelligence, a future exhilarating and terrifying at the same time.