Imagine a computer chip implanted in your
brain that would allow you to instantly access
and process mountains of information.
What if you could re-program your genetic
code to virtually eliminate serious illnesses
or even replace your blood with a lab-made
version that gives you speed, strength and
stamina of "Captain America"?
Thanks to cutting-edge scientific developments,
all these things may one day be possible.
In fact, humanity may be on the cusp of what
some are calling an “enhancement revolution.”
Emerging technologies - from brain chips to
synthetic blood to sophisticated methods of
gene editing - are already being developed
and may give way to opportunities to make
our minds sharper and our bodies stronger
and healthier than ever before.
In the future, we may never need to sleep
and never fear disease.
So, will these emerging technologies take
humanity in a positive direction?
The answer depends on who you ask.
Many futurists are optimistic, describing
these technological breakthroughs as springboards
to not only healing people but to taking control
of our species’ development and improving
humanity.
But critics say human enhancement may lead
to people who are no longer physically or
even psychologically human.
They also believe these changes will increase
inequality and other social tensions, and
argue that even minor enhancements may end
up doing more harm than good.
Either way, we may not have a choice.
As author and ethicist Nicholas Agar says,
“We are no longer living in a time when
we can say we either want to enhance or we
don’t.
We are already living in an age of enhancement.”
But how do Americans feel about the possibility
of changing our human capabilities?
Our new survey finds that more than six-in-ten
U.S. adults are worried about the use of brain
chip implants, synthetic blood and gene editing
to enhance human abilities.
Far fewer say they are enthusiastic.
Majorities say brain and blood enhancements
that would result in improved cognitive or
physical abilities “far above that of any
human known to date” would be taking the
technology too far.
About half feel the same way about gene editing
technology aimed at improving health.
Many predict these emerging technologies will
become available before they have been fully
tested or understood.
And most expect that these enhancements will
intensify inequality because only the wealthy
would be able to afford them.
There are also differences along religious
lines.
Highly religious people are less likely to
want each of these enhancements and most view
them as meddling with nature.
Despite their concerns, many Americans expect
these kinds of technological innovations to
reach fruition.
For instance, roughly half the population
thinks implanted computer chips will be commonplace
within 50 years.
Looking back for a moment, people for thousands
of years, have been dreaming of making themselves
smarter and stronger.
Until recently, those ideas have largely been
left to the realm of myth and fantasy.
If significant enhancements become reality,
experts think they will undoubtedly alter
human society in profound ways, even allowing
human beings to direct their own evolution.
But first, we will have to grapple with an
important question:
Should we?
