Some entrepreneurs in AI are exploring ideas that could fundamentally change humanity.
Sam Altman is backing efforts to “upload consciousness” into machines, while Elon Musk is focused on creating a “symbiosis” between humans and AI. Peter Thiel, when asked if he believes humanity should continue, seemed unsure.
This unsettling trend aligns closely with transhumanism, which posits that merging humans and machines is essential for unlocking our full potential.
Leaders in big tech are positioning themselves as technogods, guiding us toward a cyborg future, often disregarding traditional human values.
“People usually discuss AI in terms of money and job displacement,” MIT physicist Max Tegmark noted. “But there’s a deeper ideological layer related to transhumanism among some in Silicon Valley.”
A key moment came during a podcast when Palantir’s founder, Thiel, faced a straightforward question from Ross Douthat: “It’s better for humanity to endure, right?”
Douthat needed to press Thiel on the topic of transhumanism, which he described as a significant transformation where the human body could become immortal.
The question revealed a stark divergence; Thiel envisions a future populated by digital cyborgs, departing from the flawed human forms of today.
This reflects Silicon Valley’s broader aim to create a “singularity,” in which humans and machines integrate seamlessly.
“We’re not just evolving; there’s a new species being introduced,” quipped Tegmark.
Altman has predicted this fusion, suggesting in a 2017 post that developments in AI, genetic enhancement, and brain-machine interfaces are inevitable unless we self-destruct first.
Achieving transhumanism, however, seems to require empowering unelected tech leaders to redefine what it means to be human. Some individuals have reportedly spent millions attempting to turn their bodies into machines, seeking immortality.
Both Thiel and Jeff Bezos have invested in Unity Biotechnology, a firm aiming to find cures for aging, while Altman backs a similar venture.
Meanwhile, Brian Johnson, the creator of Venmo, spends around $2 million annually on efforts to slow down aging.
Tech leaders are even exploring ways to modify the human brain. OpenAI’s recent investment in Merge Labs, focused on blending biological and artificial intelligence, underscores this push.
In a blog post, Altman mentioned that brain-computer interfaces represent a significant new frontier.
Musk’s Neuralink is developing a technology that would let brains control computers, with Musk’s vision of providing people with “superpowers” through AI integrations.
Reportedly, Taylor Lorenz argues that transhumanist ideals drive tech firms to innovate recklessly, often sidelining safety concerns.
“AI companies seem to be disregarding the safety of ordinary people in their race to develop new technologies,” she observed.
Take Altman’s investment in Nectome, a startup claiming to digitize the brain—though the procedure also boasts a 100% mortality rate. “I believe my brain will be uploaded to the cloud,” he stated during an earlier conversation about it.
Altman’s fascination with machines sometimes leads him to make harsh comments about humanity. For instance, he criticized human energy consumption as inefficient, noting it takes around 20 years of life and a lifetime of food to become intelligent.
Such statements enhance the transhumanist narrative, as biohacking becomes more pervasive and boundaries between organic and synthetic life blur. Brain-computer interfaces propose an integration of human thought and AI, which fundamentally reshapes our understanding of humanity.
This ambitious vision resembles a religious undertaking, as even figures like Mark Zuckerberg reflect on how those in tech view their roles in potentially “creating God.”
Technohumanists seek to transform our brains and bodies, aiming for liberation from our biological limitations. Yet, they face public skepticism.
“Most Americans find these ideas quite disturbing… The majority I’ve spoken with are horrified,” Tegmark explained. “Yet, many in Silicon Valley share Altman’s enthusiasm for this future.”
Ordinary individuals often grasp the potential risks of transhumanist utopias, fearing they might shift toward dystopian realities.
To illustrate this, Tegmark compared the merger of humans and AI to a snail on a human’s leg, suggesting that the expectation for seamless integration is misguided.
“It’s like telling a snail that merging with a smarter species will lead to bliss,” he concluded, casting doubt on the notion that such developments would benefit humanity.
