Part 8/13:
The Future of Human Evolution and Consciousness
Looking ahead to the 22nd century, Metzl explores concepts of digital immortality, consciousness uploading, and the merging of humans with AI. While Ray Kurzweil envisions a "singularity" where AI surpasses human intelligence, Metzl remains skeptical, emphasizing our limited understanding of the brain and consciousness.
He discusses potential scenarios: bio-engineered "super humans," neural interfaces like Neuralink, and virtual realities indistinguishable from life. The possibility of AI systems that learn, adapt, and even develop their own intelligence raises ethical and existential questions about what it means to be human.