13.5 AI Human

Human + AI + BCI = AI Human

The merging of Human Brains with Computer information processing technology which includes AI, using Brain-Computer Interfaces (BCIs) has been an active area of research and development for many years. There are already fully medically approved commercial BCI devices that interface directly to parts of the Human Brain, such as Cochlear Implants to assist the formerly deaf to hear, and Neural stimulating probe devices for controlling and preventing a number of different types of Brain seizures, overcoming some disabilities, and assisting with muscle control problems.

Emerging BCI advancements for robotic prosthetics

Thomas Oxley and Nicholas Opie, from a company called Synchron, have created a BCI implant for patients with neurological disorders to communicate using their thoughts, and enables two-way communication. The new BCI implant, called a Stentrode, is a paperclip sized "endovascular brain implant designed to record or stimulate the brain or nerves from within the blood vessels, the natural highways of the brain" and is inserted into a blood vessel within the Brain's motor cortex. 

"The device is designed to become incorporated into the wall of the blood vessel like a tattoo. This “device needs to be able to record brain signals from different parts of the motor cortex, interpret the signals and convert them into digital outputs that can be used to control assistive technology such as a robotic limb, computer, wheelchair or exoskeleton”  [131].

Reference: [132] Thomas Oxley & Nicholas Opie: A brain implant for two-way communication with external devices - European Patent Office - Published: 9 May 2023

Emerging AI Human technologies

The most well known and technically advanced BCIs, such as those from Neuralink [36], are still actually functionally quite simple, but ultimately hold great promise for allowing Humans to interface with general Computer systems and eventually AI very directly and efficiently, potentially enabling new and vastly more advanced forms of communication, learning, and problem-solving.

The advancements and ultimate full implementation of BCI’s with AI may be the first step in AI augmented Humans, and this will progressively form a new splintered AI Human species on Earth. This AI Human will be vastly different from normal Humans and much more Capable.

Kurzweil is also a proponent of the idea of injecting programmable nanorobotic technology into Humans [37] that can directly interface with the Human Brain and Wireless Radio systems, to provide similar BCI functions to Neuralink. It seems these are still theoretical ideas at present, but Kurzweil is extremely Intelligent and well resourced.

Future AI Humans will face many issues

Today, the idea of merging Human Brains with AI to form an AI Human is still speculative, and there are many technical, moral, ethical, privacy, and societal challenges that will need to be addressed before this becomes a widespread reality. Existing as an AI Human will most likely mean being permanently connected to the Internet with a vast amount of information accessible through Human thought, high bandwith full duplex secure communications in both directions, with all the incredible advantages and extremely high risk disadvantages this brings such as being hacked. Developing a BCI that can read and accurately interpret the complex neuro-electrical signal waveforms that are generated by the Human Brain is a very difficult challenge, however AI systems are exceptionally well suited to signal processing issues, and may be able to help accelerate the development of AI augmented Human Intelligence.

BCI also creates questions related to Human privacy, autonomy, and the potential for unintended consequences such as reading, recording, or writing Human thoughts and actions, and these must be carefully addressed to ensure that AI enabled BCI technologies are developed and deployed in a responsible manner that suits not just large multinational corporations seeking profit, and governments seeking manageable control of citizens, but also suits AI Humans seeking a higher quality of existence, whatever form that might take in the future.

The idea of augmenting Human Brains with AI and then AGI through BCIs is potentially a wildly exciting and discontinuously transformative opportunity for Humans and all of Humanity. 

Therefore, thought leaders across a wide range of disciplines are really needed to ensure this process occurs in a way that genuinely helps AI Humans achieve a higher quality of existence. It is prudent to accept that AI Humans are going to become a reality, and start building well designed and positive plans for it right now.

Future Humans - Key AGI Development Trajectories - Stage 1

The merging of Humans with AI using BCI will create two progressively and increasingly different types of Humans species on Earth: 

• Humans - these will be Humans as they exist now.

• AI Humans - these will be a new category of Humans with increasingly greater Capabilities as the dimensions of Intelligence and associated Capabilities of AI continue to expand over time.

The difference in Capabilities between Humans and AI Humans will create an enormous class divide within Human civilization.

Future Humans - Key AGI Development Trajectories

Stage 1: AI Humans & AGI Emerge