Transhumanism is pushing augmented humanity toward a future where technology and biology push the limits of the body and life itself. Revolutionary promise or billionaire fantasy in the quest for immortality? Here’s an exploration.
Not dying. That’s the premise of the documentary, Don’t Die, on Netflix. And it’s the credo of Bryan Johnson, a former tech entrepreneur who has become the ultimate guinea pig for transhumanism, with the goal of creating an augmented humanity. In other words: reversing aging and, while at it, achieving immortality.
He spends millions each year, injects himself with his son’s plasma, follows a strict regimen of nutrition, exercise, and supplements. The result? A liver of an 18-year-old and an ego boosted by DHEA (a hormone known for its anti-aging effects). It’s enough to spark both fascination and mockery; his obsession borders on neurosis, his fear of death is a tad excessive, and his face is, let’s say, slightly unsettling (you’ll judge for yourself).
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Augmented humanity: between fantasy and reality
But beyond the spectacle, transhumanism is a serious ideology. Born in the 1980s, it seeks to enhance humans through technology. Augmented humanity is already in motion, with neural prosthetics, nanotechnologies, and DNA modifications. The ultimate goal of this technological race is clear: to delay or even eliminate death altogether.
Neural prosthetics are among the most spectacular fields of transhumanism. They allow for the restoration of lost functions by directly linking the brain to electronic devices. Startups like Neuralink aim to take it even further by merging human and artificial intelligence. The goal: to boost our cognitive abilities and directly connect us to machines
Transhumanism isn’t just a whim of brilliant scientists; it’s also a booming market. According to Allied Market Research, the longevity market, which encompasses aspects related to transhumanism, was valued at $25.1 billion in 2020. It’s expected to reach nearly $45 billion by 2030, with an annual growth rate of 6.1%.
Big tech’s takeover of augmented humanity
The tech moguls – who have, by the way, become friends with Donald Trump in the meantime – have sniffed out the opportunity and are investing heavily in augmented humanity. Jeff Bezos is funding Altos Labs, a company working on cellular reprogramming. This technique aims to reverse aging by resetting cells to a younger state.
Elon Musk, for his part (who’s already dreaming of colonizing Mars), is betting on Neuralink to merge the human brain with artificial intelligence. Larry Page, co-founder of Google, supports Calico, a company focused on tracking the biological causes of aging. Aubrey de Grey, one of the leading figures of the movement, is working on regenerative medicine with the SENS Research Foundation.
Bryan Johnson himself isn’t just a guinea pig. He’s investing in Blueprint, a program focused on biomarker analysis and optimizing bodily functions to slow aging. Other startups, like Retro Biosciences, focus on cellular rejuvenation, while Unity Biotechnology is developing therapies to combat senescence. These companies are attracting massive investments.
While the United States leads this industry and ideology, Europe is also making strides. Laboratories in Germany and Switzerland are developing anti-aging therapies based on genetics and artificial intelligence. In Africa, regenerative medicine projects are starting to emerge, often supported by foreign funding.
Promises and a lot of hype
The idea of the bionic man, once confined to science fiction, is gradually becoming a reality. Scientists are working on artificial limbs connected to the nervous system, allowing amputees to regain natural sensations and movements. Bionic eyes capable of restoring sight to blind people are also in development. The augmented human, once a fantasy, is starting to take shape before our eyes.
But between ambition and reality, the gap can sometimes be immense. Some of the announcements are nothing more than tactics to raise funds and fuel hype. Cryonics is a perfect example. Companies like Alcor Life Extension Foundation offer to freeze a body for $200,000 or a brain for $80,000. The problem is, there’s currently no technology that can reanimate an organism or preserve consciousness. For now, it’s just a bet on the future, aimed at attracting investors looking for futuristic projects.
And what about ethics?
Beyond technological obstacles, transhumanism also raises major ethical questions. Is modifying the human being a legitimate endeavor or an attempt to play God? If these advances are only available to the wealthy elite, will they exacerbate inequalities? Augmented humanity also raises the question of the relationship between nature and technology. Can we still call ourselves human if our biology is entirely transformed?
Despite these dizzying debates, some transhumanist advances could genuinely change our lives. Artificial intelligence could, for example, allow us to predict diseases long before they appear. Gene therapy might one day erase certain hereditary conditions. Augmented humanity is therefore not just a futuristic whim or an eccentric billionaire’s dream. It’s also a scientific revolution that could one day improve the lives of everyone. But before challenging death, we’ll first have to overcome our own illusions.
Picture (c) : W Magazine
