Self-directed evolution through technology — mapping the branches of augmentation from the very minor to the very extreme, and one possible end-state: a galactic, light-speed posthuman.
I will start by trying to define my understanding of what it means to be transhuman. This may not be your understanding, or even the general understanding, but so be it. I will not enter into the debate on whether we should even attempt to be transhuman, or what would be the negative consequences of such an undertaking. I leave that to other discussions, of which I have had many.
To be transhuman implies that you are also human, or once were human, or derived from human genetic stock (DNA) — basically having a human ancestor, maybe AI of a scan-derived human variety (born or unborn), possibly AGI-integrated. It implies you are more than human, transitioning, on the way to becoming posthuman: human plus, H+, a new species entirely, etc. Hopefully not H–.
In my opinion, transhuman is a form of self-directed evolution through technology, shaped by societal forces — assuming an individual has the free choice. Growing out of this kind of thinking comes a multitude of branches for alteration and augmentation; possibilities in the base human from very minor to very extreme.
The Branches of Augmentation
Listed here in no particular order, and very possibly incomplete:
- Cyborgs, robotic, all manner of electronic augmentation, new senses, AR.
- Transpecies DNA alteration/insertion; synthetic DNA alteration/insertion.
- Incorporation of symbiotic organisms; altered-designed new-function organs giving new capabilities.
- Neural augmentation; cognitive extension into cyberspace/internet/cloud.
- Complete life-logging of all senses, thoughts, and experiences; complete digital uploading; substrate independence; integration with Artificial Intelligence; genome–connectome–envirome packaging.
- Robotic telepresence from a simulated being; android (synthetic artificial body, appearing human); meat-cloned body linked to upload; telepresence into an organic being (like Avatar the movie); rented bodies.
- A group-mind social integration; global brain; hive mind; multiple consciousnesses functioning as one entity; omni-conscious being/experience — possibly a human-machine super-organism.
- Digital avatar with AI augmentation and AR/VR; cellular-network telepathy-sensory-memory-communication and backup storage.
Having taken a good general high-level attempt at defining some of the possibilities, it becomes obvious that the permutations are really very large and diverse, and it is impossible to predict at any granular level what a transhuman can actually be or become. That said, I will try to illustrate one extreme possibility with my limited understanding of the technologies involved — many of which do not exist yet, others which are rapidly progressing or formulating.
One Extreme Possibility
My very extreme transhuman will have no categorical name (just yet), but will have certain qualities. Any sexual identity will be possible: he, she, it, we, other, multi, none — completely selectable. They will be substrate-independent, having a connectome which is uploaded and simulant (siman: simulated human). They will have physical presence in a real clone-grown body with a cyborg-transpecies-synthetic genome. They will have access to a tool set and catalog for self-modification and tweaking.
They can exist as multiple telepresent android-robots in space colony situations. Their "digital packaging" allows them to be simulated in multiple complete virtual or augmented reality situations. They can be telepathically linked to other minds through the cellular network, or via wireless neural-integration infrastructure, with defined exchange protocols for sensory, memory, communication, and storage — both in the virtual simulation and in the remote entity.
Able to spawn thousands of copies of themselves, completing separate tasks and reintegrating the multitude of experiences. Eventually he could become a swarm of nanomachines, or integrate with AIs in a group planetary mind.
Traveling at the speed of light, his digital package would be transmittable to the stars, instantiate at receiver stations in the local systems, visit and study planets as localized alien entities. Eventually he would become part alien as well (when we encounter other intelligent life, or create it), experiencing new emotions, living for hundreds of thousands of years, millions, jumping from star system to star system and becoming a galactic human-machine lifeform — a true posthuman entity.
Eventually he may create a bubble universe or universe simulation. Existing in clouds of nanoparticles or even dark matter as an energy-super-computing organism. This could also explain some of the Fermi paradox. Does becoming transhuman therefore imply a singularity? No one really knows the answer. It may be a tipping point for humanity, or the greatest explosion of diversity in the human technological species we will ever know.