From Homo Sapiens through Homo Technologicus to Homo Cyberneticus
Science fiction has been imaging, picturing and reproducing a future in which humanoid robots, intelligent and cyborgs — human/machine hybrids — are commonplace. The Terminator, The Matrix, Blade Runner, I, Robot or Ex Machina are only some examples of this.
However, until recently it has been all science fiction and not scientific reality. Now, AI science and engineering, robotics and automation are bringing about a man-machine reality, where humans could be key elements of the man-machine hyperintelligence driven with Real AI [Trans-AI: How to Build True AI or Real Machine Intelligence and Learning].
The Real AI technology offers the potential to fundamentally change the human conditions and societal situations, and open the door for the "Next Human", as a singularity transition to the Human X.0:
Homo cyberneticus hybrid species is quantum-leaping from Homo sapiens and Homo technologicus.
It's important to state that any kind of merging will be a gradual and incremental process, rather than a sudden one. The level of merging depends on human's acceptance and the ability of technology to be as natural and comfortable as possible.
- Homo Sapiens refers to the scientific genus and species name for modern humans. Homo is the genus, and sapiens is the species. The name "Homo sapiens" is Latin for "wise human."
- Homo Technologicus refers to a human being who has become inseparable from technology, meaning human life and technology are intertwined. In this context, it is often used to refer to the modern era where technology and human society are intertwined and can not be separated.
- Homo Cyberneticus refers to a human being that has merged with the cyber world, having a direct relationship with cyberspace and cyber technology, thus becoming an integral part of it. Humans are becoming key controlling parts of cyber-physical systems, be it robots, intelligent cities/buildings, implantable medical devices, or autonomous transportation systems.
"Homo Technologicus" and "Homo Cyberneticus" are becoming recognized scientific terms, besides of being used in philosophical, cultural, and technical contexts.
Homo Technologicus
It is no soul or intelligence or belief and desire, what makes the essence of human beings.
It is technology, all the collection of tools, methods, processes, techniques, machines and equipment, automation and robotics, software and hardware.
We are no more Homo sapiens, rather Homo technologicus, capable to change and manipulate its environments.
Technology affects almost every aspect of modern human life, from transport and safety to food and healthcare, socialization and productivity.
Homo Cyberneticus: Human-AI Integration
The digital technologies has enabled global communities to form and information and ideas and resources to be shared and exchanged.
Emerging technologies open for humans new realities like the mixed reality of metaverse, an immersive and interactive environment generated by digital technologies, as in:
Virtual reality (VR) headsets
Haptic interfaces
Intelligent sensors
Brain-computer interfaces (BCIs)
Cryptocurrencies
Blockchain distributed ledgers
Nonfungible tokens (NFTs)
Holograms
Digital twins
Augmented reality
Extended reality, Mixed reality
AI, ML, DL
Trans-AI, Meta-AI [Trans-AI: How to Build True AI or Real Machine Intelligence and Learning]
Will Humans Merge with AI and What Are the Benefits?
Trans-AI can go further than human intelligence, as well as a human-like and human-level AI, as ANU, AGI, or ASI.
There are several potential benefits to humans merging with AI, including:
- Increased efficiency: By merging with AI, humans could potentially perform tasks at a much faster and more accurate rate, increasing productivity and allowing us to tackle more complex problems.
- Augmented intelligence: By merging with AI, humans could potentially gain access to a vast amount of information and computational power, allowing us to make better decisions and solve problems in ways that would otherwise be impossible.
- Improved physical capabilities: By merging with AI, humans could potentially overcome physical limitations, such as those caused by injury or disease. For example, robotic limbs controlled by the human nervous system or brain-computer interfaces could give people with paralysis the ability to walk again.
- Increased longevity: By merging with AI, humans could potentially extend their lifetimes and improve their overall health. This could include things such as neural implants that can monitor and regulate bodily functions or robotic devices that can perform surgery with greater precision.
- Improved connectivity: By merging with AI, humans could potentially improve their ability to connect and communicate with each other, as well as with machines and other technology.
Challenges of Merging with AI
It is worth noting that merging with AI raises concerns such as loss of privacy, autonomy, and control over personal information, as well as ethical and societal implications. It is important to approach this topic with caution and considerate the potential consequences before taking any action.
Merging with AI will likely depend on a number of factors, such as advances in technology, government regulations, and public acceptance. So, it is important to approach this topic with care and consideration, considering not just the potential benefits, but also the potential drawbacks and ethical implications.
There are several challenges that would need to be addressed in order for humans to safely and effectively merge with AI, including:
- Technical challenges: There are a number of technical challenges that would need to be overcome in order for humans to merge with AI, such as developing brain-computer interfaces that are safe, reliable, and easy to use, as well as designing robots and other devices that can safely interact with humans.
- Ethical and societal implications: Merging with AI raises a number of ethical and societal implications, such as concerns about loss of privacy, autonomy, and control over personal information, as well as the potential for AI to be misused or to discriminate against certain groups of people.
- Safety and security: Ensuring the safety and security of AI systems would be critical, as a malfunctioning or malicious AI could cause harm to humans.
- Societal acceptability and legal framework: There will be a need to establish a legal framework that ensures the rights of individuals while also allowing society to benefit from the technology.
- Power and Control: Merging with AI could also raise concerns about power and control, as those with access to advanced AI technology could potentially wield significant power over those who do not.
- Job displacement: Merging with AI could lead to job displacement, as machines and robots become better at performing tasks that were previously done by humans. This could have significant economic and societal implications, including increased unemployment and income inequality.
- Health and psychological effects: Merging with AI could also have health and psychological effects on humans, as people may become dependent on machines and robots to perform tasks that were once done by humans. This could lead to social isolation, as well as a decrease in physical and cognitive abilities.
- Technical limitations and biases: AI technology is not perfect and there are biases and errors that could persist in the decision making process, which could be amplified in the case of merging with AI.
- Societal and economic cost: Developing the technology and infrastructure necessary for merging with AI would be expensive, and there would be ongoing costs for maintenance, replacement, and upgrades.
Conclusion
Humans are relying on technology including artificial intelligence more than ever before. AI-based enhancements are just the beginning of the next evolution process. It's important to consider all the benefits and challenges of merging with AI by addressing them in a comprehensive and holistic way as technology and society continue to evolve. Any merging with AI should be done with care, caution, and consideration of the potential risks and benefits to individuals, society, and the human race as a whole.