The prospect of copying the consciousness of living beings onto artificial media seems incredible. Just thinking for a minute, we can name many factors that interfere with even theoretical research. And only the presence of colossal benefits allows us to consider digital life as something worthy of attention. As a result, the realization that death at the end of life is not an obligatory act forces us to turn again and again to the topic of digital immortality.
Go to the stars in the form of ship “software”? Become a true Artificial Intelligence and create virtual worlds with all the power of your imagination? Get a robot body and enjoy the life of an invulnerable machine? Everything is possible, even if your ultimate dream is a small “pumping” of your brain in order to improve performance.
Data backup! To do this, it is not necessary to part with the biological body. You can make a copy of your brain throughout your life. Just imagine that you can discuss a difficult question in old age with your 20-year-old copy, full of mental strength and energy.
The number of backup copies is unlimited. You will solve any problem with massive brainstorming. Versions of you from different periods of life will be able to discuss issues and come to a collegial decision.
In addition to the newfound digital immortality, we will be lucky enough to solve the “problem of the day” once and for all. “There are only twenty-four hours in a day” - how many times have we tried to explain the failure of a project with this phrase? Life in supercomputers will go at super speeds. We will be able to think faster, work faster, gain and accumulate experience faster. Even a conventional seventy years of life will become much more longer. Remember how slowly time passed in the back desk at the end of the last lesson? Imagine this moment and imagine that it can be spent more interesting.
The digital mind will be more flexible, reliable and protected from overload. The virtual mind will be able to have more memory, better concentration and, undoubtedly, will acquire “safeties” against emotional burnout. Switching your digital brain to the desired wave of emotional state is not difficult. Emotional control is one of the most important posthuman comfort zones.
Speaking about the advantages, one cannot help but remember Mother Earth. Human civilization is causing significant harm to the environment, and when the planet's population doubles - this is not such a distant prospect - then we will be talking about the global extinction of all other species of living beings. Of course, the creation and maintenance of colossal supercomputers will have an additional impact on nature, but the benefits from the disappearance of biologically active sources of waste will compensate for the new burden that our civilization will impose on the planet. Although, who said that supercomputers need to be built on planet Earth?
Many will ask why discuss such a bizarre technology, some kind of nanorobots in the head, access to thoughts and knowledge, all this is too divorced from reality. (In addition to nanotechnology, other vital microscanning technologies are also being developed at this time.) But is this really so impossible and far-fetched?
If Kurzweil turns out to be more or less right in his predictions, then within the life of one generation we will receive mass technology for connecting to the network using a neural interface, similar to that described in Rucker’s book.
Imagine that you will be allowed to feel with the body of another being, to share information not only verbally, in writing, but also immediately conveying images, feelings, memories. Consciousness copying technologies will lead to the greatest technological breakthrough as the limitations imposed by our bodies will be removed.
Immortality of the mind. Just imagine being able to communicate (and interact in the virtual world, or with real robotic incarnations) with your family and friends, or send different copies of yourself to the corners of the universe. To help raise and educate their great-great-great-greats...., all the while not competing for resources with creatures in a biological body.
* Although in my opinion the only fear is our own human essence. The allure of virtual reality can be so irresistible that we quickly fall into hedonism. Having connected, people will lie like vegetables on the sofa, move little, sleep and eat, not to mention hygiene. Although, some, even without such a beautiful picture, lie on the sofas and do nothing.
But most supporters of this topic are waiting for the technological singularity and relying on several dozen enthusiasts who are incredibly slowly moving towards it. We invite you to cooperate in your actions. No one except you will bring this moment closer for you.
If you are a supporter of the ideas described above, if you are an active person, you feel that you can help, regardless of your professional field (everyone is needed, because it is your experience and knowledge in any field that can be decisive).