Tech Billionaires and the Transhumanist Movement: Examining the Ethical Dilemmas
Prominent figures in the tech industry, including Elon Musk, have been discussing the growing convergence between humans and machines in the coming years. Musk has expressed his desire for humans to merge with AI to achieve a symbiotic relationship with artificial intelligence. His company, Neuralink, aims to facilitate this convergence, ensuring that humans are not left behind as technology continues to advance. While one of the immediate beneficiaries of these innovations would be individuals with disabilities, some believe that such technologies could enhance the abilities of everyone.
These aims are rooted in the philosophy of transhumanism, which advocates for the utilization of science and technology to substantially enhance human capabilities and take control of our own evolutionary path. Transhumanists seek to eliminate diseases, aging, and even death, while vastly increasing our cognitive, emotional, and physical capacities. One of the central ideas promoted by transhumanists is the pursuit of supers – superintelligence, superlongevity, and superhappiness – referring to achieving lasting happiness through various means.
However, the transhumanist community holds diverse perspectives on what our future evolution should encompass. Some advocate for uploading the mind into digital form and colonizing the cosmos, while others propose rewiring or upgrading our biology through techniques like genetic engineering. Concepts such as designer babies, artificial wombs, and anti-aging therapies captivate this visionary group.
While the idea of transhumanism may seem futuristic and fantastical, recent advancements in artificial intelligence (AI) and synthetic biology have led to arguments that we are on the brink of realizing such possibilities. Tech billionaires are among the strongest advocates for transhumanist thinking, recognizing that they could play pivotal roles in shaping what may be the most significant moment in human history.
Silicon Valley currently places great emphasis on the development of artificial general intelligence (AGI) – an AI system capable of performing all cognitive tasks a human can do and more. AGI is viewed as crucial for enabling humans to become the architects of their own evolutionary future, potentially assuming a divine role. Companies like OpenAI, DeepMind, and Anthropic are racing to develop AGI, despite some experts warning of the potential dangers that could lead to human extinction.
While the promises and perils of AGI and transhumanism in the short term may be overstated, it is important to acknowledge that AI systems already contribute to various forms of social and environmental harm. However, AI companies often evade addressing these concerns, choosing instead to focus on hypothetical long-term safety issues and existential risks. By doing so, they can leverage resulting regulations for their benefit.
If we fail to address the real-world harms caused by AI, it becomes difficult to imagine mitigating larger-scale risks enabled by AGI. Potential existential risks associated with AGI would impact everyone, but the profits from its development would most likely remain in private hands, accentuating existing inequalities.
The attraction of transhumanist imagination to billionaire elites amidst multiple crises can be seen as a microcosm of a larger issue. It reflects a tendency to disregard grounded ethics, injustices, and challenges while presenting a grandiose narrative of a resplendent future, distracting from the present moment.
Our exploitation of the planet’s resources has triggered the sixth mass extinction and a climate crisis. Ongoing wars involving increasingly potent weapons also persist as part of our technological evolution. Additionally, there is a pressing concern as to whose future will be transhuman. The world we currently inhabit is marked by substantial inequality, and if transhumanism emerges within this context, it is likely to exacerbate those inequalities and have catastrophic consequences for the majority of humanity.
Perhaps transhumanism itself is a symptom of the type of thinking that has led to our current social reality. It promotes a narrative that encourages continued growth, expropriation of nature, and a refusal to reflect on the devastation that has already occurred. Instead, if we are truly on the verge of creating an enhanced version of humanity, we should start by contemplating what it truly means to be human and what an enhancement of humanity should entail.
If we perceive humans as aspiring Gods, we claim dominion over nature and the body, subjugating them to our desires. However, if we recognize humans as animals interconnected with other species and nature at large, then enhancement becomes contingent upon the health and sustainability of these relationships. Rather than colonizing and extending ourselves with great hubris at the expense of all else, a responsible enhancement of humanity would entail showing compassion and awareness towards other life forms on this planet.
In conclusion, the rise of transhumanism and the tech billionaires’ fascination with this movement pose ethical dilemmas. While the promise of enhanced human abilities and a transcendent future may be enticing, there are critical questions that need to be asked. What does it mean to be human? How can we pursue enhancements while prioritizing the well-being of all species and the sustainability of our planet? Balancing these considerations is essential to ensure a responsible and equitable approach to the transformative potential of technology.
