The world in 2045: Top U.S. scientists predict mind-controlled, more intelligent machines

How exactly will the world look like 30 years from now?

Nobody could possibly know the answer to this question. However, top scientists from the United States Department of Defense' Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA)—the same group of people who pioneered the Internet and global positioning system—have interesting predictions, based on the projects they are currently working on.

The scientists from various fields, ranging from biology to aerospace engineering, think the world will be dominated by mind-controlled, more intelligent machines come 2045.

Neuroscientist Justin Sanchez, programme manager in DARPA's Biological Technologies Office, believes human beings will be able to control technologies and even communicate amongst themselves by simply using their minds.

"Imagine a world where you could just use your thoughts to control your environment. Think about controlling different aspects of your home just using your brain signals, or maybe communicating with your friends and your family just using neural activity from your brain," Sanchez said in a video series published by DARPA called "Forward to the Future: Visions of 2045."

He said DARPA is taking steps towards this direction, including the development of brain implants that will be able to control prosthetic arms.

Aerospace engineer and former astronaut Pam Melroy, deputy director of DARPA's Tactical Technologies Office, meanwhile sees simpler interactions between human beings and machines, because of intelligent technologies that will be able to recognise voices and commands composed only of a few words.

"I think in 2045, I think we're going to find that we will have a very different relationship with the machines around us. That includes the platforms that we use: cars, ships, planes and even space craft," Melroy said in the same video series.

The DARPA official explained that now, planes have to perform several commands in the correct order to be able to land. In the future, these can all be accomplished with just the command "Prepare for landing."

"Our world will be full of those kinds of examples where we can communicate directly our intent and have very complex outcomes by working together," she said.