By Rohit Talwar, Steve Wells, Alexandra Whittington, April Koury, and Maria Romero
In the coming decade will we see disease and disability disappear? We are entering the age of artificial intelligence (AI). But, rather than wither away in the face of AI, humanity is now positioned for an evolutionary leap through the inventions being pioneered today in human augmentation science. It is increasingly conceivable, and scientifically possible, that humanity might be ready to surpass all previous real or imagined limitations of our brains and bodies.
Here are 14 radical suggestions that may change the health of humans in the coming decade:
Organ Regeneration
The ability to regenerate human organs could end the ravages of disease, aging, and even injury. By 2030, organ regeneration modification may be the signature transformation of life-extension adopters.
Implanted Immunity
Subcutaneous implants would detect pathogens in the immediate environment and provide antibodies to protect us from specific contagious diseases. This would make most public health measures irrelevant as coughing, sneezing, and touching may no longer pose a risk. Handwashing could become a redundant activity and vaccines unnecessary, while a global antibiotic crisis could also be averted.
Content Upgrades
In the next 10-15 years we could be able to perform instant content updates to the human brain e.g. uploading a new language, a map, knowledge about a client or project, and key information prior to a romantic date or a business meeting. This would be achieved either through direct downloads to our web-connected brains or via plug-in memory devices for more confidential information.
Colour Blindness
Gene therapy has cured colour blindness in monkeys; if clinical trials are allowed, colour blind humans may be next. Eventually, science may expand our colour vision to include all wavelengths of light, from gamma rays to ultraviolet to radio waves. Humans might literally see the world in a whole new light.
Hearing
As humans age, we naturally lose the ability to hear higher frequencies. In the future, we may be able to reverse this, or even enhance human hearing beyond the normal range via aural implants directly connected to our brains.
Perfect Body in a Pill
What if, at last, medical science achieves the ultimate win for sofa surfers, and creates a pill to give you the body of a god without putting in all the work or adopting any healthy habits? Ripped abs, ageless skin, perfect proportions—what more could someone want? For those who want more, a second daily pill could generate an intoxicating body odour.
Endoskeleton
Become stronger and fitter from the inside out, but without most of the requirement for exercise and healthy eating. Physical and genetic enhancements applied to your bones and muscles would improve your BMI and performance from the get-go. Reinforced bones would improve tone and strength with no extra work needed.
Heightened Sensitivity
Through deep brain stimulation, humans may eventually have total control of how much physical sensations affect them. We could turn a dial to increase touch sensitivity during intimate moments, or while playing a car chase computer game, but dial down our sensitivity in anticipation of a physical altercation.
Cosmetic Gene Editing
The gene modification technology known as CRISPR introduced in 2012 has already made it “cheap and easy” to edit genomes inside the body. The CRISPR system’s ease of use means it could be used for almost any gene-editing technique. While doctors could apply the technology as a targeted cancer treatment, we could also see the same approach used for cosmetic augmentation. For example, high street centres could provide services to change clients’ hair thickness, eye colour, and skin pigmentation, making CRISPR treatments as common as other beauty and lifestyle options.
Digital Happy Pill
Dwellers of the world’s high-tech smart cities could opt to take a pill that lets them have their lives monitored and managed remotely with 24/7 data capture and surveillance, day in and day out. Imagine each and every behaviour monitored, and, if necessary, modified, by the city’s central nervous system based on a smart city artificial intelligence (AI) program. One of the ways to alleviate fears, paranoias or other mental delusions concerning “privacy” might be to take this daily “digital happy pill”, jointly monitored by city planners and medical professionals to ensure smart city residents are the happiest citizens on earth! Smile, you’re on camera (constantly, even in your own home)!
3D Cloner: See and Print
This device would allow a product to be identified and 3D printed in real time and “on sight” with special optical lens implants which trigger the cloning of the item being viewed by the wearer, like taking a snapshot. Clothing, food, and even medical products like prosthetic arms or legs could be created instantaneously on the spot, “cloning” whatever item the user glances at, and transmitting them to be produced on 3D printing machines.
The God Pill
Advances in pharmaceuticals and neuroscience could lead to a breakthrough drug designed to experience a higher state of consciousness which some might call ‘God’. This might provide a feeling of one’s place in the universe, a sense of oneness with nature, or help you visualize yourself face to face with an actual deity. These hallucinogenic experiences would fall somewhere on a spectrum between recreational and therapeutic, depending on the recipient’s state of mind at the time. This could be perfect for coping with mid-life crises, dealing with the death of a loved one, anxiety disorders, accepting a terminal diagnosis, and recovering from addiction. Or, just try it for fun.
VR Empathy Machine: Walk a Mile in My Shoes*
Conflict resolution would be simplified with VR empathy films which allow friends, family members, teachers, students, bosses, workers, and even litigators in court to literally see the world through each other’s eyes. Benefits would include greater interpersonal intimacy and understanding, elimination of sibling rivalries, and dealing swiftly with difficult people.
*Requires pre-installation of memory recording device.
Exoskeleton
Achieving superhuman strength and endurance might be possible with an exoskeleton suit of external body armour that turns any average person into Iron Man. Physical labour would be a breeze with the addition robotic arms, legs, and a back which never tire or run low on energy. Whilst this would be great for work or recreational sports, it puts house movers, construction workers, and weight lifters at risk of being “replaced by cyborgs.”
These may seem like something out of a Luc Besson movie, but by 2030 they could be, not just reality, but commonplace.
ABOUT THE AUTHORS
Rohit Talwar, Steve Wells, Alexandra Whittington, Maria Romero, and April Koury are from Fast Future which publishes books from future thinkers around the world exploring how developments such as AI, robotics and disruptive thinking could impact individuals, society and business and create new trillion-dollar sectors. Two new books from Fast Future are: ‘Beyond Genuine Stupidity – Ensuring AI Serves Humanity’, and ‘The Future – Reinvented: Reimagining Life, Society, and Business’. See: www.fastfuture.com