In 2024, the line between humans and machines is getting blurry. With stuff like Elon Musk’s Neuralink — a brain-computer interface that could restore vision, movement, and maybe even boost brain function — it feels like the age of ‘cyber humans’ isn’t just in movies anymore. We’re talking about tech not just in our pockets, but literally becoming part of us. But it raises some big questions: are we really ready for ‘cyber humans’?
The rise of human-machine connections
Neuralink’s trials are showing real potential to restore lost abilities, like giving sight back to the blind and motor control to people with paralysis. And that’s just the start. Imagine upgrading your memory, improving your thinking skills, or controlling machines with your mind. Other companies like Synchron and BrainGate are also in the game, working on neuroprosthetics that can restore or enhance physical abilities by connecting our nervous system to external tech.
The possibilities are mind-blowing — curing neurological diseases, helping people overcome physical challenges, and even boosting brain power. But should we be mixing biology and tech like this? And what will it mean for being human?
The good and the bad of becoming ‘cyber humans’
These technologies are hopeful for many, offering solutions to those struggling with serious conditions and the potential to enhance humans. But they also bring up serious ethical questions:
- Who gets access? Will this tech be only for the wealthy, creating an even bigger divide? Could people with enhancements have abilities far beyond those who can’t afford them, creating a new type of inequality?
- What about our humanity? If we start merging tech with our minds and bodies, what happens to the essence of what makes us human? If machines can influence our thoughts, do we still have free will?
- Security and privacy: Could brain implants get hacked? If we start connecting our brains to the internet, how can we protect our deepest thoughts? Is it even possible to keep personal info safe in a world where tech is literally inside our heads?
Are we heading into a new age of humanity?
Some people think we’re moving into a post-human world where tech will help us break past our natural limits. In this future, humans could evolve into a ‘cyber species’ with longer lifespans, greater brainpower, and physical abilities we can only dream of today.
But others warn that this could lead to dystopian outcomes. Yuval Noah Harari, in his book Homo Deus, talks about how brain-computer interfaces could create a new class of enhanced humans who hold all the power.
What we need to think about moving forward
As we approach this ‘cyborg’ future, society has some big questions to figure out:
- Is it really enhancement or are we becoming dependent on tech? At what point does human ‘enhancement’ become us being reliant on machines? What are the psychological and societal impacts of integrating machines into our minds?
- What will ‘human’ even mean in 50 years? If someone has a brain implant that makes them 200% smarter, are they still the same person? How do we tell the difference between humans and machines in the future?
- How do we regulate this? Should governments, tech companies, or international organizations control how this tech develops and who gets it? How can we make sure it’s used ethically and doesn’t harm society?
- Can we afford to slow down? Some say we should be cautious, with ethics boards and regulations, but others argue that slowing down could hurt medical progress and leave us unprepared for the future.
The future of ‘cyber humans’ has huge potential, but it also brings ethical, social, and even existential challenges. Will these technologies free us from our physical limits, or will they create new forms of inequality and change what it means to be human?
As we stand on the edge of this new world, it’s important to start talking now. We need to make sure technological progress doesn’t come at the cost of our humanity.
What do you think?
Will hybrid humans make our lives better, or could this tech take us down a risky path? Should we embrace the future or approach it with caution? Drop your thoughts below — let’s chat about where this is all heading.
References:
- Musk, E. (2020). Neuralink: The Brain-Computer Interface of the Future. Retrieved from Neuralink.com.
- Harari, Y. N. (2016). Homo Deus: A Brief History of Tomorrow. Harper.
- IEEE Spectrum. (2021). Synchron’s Brain-Computer Interface Moves Ahead of Neuralink in Human Trials. Retrieved from IEEE Spectrum.