Artificial Enlightenment

Elon Musk’s new venture and the reality of reality

There is a common misconception that the brain is the cause of our woes and at points we are but along for a ride. While in fact, the lymphatic system is responsible.

The classic analogy used is that no human can willingly cut off their finger just because. Your nervous system and the pain you feel will instinctually stop you from continuing such a horrendous act. This is often used in explaining the difference between someone with a few loose ends unattached versus the norm. When it boils down to it the brain is there to make us feel better.

So what if we could program it? That may not be as far from reality as we once thought. As if you could blow out a hole in your head from the dust that’s collected, plug-in Nintendo 64 cartridges and live out the adventures of Mario or James Bond.

This is a fun thought but is really only the tip of a proverbial iceberg when it comes to hacking into the human cognition.

“Neuralink is looking to develop something called “neural lace technology,” which involves implanting electrodes into human brains that allow for the uploading and downloading of thoughts to a computer. The WSJ report discusses how this technology could improve human cognitive function, and that Neuralink wants to explore how to alleviate the symptoms of chronic medical conditions, like depression, epilepsy, and even Parkinson’s.” — Nasdaq

Medically Neuralink could be revolutionary. Many people have seen the previously stated conditions affect their loved ones in the worse possible ways. Dementia among them is very likely on a hit list when it comes to merging the human conscience with artificial intelligence. The list goes on an on but today I want to explore the average consumer and some of the benefits we could see within the next 5–100 years.

Immortality

Initially, this isn’t the topic where I wanted to start because it seems laughable to even consider, and in a way, possibly not something everyone wants. A slew of reasons for a person wanting to pass on be it an afterlife, guilt, or even a desire for a natural end to what we consider our story. At somepoint, we have to consider that artificial intelligence will change the way we view the human struggle.

In the movie, Chappie (2015) from a sentient Artificial Intelligent robot steals a headset that is much like the idea of Neuralink and from it decides to figure out how to create a conciseness. As far-fetched as that sounds, the robot states that he doesn’t need a manual and that all the information needed was on the internet. If we are to create self-learning AI which we have, it would be able to create what humanity has in the past 1000 years in a matter of seconds.

Drugs

“Do all the drugs you can, Timmy, because one day you won’t be able to try things like cocaine or MDMA because you’ll be like mommy and have a robotic mind.”

Not only this but addiction likely would be a thing of the past if you could program the way in which you desire. The farther we get down this rabbit hole the more you begin to realize life really is changing at an exponential rate. Not only this but what person will be the first to program the life-changing high you get from mushrooms that also guarantees a cure too depression without ever eating one.

History

If virtual reality is becoming better and better by the day then at some point it will be indistinguishable from life itself. Almost as if you were a time traveler what if you could back to 1879 and relive the life of Albert Einstein amongst hundreds of other users and the highest score is the one who can simulate it to perfection? What about those people who want to truly be an animal and live the life of a wolf. This idea was actually somewhat previously explored in the hit Comedy Central show Rick & Morty with the idea of ‘Mortys Mind Blowers’ or Life of Roy. Elon Musk as recent as yesterday was quoted as saying “I don’t think you necessarily want to be me”

Internet of Things

This is the most likely of scenario’s in that everything and anything you interact within a normal day would be interfaced with your own thoughts. You walk into your house and immediately the oven preheats to 375 your bath starts to draw to a perfect temperature and the TV flips on to not only your favorite channel but whatever you’re thinking about watching. Maybe it was an interview you had heard about at work. That is if we were to even need work in the future where humans and AI walk together.

If you have any use cases or thoughts about Neuralink share them here or on the twitter @FiatisFlat