The Collective

The Danger

“Extra, Extra. Read all about it. Terminator robots are on the rampage, killing all humans.”

Is this a real danger? How about being assimilated by the Borg on Star Trek?

Some people fear we will lose control of all technology when it becomes smarter than us. Should we worry about this? Are we all doomed?

I think the future is safe for these reasons…

There is a fundamental difference between machines and humans: Procreation

A great deal of human behavior is driven by the need to procreate. We need to pass on our genes to the next generation.

Evolution has given us behaviors that ensure we procreate. One of these behaviors is our instinct to survive long enough to procreate.

Another instinct is our need to control the environment, thereby increasing our individual reproductive success.

Machines don’t have this need to procreate, since factories make machines. They also don’t fear death, since they have nothing to lose.

Why should they possibly want to take over the world? What’s the point?

Likewise, the concept of evolution is meaningless to machines…Remember, the evolution of machines is driven by human need. It is for humans alone that machines evolve.

Ants

I like to compare machines to ants.

Worker ants don’t reproduce. Their only purpose in life is to serve the colony.

It doesn’t matter to the ant if it dies. An ant’s value comes from how well it serves the colony.

In the same way, machines exist only to serve society.

However, the ants in the colony will do whatever it takes to protect the colony. They will attack and kill all intruders. They also hunt to feed the colony.

It is possible that the Internet will become conscious and self aware in the future. Is this a danger? I don’t think so.

The reason is because the Internet is composed of billions of machines and connections. A key component of the Internet is humans. The Internet is an extension of and an integral part of human society. Therefore, the Internet will not harm humans, because by doing so it will only harm itself.

The Internet will however act to protect itself from all perceived treats. This is good news because now we are dealing with treats to the environment.

Also, the Internet will protect us from Terminator style robots because we are it and it is us.

The real “danger” is that we will no longer be permitted to harm the harm the environment or others.

The Collective

Another real danger is assimilation into the Borg Collective.

People, such as me, are already melding with technology.

There is a fundamental difference between this Collective and that that found on Star Trek. On Star Trek, those who are assimilated lose all humanity and turn into machines. That is, they are expendable.

In the real world, the Collective will have an infinite capacity for diversity. There is space for any version of you that you want to turn yourself into and only you have the choice of what you will become.

In any case, some will still consider this a loss of our humanity. After all, can a person with altered DNA or cyborg implants be considered to be human? Is that guy with the cochlear implant or artificial heart still human? How about that lady who had gene therapy?

Human Reserves

However, assimilation is optional.

Just as we have nature reserves, places will be set aside for those who want to keep their traditions and refuse to take part in the great changes taking place.

Take the Zoë tribe of the Amazon as an example. In order to protect their culture, the Brazilian government made the Zoë’s territory into a natural preserve and forbade anyone from entering it.

You have a choice:

1. Embrace the Internet and evolve into Human 2.0
2. Spend the rest of your life in a human reserve

There is no other choice because Human 1.0 will never be able to keep up with the rapidly evolving technology of the future. Only Human 2.0 will be able to steer, guide and understand the evolving technology of the future.

People in the human reserve will never know there is anything beyond them. They will, like the Zoë, be trapped forever in a moment in history. They will be happy and without any needs, but they will always be dependent on forces beyond their understanding and control.

I could never live like this. Becoming Human 2.0 means letting go of the past, and embracing infinite possibilities.

Either way, the world as we know it will soon cease to exist, and there is nothing anyone can do to stop it. I just hope this doesn’t cause World War 3.