Our entire bodies could be swapped out with robotic parts as soon as 2070, says robotics journalist and expert Chris Middleton.
He says we’re not far from a future where anyone can buy upgraded body parts that provide superhuman powers.
‘Biohackers’ are already upgrading their bodies with implants such as chips that let them open doors with a wave of the hand, so the predictions aren’t too far-fetched.
Our entire body could be swapped out with robot parts as soon as 2070, says robotics journalist and expert Chris Middleton. He says we’re not far from a future where anyone can buy upgraded body parts that provide superhuman powers (stock image)
‘At some point, 50 or 100 years in the future, might a whole human body become replaceable, editable or upgradable? I wouldn’t bet against it,’ Mr Middleton told the Daily Star.
‘We can already see that some technologies encourage people – unfortunately – to behave more like machines.
‘But at the same time, machines are becoming more human. Look at Siri, Alexa, and the rest.’
The self-professed robotics experts said these kinds of technologies could progress to rule the human race.
He said that in the meantime, people are already getting used to being told what to do by machines.
‘Walk 10,000 steps a day, run around the park, turn left, turn right and so on,’ said Mr Middleton.
A range of new TV series and movies have entertained the idea of cyborgs and semi-humans, for example Black Mirror and Westworld. Pictured is an image from the HBO series Westworld, which is set in a Western theme-park populated by human-like robots
He also questions whether wearable devices are part of a journey towards incorporating technology into ourselves.
‘I think in the long run, that’s inevitable,’ Mr Middleton said.
‘But in the meantime, we should all treasure being human while it lasts!’
Mr Middleton, who has given speeches about the impact of AI at universities, says that although he believes robotics and AI will play a big role in the future, his opinions are only predictions based on what we currently know.
A range of new TV series and movies have entertained the idea of cyborgs and semi-humans, for example Black Mirror and Westworld.
‘I write about robotics and AI in the real world, because these technologies raise important questions about what sort of society we want, or don’t want,’ said Middleton.
‘In the long run, many human beings may simply reject these technologies.’
Mr Middleton’s predictions come just a month after ex-Microsoft experts claimed that humans will have a ‘robot second self’ within just 20 year.
Microsoft execs Brad Smith and Harry Shum said the robot will know everything about you and act as a digital extension of your consciousness.
WHAT IS BIOHACKING?
Biohackers, or grinders, are people who hack their own bodies with do-it-yourself devices.
They practice body modification in an effort to extend and improve human capabilities.
They usually turn to body modification experts like piercing artists to perform the implant procedures – but many do it themselves too.
One of the first biohackers was Kevin Warwick, an engineer and the Vice-Chancellor at Coventry University who had an RFID (Radio-Frequency Identification) chip implanted into his arm which allowed him to control devices such as lights by simply snapping his fingers.
Professor Kevin Warwick undertook a ground-breaking experiment with an implanted computer chip in his arm. Professor Warwick became the first human cyborg by implanting a computer chip in his arm to control machines with signals from his brain
A Utah based biohacker named Rich Lee has six implants; one in each ear that serve as headphones, two magnets in two different fingertips for feeling magnetic fields, an NFC (Near Field Communication) chip in his hand for controlling devices and a bio-therm chip in his forearm for monitoring temperature.
The first implant was a finger magnet, which he got because ‘the thought of being able to feel an invisible force and gain a new sense was too intriguing to pass up.’
He explains that he used to have implants in his shins to see how well they would protect his bones from impact.
While a few of the implants were done himself, most were carried out by body modification experts such as piercing artists.
Rich Lee receiving an implant in his hand. He usually asks body modification artists to do the procedures for him, but he’s done a few on himself when he thinks the risk is extremely limited
The pair are working to develop advanced AI software capable of mimicking human thought.
This breakthrough – which some fear could spell the beginning of the end for humanity – will come over the next two decades, they claimed.
Mr Smith and Mr shum made their predictions in a book published last month called ‘The Future Computed’, which detailed their predictions for the future of AI.
They warned that controls should be put in place to prevent intelligent machines from acting against the interests of society and people.