One of the most exciting and at the same time frightening outcomes of technological progress is the possibility of our consciousness merging with machines. If this can be achieved, our cognitive abilities will be greatly enhanced. But what is more important, however, is that new people will appear, emotionally, spiritually and consciously very different from us. When this happens, we cannot even imagine how our experience of being will change.
Neurocomputer interface technologies are already being actively developed by scientists around the world. While they are in their infancy and relatively rough, the area is developing rapidly and, according to some, will develop faster than expected. Futurist Ray Kurzweil predicts that by 2030 we will be able to connect our brains to the Internet using nanorobots, which will “provide full immersion in virtual reality at the level of the nervous system, providing direct communication between the brain and another brain via the Internet, and this will tremendously expand the boundaries of the human intelligence . Even if we achieve ten times less, it will be serious.
How will people change when they merge with machines into one whole? How will our perception of ourselves, our self-concept, subjective experience or the illusion of our own self change?
It is very difficult to define consciousness, but a common definition encompasses many of our most fundamental abilities, such as wakefulness, self-awareness, meta-cognition, and a sense of presence. In addition, consciousness represents a spectrum of awareness, which manifests itself differently in animals and species. Even people experience this world and themselves differently.
From psychedelic experiences to meditation, there are many tools we use to change and uplift our conscious experiences, both temporary and permanent. These tools are said to reveal life in full colors, bestow a sense of beauty, love, inner peace and transcendence. These instruments are, in principle, easy to learn and relatively non-invasive.
With this in mind, let's think about what consequences the development of neurocomputer interfaces can entail for our “I”?
Man + machine =?
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At the most basic level, we are currently seeing the rise of "mind hackers" who use techniques like non-invasive brain stimulation with EEG, nutrition, virtual reality, and ecstatic experiences to achieve heightened sense of self-awareness and elevation. The economy of altered states of consciousness is estimated at a trillion dollars, and innovators and mentors "sort out rare and controversial states of consciousness to solve critical problems and bypass competitors." In addition to increased performance, these altered states of consciousness reveal our inner potential and give us the opportunity to see a completely different state of being.
Expanding consciousness through consciousness amplification and brain implants will one day change us as a species. Scientists are currently working on a range of simple and non-invasive neurotechnologies, such as EEG using electrodes, and complex and invasive methods, such as optogenetics, in which neurons are genetically reprogrammed to respond to flashes of light. We have already been able to connect two brains over the Internet, allowing two people to exchange thoughts. Last year, Elon Musk introduced Neuralink, a company whose ultimate goal is to fuse human consciousness with artificial intelligence using neural lace.
Many technologists predict that one day we will merge with machines and, perhaps, be able to upload our consciousness to the cloud. Neuroscientist Kenneth Hayworth argues that "all modern neurobiological models are fundamentally computable in nature, and therefore support the theoretical ability to load consciousness." This could include connecting to other brains using digital networks, or even uploading consciousness to quantum computers, which can be in different states at certain times."
In their book Developing Yourself, Juan Henriquez and Steve Gullans describe a world in which evolution will no longer be a natural process, but will obey human choice. They call it unnatural selection and non-random mutation. With the advancement of genetic engineering, we can accelerate evolution.
What will the merging of people and machines be like?
We can try to predict the impact of these technologies on society, but we can only guess how they will be perceived subjectively.
It's hard to imagine, for example, what our stream of consciousness will be like when we think 1000 times faster, or how artificially intelligent brain implants will affect our ability to love and hate. What will be the illusion of "I" when our consciousness is directly connected to the Internet? In general, what impact will the process of merging with technology have on the subjective experience of a human being?
Evolution of consciousness
Thomas Lombardo asks: “We are a journey rather than a destination, a chapter in the evolutionary saga, not its culmination. There will surely be a diversification of types and types of conscious minds. It is also very likely that new psychological abilities will appear, incomprehensible to us."
People are known for their fear of the unknown. Anyone who has never experienced altered consciousness, be it spiritual or psychedelic, finds it difficult to understand the subjective experience of such a state. That is why the first entry into an altered state of consciousness is often called "awakening."
Likewise, exponential neurotechnology represents the potential for a higher state of consciousness and a range of subjective experiences that, in our current state, cannot be imagined and conveyed.
Our ability to think and feel is limited by the boundaries of our biological brain. To transform and expand these boundaries, it is necessary to transform and expand, first of all, the conscious experience of a person. Advances in neurotechnology can give our species the awakening it needs.
Ilya Khel
