If you know anything about Singularity or Kurzweil or approximately %79.77 of sci-fi works, you will be very, very excited.
Russian media magnate Dmitry Itskov is heading “Avatar,” a tremendously ambitious and far-reaching multidisciplinary research project that aims to achieve immortality in humans within the next three decades. He plans to do it by housing human brains in progressively more disembodied vehicles, first transplanting them into robots and then, by the year 2045, by reverse-engineering the human brain and effectively “downloading” human consciousness onto a computer chip, creating a “living” “hologram”.
When speculating on seemingly unobtainable goals such as this, one must be careful not to believe that improbable technological advances automatically become more likely simply by looking further away in the future. This is the cognitive trap that, for instance, has seen many leading IT experts predict the development of a human-level artificial intelligence at roughly twenty years in the future for at least the past five decades.
Looking at Avatar’s proposed timeline, Itskov’s project seems to suffer from the same fallacy. Certainly, if we borrow Carl Sagan’s rule that “extraordinary claims demand extraordinary proof,” the project comes up short for the time being; it does, however, have the merit of basing most of its steps on technology that is either in the works or of general interest. And with the rate of technological change continuing to accelerate, the project’s goals may be within reach, although not necessarily within the project’s aggressive timeline.
The first of the proposed steps, to be completed before the end of the decade, would be to create an android “avatar” controlled entirely by a brain-computer interface. The system would at first be of interest to physically challenged people, but might also enable people to work in hazardous environments or perform dangerous rescue operations.
As futuristic as this vision may seem, Itskov is not the only person to share it. DARPA allotted US$7 million of next year’s budget to the development of interfaces enabling a soldier to guide a semi-autonomous bipedal machine and allow it to act as the soldier’s surrogate. Other researchers have reported being able to exert basic control over the movement of a humanoid robot using brainwaves alone, and many are working on refining this technology.
The second step would be the creation of an autonomous life support system for the human brain, which could then be integrated into the previously developed “avatar” by 2025. If the efforts are successful, immobile patients with an intact brain would be able to regain the ability to move via their new synthetic bodies, and a varied range of bio-electronic devices might become possible, creating superimpositions of electronic and biological systems.
Not a great deal of research is going into this at the moment – in fact, the closest match would have to be the research of Dr. Robert J. White who, back in the 70s, managed to perform several head transplants in monkeys. Building an artificial environment in which a brain could not only survive, but also continue working to full effect, is sure to prove a much harder task.
By 2035, Itskov hopes to be able to reverse-engineer the human brain and find a means of “downloading” its consciousness to a synthetic version. Coupled with the previous advancements, this would allow humans to achieve cybernetic immortality. It would also lead to the creation of a human-like artificial intelligence, and even provide opportunities for ordinary people to restore or enhance their own brains, for instance by manipulating memories.
While there is no current research going into transferring your consciousness into a silicon chip, there is plenty of interest among neuroscientists in better understanding the inner workings of the brain. Although we are just scratching the surface, recent advancements – such as a robotic arm that can analyze the electricity patterns of single neurons – are certainly steps in the right direction.
The fourth and final step is also the most science-fictiony. By the year 2045, Itskov would like to see “substance-independent minds” uploaded not onto a computer chip, but into bodies of different compositions. A holographic body could walk through walls or move at the speed of light, while a body made of nanorobots would be able to take on a number of different forms at will. “Humanity, for the first time in its history, will make a fully managed evolutionary transition and eventually become a new species,” he writes.
Of course, the sheer pace of scientific inquiry required to make this project succeed will require very large – perhaps prohibitive – amounts of capital. To address this, Itskov recently addressed a letter to billionaires in the Forbes richest list in an appeal for funds, but he is also looking for government support.
Surprisingly, the Russian Ministry of Education and Science announced its support of the initiative, and has scheduled talks to discuss a specialized research and development center. Oddly enough, the initiative has also received the support and blessing of the Dalai Lama.
The video below is a short presentation detailing the steps and goals of the “Avatar” project.
So brace yourselves, immortality is coming.
N.
via gizmag
Unbelievable. Yet really, sort of believable. The line between science fiction and “just” science is becoming increasingly blurred.
True. The symbiotic relationship between sci-fi and actual science is getting stronger and more important.
As much as I’d like to be immortal (i.e. invincible)–this method would not be worth the trouble.
Uh-oh. This won’t turn out well. When people try to play God . . .
why would anybody want to be immortal what be the point of life then?
correct.
Maby then we would have the time to figure out the point of life, because right now it seems were here simply to die.
there’s lots of time between life and death to do something constructive and not try to be god
Interesting… Who says that this is not the next evolutionary step? Maybe this will enable humanity to go beyond some of the limitations.
Reblogged this on doodlejuice.
I agree with your comment “” the rate of technological change continuing to accelerate “”.
But I’m not sure if the desire to go in this direction will attract the financial backing to support such a project.
I think the richest people on this world is already and desperately seeking ways to live longer.
Really? Why would anyone want to be immortal? Even if people did, it’s bad enough that the world’s population has grown so much. Imagine if there were more additions but no one was leaving. :/
Humans, prepare for ‘Miracle Day’… Torchwood, anyone? xD
Oh my god, it’s SCAREY!!!!!!
Who the hell do they think they are?
I cant believe it says in the end ‘the main priority of this development is spiritual self – improvement’ and Im assuming the efforts put from now till 2045 to create cybernetic immortality is the input for it. But how is cybernetic immortality a ‘justified’ input for spiritual self improvement? Rather, why not look at spiritual development now?
Exactly, ethic, social and spiritual development should by the first and most important step of all, if we reach that, if we manage to live in a well balanced ethical, social, spiritual and political society ,hell I don’t even care if I’m immortal.
No, just no. T______T
Even if it’s possible right at this very minute… I wouldn’t patronize immortality. What is the meaning of life then?
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Mh… The scientific part of me is really excited about this.
But for the most part, I’m worried about such developments.
It seems like people are trying to move forward without solving current problems – and no, immortality does not solve our other problems; in fact I can see it causing more problems as part of the only reason we attempt to keep our world in good stead is because we need it to live.
I also think that the video makes a lot of sweeping claims – who says that these Avatars will give us peaceful minds and all that jazz?
This is ridiculous! Climatic conditions are worsening and scientists are coming up with goofs! I think first they should use their brains to give a better life to all those who are alive!
i second that ayushi! i thought the same thing while reading this post.
That’s really bullshit, goverments already use this technology.
I guess for the people who we loved but died, we could have them back..sort of if we re-engineer to mimic a person’s consicousness, imagination and their whole being? Is that really utopia or a never-ending dystopia of human beings plus androids/non-human beings running around on the same Earth? I’m glad I’ll be dead by then.
Ive just blogged about this type of thing – Buddhism and business – The Blue Movement. I’m not surprised China and the Dalai Lama don’t get along! The human body doesn’t need tampering with and ‘head transplants in monkeys’ is sick. Are animals to be used in this research? No heart, not human. Buddhism is exposed.
But the biggest problem out of all the ones every skeptic will ever think of is that the scientists assume that the soul, the driving force of a person, is nested in the brain- that the brain is essentially a life force, or rather a person itself. shame scientists aren’t working with the Lama for something more beneficial at the time being as ayushi said.
and you know what’s even worse? That the Dalai Lama couldn’t even think that one up, after all his talk about souls and higher beings and whatnot.
Maybe its me, but isn’t this not really immortality? I mean you can transfer my memories and brain signals into a chip, but what is on the chip isn’t actually me, it is a copy of me, and it exists in a body that never was mine. Essentially it is a technological clone of who I am, but I myself will still be dead.
Yep, my thoughts exactly. It might be able to act and talk like me, but it wouldn’t really be the me of me.
I can sort of see the Buddhist angle on this (no body leads to a cancellation of a whole lot of physically related desires, in theory), but I worry somewhat at the notion of “managed evolution” in the control of a coterie of billionaires; conceptually, everyone thus downloaded would be an immortal superman, but I have a sneaking suspicion that the mindset of the initial immortal supermen will not be one given to sharing (it would be easy enough, after all, for a billionaire to fix a LOT of current problems in the world through a willingness to decend to mere multi-millionaire status).
the idea of technology like this has always really intrigued me, as well as scare me. while it is amazing that our human minds can comprehend and imagine such things, real-life implementation would most likely be horrifying. I’d hate to see a certain class of people stick around, maintaining a god-like existence over the masses, who would never be able to afford it. great post though.
Reblogged this on DEADSKY and commented:
strange world, getting stranger
Fantastic avatar by the way
I don’t really believe humans should be immortal; we make such stupid mistakes living less than 100 years. what would immortality accomplish? not to mention we’d fill up the world so much we’d have to expand elsewhere. And wouldn’t we get bored of living after a few centuries? I know I would. face it, God made us mortals for a good reason, and it should stay that way.
Besides, I don’t these sci-fi concepts are going to go anywhere; we barely understand the brain, let alone know how to put it on a chip that could go in an iPod. This Itsukov guy should write a novel.
*Fatal Exception*
Oops, looks like everyone’s dead. But anyways… A few questions for him. So how does he plan to build all the computers for everyone? If it’s a cloud system, then the more people we have, the slower we’re all gonna run. The idea of a free floating, untethered hologram seems impossible. And what about children? Is that all just… kinda, over? And yet another question, why would a millionaire want to live forever in a world where everything is virtual? I feel like the whole purpose of economy just falls under, so your riches will do you nothing in that era. I’m not saying virtual existence is impossible(almost 99.9% sure it IS possible
), but it’s not necessarily going to happen the way he wants, and unless he kills everyone else, there’s still going to be people living in the “outside.”
Interesting. I’m a fan of deadlines, because they push us to accomplish something. There is a genuine drive to make the “transhuman” dream a reality. I highly doubt people will find what they are looking for in this endeavor, but it is interesting.
Reblogged this on petriesan and commented:
THis is the whole issue of self. Reminds me of The Mind’s I by Hoffsteader and Dennett
I’d love to live a long time, and my family and friends too as well. But if we didn’t have death we wouldn’t have life, just like if we didn’t have sadness we wouldn’t have happiness. You need the contrast in order to realise how lucky you are to be living and well.
2045 – copying human onto a chip.
2046 – million of chip farms grinding gold in World of Warcraft
It seems easy enough to prove that a copy of me will not be me. After all, a copy of me can be made while I am still alive. It might be a person, but since I cannot be (for example) standing ten feet from myself, it will not be me (that is, it will not be identical to me in regards to personal identity). Hence, my death would still be the end of me. Of course, there are those who would disagree-such as Daniel Dennet. http://www.newbanner.com/SecHumSCM/WhereAmI.html
I’ve blogged a few times about transhumanism and the concept of singularity; I think it has some credibility as theoretical/potential concept. I remain sceptical as to a timeline, and especially sceptical about a specific roadmap to get there. I think it will be a syncretic phenomenon, almost achieved accidentally, rather than a group achieving it on thier own. Still, I applaud the ongoing effort & research.
Quite interesting!
I would sooner go for the real thing, virtual immortality is not for me!
Humans aren’t playing god. This is progress, evolution; you could argue that building a working computer that you are using today is playing god..
Nice article. Very interesting to read. I am always excited to learn about all the crazy things we can do with our knowledge and technology
Who knows, maybe soon we can actually time travel too!!
Just another ‘research funding’ sink. I like it, no doubt, but there are better things than this. Like mass relays.;)
Curiouser, and curiouser! I’m not sure how I feel about this. Part of me is dying to see it done just to see if it can be done. Another part of me has an undefined feeling that it goes against nature; it’s just spiritually wrong. Is there more to me than the information in my mind?
Reblogged this on OurBrainHurtsAlot and commented:
Yeah I really don’t know what to think about this, too utopic for my taste, I guess. Ethic, social and spiritual development should be the first and most important step of all, if we reach that, if we manage to live in a well balanced ethical, social, spiritual and political society ,hell I don’t even care if I’m immortal.
What do you think about this?
Reblogged this on The Wizard.
This sounds like they are trying to achieve immortality in the same way that the society in “Matched” by Allie Condie does. I don’t want to be immortal. This takes science fiction becomes reality too far, for me.
This timescale seems entirely too fast. I could (barely) buy the idea of getting prosthetics to work through brain interfaces in the next decade, let alone getting it to work in a separate body. I know we’re working on it, but it’s HARD to get the brain signals in a manner that isn’t too cumbersome. Also, do we even have any start to a surgery that could remove the brain without damaging it?
I pads & personal computers were unbelievable once upon a time…with the current technological advances this is a definite possibility
The US dollar is doomed to mathematically inevitably collapse in the next 10 years which will lead to a global paradigm shift everyone in the world will be effected I think they’ll be more worried about surviving than this http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uOftXua5dQk&feature=BFa&list=PLD31E34390C5017E8 and I’ll agree with the mass relays comment I read earlier
Reblogged this on sondangblog.
wow! unbelievable!
Great article! I had to reblog this on my site. Thank you!
Haven’t we heard such things before?! What is this ‘fear of death’ that makes some people so fascinated with the illusion of immortality? Everything dies…including the earth and the sun. Face it.