Chapter 4, part 6 - What if Humans Enhanced Themselves with AI

Chapter 4, Part 6 — Applying AI to Education

Scenario #3: Transhumanism

The third scenario, “transhumanism,” describes a future where AI’s unchecked growth puts humans in a place where their only choice is to either upgrade themselves by artificially modifying their brains to compete on an equal footing with AI (Hamilton, Wiliam, & Hattie, 2023). Without such enhancement, humans risk becoming almost entirely subordinate to the AI machines’ superior capabilities and largely relegated to mere spectators in most productive activities, even in technological breakthroughs, due to a limited understanding of the inner workings of AI itself (Hamilton et al., 2023).

Researchers Hamilton et al. argue that to elevate humanity above such a diminished role could lead us to consider enhancing ourselves through genetic modification and even digital implants involving integrating technology directly into our bodies (Hamilton et al., 2023). While the researchers are admittedly skeptical of the genetic modifications due to “the (very reasonable) taboos on eugenics” genetic modification of humans would entail, they believe that human modification is much more possible (Hamilton et al., 2023).

Neuralink, founded by Elon Musk precisely for transhuman purposes, is an early step toward this future. The company is already developing brain implants that could expand our cognitive abilities by interfacing directly with computers (Sigal, 2023). While current technologies require invasive procedures, which makes it hard to believe that anybody would get such surgeries, they argue that future advancements could allow for non-invasive methods like ingesting nanobots that could serve the same purpose but in a way that is just like drinking water (Hamilton et al., 2023). These nanobots attach themselves in your brain at key neuronal junctions, which would act like a ‘WiFi network’ that could theoretically allow for instantaneous knowledge acquisition, multitasking on par with advanced AI systems, and even direct brain-to-brain communication.

The existence of these developments already suggests a future where, without such upgrades, individuals might find themselves significantly disadvantaged, accelerating a societal divide between the enhanced and non-enhanced (Hamilton et al., 2023). And, while this discussion of transhumanism seems like mere speculation, advancements in brain-machine interfaces already hint at such possibilities, suggesting that what sounds like science fiction could soon become a feasible and very real aspect of human evolution.

In a more dramatic future where humans and machines merge, there would be even less need for any traditional schooling. In such a future, any knowledge someone wishes to acquire could be downloaded directly into their brain in seconds. For instance, if someone wanted to learn Arabic, they could do so almost instantaneously. In this scenario, there would be no need for schooling of any kind.

In this scenario, it is challenging to envision the role of schools and education, except to suggest that education might need to completely reorganize around how to learn and manage new neurotechnology for work and life purposes. If AI becomes central, learning would predominantly be facilitated by AI transmitting information directly to our brains, enabling us to instantly acquire any knowledge necessary for functioning effectively in our new world.

References

Hamilton, A., Wiliam, D., & Hattie, J. (2023). The future of AI in education: 13 things we can do to minimize the damage [Working paper]. Cognition Education. https://cognitioneducation.com/news/ai-in-education/

Sigal, S. (2023, May 26). Elon Musk’s Neuralink wants to connect human brains to computers. Scientific American. https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/elon-musks-neuralink-wants-to-connect-human-brains-to-computers/