Humanity is on a new path of evolution through cyborg engineering and technological advancements. However, the question of whether we will retain our human identity or transform into a new species is deepening.
When will humanity, or Homo sapiens, become extinct? Will it ever end? And if it does, what will it look like? We’ve all asked ourselves these questions at one time or another. If we look back at human history, we have already witnessed the extinction of many species. Dinosaurs and many other creatures have disappeared due to natural changes or human intervention, and the planet has entered a new era. In fact, the rate at which animals are going extinct is getting faster and faster. It has been reported that the rate of animal and plant extinction has increased by at least 1000 times and up to 10000 times since the advent of humans. At this rate, Homo sapiens will probably become extinct as well. These hypotheses are already being discussed among scholars, and many experts are worried about the future of the human race. Yuval Harari talked about the end of Homo sapiens in his book Sapiens, and I’d like to dive deeper into one of the causes of its demise.
When you hear the word “cyborg,” what comes to mind? For most of us, it’s probably something like an android with a mechanical arm from a movie, or a human being with machines all over their body. However, the word “cyborg” is not as far away from us as you might think. Basically, a cyborg is part creature, part machine. We’re familiar with electronic prosthetic limbs, artificial hearts, kidneys, etc. In fact, most of them can be found in our daily lives and surroundings. Computers, cell phones, eyeglasses, and other devices that have become widely available to the public, and that complement our senses and functions little by little, are also examples of cyborgs in a broader sense. We are already cyborgs to some extent without realizing it. Especially with the development of artificial intelligence and big data technologies, we are more connected to machines than ever before. It could be argued that we are on the cusp of becoming true cyborgs.
The character ‘Wolverine’ in the movie ‘X-Men’ is a typical cyborg. His core ability is the ability to heal, which is the ability to quickly return his skin to its original state after being cut or shot. Cyborgs boast superhuman abilities beyond the physical and mental capabilities of humans, not only in hero films such as ”Iron Man” but also in ”Transforming Automobiles and Bots,” which is mainly aimed at children. For the mass media audience, this still seems like something that can only happen in cartoons, movies, or dramas, but it’s a reality that’s already right around the corner. Even at this point in time, advanced technology makes it possible to have an artificial arm or leg that is in better physical condition than a human arm or leg, and rapid regeneration of wounds and skin is no longer an impossible task. One by one, humanity is realizing things that were once thought impossible. As these technologies become more widely available to the public, the human form could be transformed into something completely different from what we know today. The concept of “humanity” as we understand it will change radically, and this could raise social and ethical issues.
One of the most groundbreaking ideas in cyborg engineering, which never ceases to amaze, is the so-called “mind uploading” that connects the brain to the computer. In short, it’s a technology that allows you to transfer your thoughts, self, etc. to a server so that when your body disappears, your self doesn’t disappear. The human body is just a series of cups, and the soul, like the water in them, can be carried anywhere. What is revolutionary about this idea is that the self can be connected. It would be possible for one cyborg to retrieve the thoughts of another cyborg and remember them as if they were its own, making them completely its own. What would happen if these thoughts or minds were connected collectively? Would our self-identity be preserved? Perhaps another life awaits humanity if this actually happens. But at the same time, these technologies can be frightening for many people. Datafication of the self means entrusting our most personal and private parts to machines. This can raise issues of privatization and privacy, and we will face these ethical dilemmas.
And all of this means that humanity is now subverting the laws of nature, the laws of life. Through cyborg engineering and other technologies, we are creating a new species that is no longer Homo sapiens by designing life arbitrarily and not through natural selection. According to Yuval Harari, this is very likely to bring the curtain down on Homo sapiens. If we change the laws of life, we won’t necessarily go extinct, but there is a good chance that we will no longer be Homo sapiens. In addition to creating our own demise, we can also determine the direction of our evolution. “What do we want to be?” is a question that will probably never end. In this way, humanity is preparing to enter a new world of its own design. We’re reshaping our own existence. But along the way, we will be constantly faced with choices. What will we give up and what will we gain in order to become a new humanity? This will be the most important question that will determine our future.
