One of the most exciting and simultaneously frightening outcomes technological progress is the ability to merge our consciousness with machines. If this would work, our cognitive ability will increase great. But what is more important, however, is the fact that there will be new people, emotionally, spiritually and consciously very different from us. When this happens, we can’t even imagine how it will change our experience of life.
Technology of brain-computer interfaces are already actively being developed by scientists around the world. While they are in their infancy and relatively rough, but the area is developing rapidly and, according to some, will grow faster than expected. Futurist ray Kurzweil predicts that by 2030, we will be able to connect their brains to the Internet with the help of nanorobots, which will “provide full immersion in virtual reality on the level of the nervous system, providing direct communication of the brain with another brain through Internet, and this will tremendously expand the boundaries of human intellect.” Even if we achieve ten times less, it would be serious.
How to change when people merge with machines into one? How to change our perception of ourselves, our samosoznanie, subjective experience, or illusion of his own “I”?
To give a definition of consciousness is very difficult, but a General definition encompasses many of our most fundamental abilities, such as wakefulness, self-awareness, meta-cognition and the sense of presence. In addition, consciousness is a spectrum of awareness which is manifest differently in animals and species. Even people perceive the world and themselves.
From psychedelic experience to meditation, there are many tools that we use to change and exaltation of our conscious experience, for both temporary and permanent. These tools, as they say, reveal the life in full colors, give a sense of beauty, love, inner peace, and transcendence. These instruments, in principle, easy to learn and relatively non-invasive.
Bearing this in mind, let’s think, what are the implications for our “I” can lead to the development of brain-computer interfaces?
Man + machine = ?
At the most basic level, we now see the blossoming of the “other consciousness” that use methods like non-invasive brain stimulation using EEG, power, virtual reality and ecstatic experience to achieve heightened feelings of self-consciousness and hills. The economy altered States of consciousness are estimated at one trillion dollars, and innovators and mentors “plucked a rare and controversial state of consciousness for mission-critical tasks and bypass the competition.” In addition to increased efficiency, these altered States of consciousness reveal our inner potential and give us the opportunity to see a completely different state of being.
The expansion of consciousness with the help of strengthening consciousness and brain implants one day change us as a species. Now scientists are working on a series as simple and non-invasive Neurotechnology, like EEG, using electrodes and a complex and invasive techniques like optogenetics, when neurons are genetically reprogrammed to respond to flashes of light. We have been able to connect two brains via the Internet, allowing two people to share thoughts. Last year, Elon Musk introduced Neuralink company, with an ultimate goal of merging human consciousness with artificial intelligence by means of the “neural lace”.
Many technologists predict that one day we will merge with machines and might be able to upload their consciousness to the cloud. Neuroscientist Kenneth Hayworth claims that “all contemporary neurobiological models by their nature fundamentally computable, and thus support the theoretical possibility of downloading consciousness.” This could include connecting with other brains via digital networks, or even a download of consciousness into quantum computers, which can be in different States at a certain time”.
In his book “Developing myself”, Juan Enriquez and Steve Gullans describe a world in which evolution will no longer be a process of nature, and will obey human choice. They call it unnatural selection and nonrandom mutation. With the development of genetic engineering we will be able to speed up evolution.
What will it be like the merging of humans and machines?
We can try to predict the impact of these technologies on society, but I can only imagine how they would be perceived subjectively.
It is hard to imagine, for example, how will our stream of consciousness, when we think 1000 times faster, or brain implant with artificial intelligence will affect our ability to love and hate. What will be the illusion “I”, when our consciousness will directly connect to the Internet? Overall, what impact the process of merging with technology will have on the subjective experience of human beings.
The evolution of consciousness
Thomas Lombardo asks the question: “We are more of a journey than a destination, a Chapter in the evolutionary Saga, not its culmination. Will probably be a diversification of the types and types of conscious minds. It is also very likely that there will be new psychological abilities that are inconceivable to us.”
People are known for their fear of the unknown. Anyone who has never experienced an altered consciousness, be it spiritual or psychedelic, it is difficult to understand the subjective experience of this state. Therefore, the first entrance into an altered state of consciousness often called “awakening”.
Similarly, the exponential of neyrotekhnologii present the potential of a higher state of consciousness and a whole range of subjective experiences, which in our present state it is impossible to imagine and convey.
Our ability to think and feel restricted by the limits of our biological brain. For converting and expanding these boundaries to convert and expand the first conscious experiences of the person. The development of Neurotechnology can give the mind the necessary revival.
How to change people when they become inseparable from the machines?
Ilya Hel