DOCSLIB.ORG

U.S. Public Opinion and Interest on Human Enhancements Technology

Total Page：16

File Type：pdf, Size：1020Kb

Download full-text PDF Read full-text
U.S. Public Opinion and Interest on Human Enhancements Technology Debra Whitman, Ph.D. AARP Chief Public Policy Officer Jeff Love, Ph.D. G. Rainville, Ph.D. Laura Skufca, M.A. U.S. Public Opinion & Interest on Human Enhancements Technology JANUARY 2018 DOI: https://doi.org/10.26419/res.00192.001 ABOUT AARP is the nation’s largest nonprofit, nonpartisan organization dedicated to empowering Americans 50 and older to choose how they live as they age. With nearly 38 million members and offices in every state, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, and the U.S. Virgin Islands, AARP works to strengthen communities and advocate for what matters most to families with a focus on health security, financial stability and personal fulfillment. AARP also works for individuals in the marketplace by sparking new solutions and allowing carefully chosen, high-quality products and services to carry the AARP name. As a trusted source for news and information, AARP produces the world’s largest circulation publications, AARP The Magazine and AARP Bulletin.To learn more, visit www.aarp.org or follow @AARP and @AARPResearch on social media. The views expressed herein are for information, debate, and discussion, and do not necessarily represent official policies of AARP. We would like to extend a special thanks to members of the Global Future Council on Human Enhancement for their contributions. Jessica Bland Jennette Leung Alvaro Fernandez Corinna Lathan Linda Fried Noah Radford Ted Friedmann Simone Schurle Marina Krommenacker AARP’s Policy, Research, and International group conducted this work to inform the World Economic Forum, Global Future Council (GFC) on Human Enhancement. Special thanks to GFC members and the Dubai Future Foundation who provided essential input and review. NORC at the University of Chicago collected the data for AARP using its nationally representative online panel, AmeriSpeak. This report was prepared by Jeff Love, Laura Skufca, G. Rainville, and Laura Mehegan in AARP Research. AARP RESEARCH | AARP.ORG/RESEARCH | © 2018 AARP. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED 3 OBJECTIVES To examine public acceptance towards To gauge interest in various human To understand three new product enhancements characteristics of people concepts conceptualized technologies (i.e., vision, who support human by the Dubai Future mobility, cognition, enhancements as well Foundation (i.e., & gene-editing) as well as characteristics of Endorphomatic, Auto as their interest and people who oppose it. concerns about these Lingua, & NewKnees). enhancements. AARP RESEARCH | AARP.ORG/RESEARCH | © 2018 AARP. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED 4 WHY ARE HUMAN ENHANCEMENTS IMPORTANT TO AARP? The Global Future Council on Human Enhancement’s mandate calls for an exploration of how development in human enhancement could impact industry, governments, and society. We believe part of this exploration is an adequate understanding of how the public regards human enhancement generally and particular enhancements specifically. Our approach to assessing public opinion about human enhancement differs from previous efforts in that they only looked at enhancements that are well beyond what we normally see in society. We began with an assessment of technologies that seek to correct health deficiencies, and then moved to capture pubic opinion of how these technologies could be used to enhance normal human abilities. We believe questions about therapeutic use of technologies sets a needed context for the average person to adequately assess how these technologies could be used to augment human abilities. AARP RESEARCH | AARP.ORG/RESEARCH | © 2018 AARP. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED 5 METHODOLOGY SURVEY DATA POPULATION ERROR PERCENTAGES An online survey fielded The data were All estimates are for the The margin of error for Percentages may not August 23, 2017- weighted by age, general 18+ US the national sample of equal 100% due to September 6, 2017 gender, race, ethnicity, population unless 2,025 adults age 18+ is rounding. among a nationally employment status and otherwise noted. +/- 2.8 percentage representative sample income to be points. The margin of of 2,025 Americans age representative of the error will be higher 18+ using NORC’s entire U.S. population. among subgroups (e.g., AmeriSpeak panel. age cohorts, gender, etc.). AARP RESEARCH | AARP.ORG/RESEARCH | © 2018 AARP. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED 6 GENERAL PERCEPTIONS OF TECHNOLOGY AND AWARENESS OF HUMAN ENHANCEMENT TECHNOLOGIES TECHNOLOGY EFFECTS ON SOCIETY Most Americans believe technology has had a positive effect on society, but more than one-third acknowledge a downside as well. AARP RESEARCH | AARP.ORG/RESEARCH | © 2018 AARP. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED 8 HUMAN ENHANCEMENT TECHNOLOGIES Most Americans have not heard very much about human enhancement technologies, as defined by the World Economic Forum Global Future Council on Human Enhancement. Less than one in ten say they have used them. AARP RESEARCH | AARP.ORG/RESEARCH | © 2018 AARP. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED 9 WHO SHOULD MAKE DECISIONS? ABOUT HUMAN ENHANCEMENT TECHNOLOGIES Adults believe many entities should be involved in decisions related to human enhancements, with ethics professionals and University researchers at the top of the list. Lesser percentages see a role for companies or religious groups or leaders. AARP RESEARCH | AARP.ORG/RESEARCH | © 2018 AARP. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED 10 HUMAN ENHANCEMENT TECHNOLOGIES TYPES OF HUMAN ENHANCEMENTS There were five types of human enhancements explored in this study. AARP RESEARCH | AARP.ORG/RESEARCH | © 2018 AARP. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED 12 SUPPORT CONTINUUM To ease respondents into the concept of human enhancements, support was assessed along a continuum ranging from therapeutic use (restoring ability when decline has taken place) to enhancing abilities greatly beyond normal human level. Note: Gene-editing was not assessed with this progressive approach due to the nature of gene-editing. AARP RESEARCH | AARP.ORG/RESEARCH | © 2018 AARP. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED 13 VISION ENHANCEMENTS It is appropriate to use …. There is near universal agreement that vision enhancements are appropriate as a therapeutic intervention or prevention when a known risk is evident. Support drops considerably when these enhancements become elective or go beyond normal human capabilities. AARP RESEARCH | © 2018 AARP. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED 14 VISION ENHANCEMENTS Percent who agree with the use of vision enhancements that go beyond normal, by demographic group. AARP RESEARCH | © 2018 AARP. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED 15 ATTITUDES TOWARDS ENHANCEMENTS These enhancements will These enhancements will Individuals with these increase the degree to which have unforeseen personal enhancements should be individuals are monitored by health consequences monitored in order to detect the government or marketers (73% agree). any health side effects (68% agree). (89% agree). Attitudes towards the use of human Those who get the The general use of these These enhancements will enhancement will have more enhancements should be allow people to live enhancements falls power and take advantage determined by a panel of healthier, longer lives of those who do not have the medical experts (57% agree). into one of three enhancement (60% agree). (79% agree). categories. There will be a problem These enhancements will These enhancements where those who get the should be available to enhancement will separate make people feel more confident and better about everyone who wants them themselves from those who (59% agree). do not get it (59% agree). themselves (28% agree). AARP RESEARCH | © 2018 AARP. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED 16 USE OF VISION ENHANCEMENT BY ATTITUDE & BELIEF Percent who agree with the use of vision enhancements that go beyond normal, by attitude & belief. AARP RESEARCH | © 2018 AARP. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED 17 JOINT REPLACEMENTS It is appropriate to use …. Similar findings are seen with joint replacements yet less support enhancements when a risk is evident. Lesser percentages support enhancements when no need is evident. AARP RESEARCH | © 2018 AARP. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED 18 COGNITIVE ENHANCEMENT It is appropriate to use medications/implanted devices to… There is agreement that medications for cognitive decline due to aging are appropriate as a therapeutic intervention. Support drops considerably when these enhancements become elective. Lesser percentages support an implanted device for cognitive abilities compared to medications. AARP RESEARCH | © 2018 AARP. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED 19 Word cloud of open-ended statements of those in favor of human enhancements. AARP RESEARCH | AARP.ORG/RESEARCH | © 2018 AARP. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED 20 Select comments from our respondents on why they support human enhancements. AARP RESEARCH | AARP.ORG/RESEARCH | © 2018 AARP. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED 21 Word cloud of open-ended statements of those who oppose human enhancements. AARP RESEARCH | AARP.ORG/RESEARCH | © 2018 AARP. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED 22 Select comments from our respondents about their concerns on human enhancements. AARP RESEARCH | AARP.ORG/RESEARCH | © 2018 AARP. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED 23 IMPROVEMENT OF ONE’S OWN ABILITIES A minority of Americans are personally interested in human enhancement technologies to improve their own abilities beyond what they would normally have even when their abilities are normal. The most interest is seen with medications to improve one’s cognitive abilities. Those expressing relative interest in these medications are age 18-49, those having more than a college education, and are familiar with and/or have used enhancements. AARP RESEARCH | © 2018 AARP. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED 24 SAFETY & ENHANCEMENTS OF HUMAN
Load more

Recommended publications
  • Genetics and Other Human Modification Technologies: Sensible International Regulation Or a New Kind of Arms Race?
    GENETICS AND OTHER HUMAN MODIFICATION TECHNOLOGIES: SENSIBLE INTERNATIONAL REGULATION OR A NEW KIND OF ARMS RACE? HEARING BEFORE THE SUBCOMMITTEE ON TERRORISM, NONPROLIFERATION, AND TRADE OF THE COMMITTEE ON FOREIGN AFFAIRS HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES ONE HUNDRED TENTH CONGRESS SECOND SESSION JUNE 19, 2008 Serial No. 110–201 Printed for the use of the Committee on Foreign Affairs ( Available via the World Wide Web: http://www.foreignaffairs.house.gov/ U.S. GOVERNMENT PRINTING OFFICE 43–068PDF WASHINGTON : 2008 For sale by the Superintendent of Documents, U.S. Government Printing Office Internet: bookstore.gpo.gov Phone: toll free (866) 512–1800; DC area (202) 512–1800 Fax: (202) 512–2104 Mail: Stop IDCC, Washington, DC 20402–0001 COMMITTEE ON FOREIGN AFFAIRS HOWARD L. BERMAN, California, Chairman GARY L. ACKERMAN, New York ILEANA ROS-LEHTINEN, Florida ENI F.H. FALEOMAVAEGA, American CHRISTOPHER H. SMITH, New Jersey Samoa DAN BURTON, Indiana DONALD M. PAYNE, New Jersey ELTON GALLEGLY, California BRAD SHERMAN, California DANA ROHRABACHER, California ROBERT WEXLER, Florida DONALD A. MANZULLO, Illinois ELIOT L. ENGEL, New York EDWARD R. ROYCE, California BILL DELAHUNT, Massachusetts STEVE CHABOT, Ohio GREGORY W. MEEKS, New York THOMAS G. TANCREDO, Colorado DIANE E. WATSON, California RON PAUL, Texas ADAM SMITH, Washington JEFF FLAKE, Arizona RUSS CARNAHAN, Missouri MIKE PENCE, Indiana JOHN S. TANNER, Tennessee JOE WILSON, South Carolina GENE GREEN, Texas JOHN BOOZMAN, Arkansas LYNN C. WOOLSEY, California J. GRESHAM BARRETT, South Carolina SHEILA JACKSON LEE, Texas CONNIE MACK, Florida RUBE´ N HINOJOSA, Texas JEFF FORTENBERRY, Nebraska JOSEPH CROWLEY, New York MICHAEL T. MCCAUL, Texas DAVID WU, Oregon TED POE, Texas BRAD MILLER, North Carolina BOB INGLIS, South Carolina LINDA T.
    [Show full text]
  • Superhuman Enhancements Via Implants: Beyond the Human Mind
    philosophies Article Superhuman Enhancements via Implants: Beyond the Human Mind Kevin Warwick Office of the Vice Chancellor, Coventry University, Priory Street, Coventry CV1 5FB, UK; [email protected] Received: 16 June 2020; Accepted: 7 August 2020; Published: 10 August 2020 Abstract: In this article, a practical look is taken at some of the possible enhancements for humans through the use of implants, particularly into the brain or nervous system. Some cognitive enhancements may not turn out to be practically useful, whereas others may turn out to be mere steps on the way to the construction of superhumans. The emphasis here is the focus on enhancements that take such recipients beyond the human norm rather than any implantations employed merely for therapy. This is divided into what we know has already been tried and tested and what remains at this time as more speculative. Five examples from the author’s own experimentation are described. Each case is looked at in detail, from the inside, to give a unique personal experience. The premise is that humans are essentially their brains and that bodies serve as interfaces between brains and the environment. The possibility of building an Interplanetary Creature, having an intelligence and possibly a consciousness of its own, is also considered. Keywords: human–machine interaction; implants; upgrading humans; superhumans; brain–computer interface 1. Introduction The future life of superhumans with fantastic abilities has been extensively investigated in philosophy, literature and film. Despite this, the concept of human enhancement can often be merely directed towards the individual, particularly someone who is deemed to have a disability, the idea being that the enhancement brings that individual back to some sort of human norm.
    [Show full text]
  • The Disappearing Human: Gnostic Dreams in a Transhumanist World
    religions Article The Disappearing Human: Gnostic Dreams in a Transhumanist World Jeffrey C. Pugh Department of Religious Studies, Elon University, Elon, NC 27244-2020, USA; [email protected] Academic Editor: Noreen Herzfeld Received: 25 January 2017; Accepted: 18 April 2017; Published: 3 May 2017 Abstract: Transhumanism is dedicated to freeing humankind from the limitations of biological life, creating new bodies that will carry us into the future. In seeking freedom from the constraints of nature, it resembles ancient Gnosticism, but complicates the question of what the human being is. In contrast to the perspective that we are our brains, I argue that human consciousness and subjectivity originate from complex interactions between the body and the surrounding environment. These qualities emerge from a distinct set of structural couplings embodied within multiple organ systems and the multiplicity of connections within the brain. These connections take on different forms, including structural, chemical, and electrical manifestations within the totality of the human body. This embodiment suggests that human consciousness, and the intricate levels of experience that accompany it, cannot be replicated in non-organic forms such as computers or synaptic implants without a significant loss to human identity. The Gnostic desire to escape our embodiment found in transhumanism carries the danger of dissolving the human being. Keywords: Singularity; transhumanism; Merleau-Ponty; Kurzweil; Gnosticism; AI; emergence; technology 1. Introduction In 1993, the mathematician and science fiction writer Vernor Vinge gave a talk at the Vision 21 symposium sponsored by NASA introducing the idea of the Singularity, an evolutionary moment when we would create the capacity for superhuman intelligence that would transcend the human and take us into the posthuman world (Vinge 1993).
    [Show full text]
  • Transhumanism Between Human Enhancement and Technological Innovation*
    Transhumanism Between Human Enhancement and Technological Innovation* Ion Iuga Abstract: Transhumanism introduces from its very beginning a paradigm shift about concepts like human nature, progress and human future. An overview of its ideology reveals a strong belief in the idea of human enhancement through technologically means. The theory of technological singularity, which is more or less a radicalisation of the transhumanist discourse, foresees a radical evolutionary change through artificial intelligence. The boundaries between intelligent machines and human beings will be blurred. The consequence is the upcoming of a post-biological and posthuman future when intelligent technology becomes autonomous and constantly self-improving. Considering these predictions, I will investigate here the way in which the idea of human enhancement modifies our understanding of technological innovation. I will argue that such change goes in at least two directions. On the one hand, innovation is seen as something that will inevitably lead towards intelligent machines and human enhancement. On the other hand, there is a direction such as “Singularity University,” where innovation is called to pragmatically solving human challenges. Yet there is a unifying spirit which holds together the two directions and I think it is the same transhumanist idea. Keywords: transhumanism, technological innovation, human enhancement, singularity Each of your smartphones is more powerful than the fastest supercomputer in the world of 20 years ago. (Kathryn Myronuk) If you understand the potential of these exponential technologies to transform everything from energy to education, you have different perspective on how we can solve the grand challenges of humanity. (Ray Kurzweil) We seek to connect a humanitarian community of forward-thinking people in a global movement toward an abundant future (Singularity University, Impact report 2014).
    [Show full text]
  • Nietzsche and Transhumanism Nietzsche Now Series
    Nietzsche and Transhumanism Nietzsche Now Series Cambridge Scholars Publishing Editors: Stefan Lorenz Sorgner and Yunus Tuncel Editorial Board: Keith Ansell-Pearson, Rebecca Bamford, Nicholas Birns, David Kilpatrick, Vanessa Lemm, Iain Thomson, Paul van Tongeren, and Ashley Woodward If you are interested in publishing in this series, please send your inquiry to the editors Stefan Lorenz Sorgner at [email protected] and Yunus Tuncel at [email protected] Nietzsche and Transhumanism: Precursor or Enemy? Edited by Yunus Tuncel Nietzsche and Transhumanism: Precursor or Enemy? Series: Nietzsche Now Edited by Yunus Tuncel This book first published 2017 Cambridge Scholars Publishing Lady Stephenson Library, Newcastle upon Tyne, NE6 2PA, UK British Library Cataloguing in Publication Data A catalogue record for this book is available from the British Library Copyright © 2017 by Yunus Tuncel and contributors All rights for this book reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted, in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording or otherwise, without the prior permission of the copyright owner. ISBN (10): 1-4438-7287-3 ISBN (13): 978-1-4438-7287-4 CONTENTS Introduction ................................................................................................. 1 Yunus Tuncel Part I Chapter One ............................................................................................... 14 Nietzsche, the Overhuman, and Transhumanism Stefan Lorenz Sorgner
    [Show full text]
  • The Sociopolitical Impact of Eugenics in America
    Voces Novae Volume 11 Article 3 2019 Engineering Mankind: The oS ciopolitical Impact of Eugenics in America Megan Lee [email protected] Follow this and additional works at: https://digitalcommons.chapman.edu/vocesnovae Part of the American Politics Commons, Bioethics and Medical Ethics Commons, Genetics and Genomics Commons, and the History Commons Recommended Citation Lee, Megan (2019) "Engineering Mankind: The ocS iopolitical Impact of Eugenics in America," Voces Novae: Vol. 11, Article 3. This Article is brought to you for free and open access by Chapman University Digital Commons. It has been accepted for inclusion in Voces Novae by an authorized editor of Chapman University Digital Commons. For more information, please contact [email protected]. Lee: Engineering Mankind: The Sociopolitical Impact of Eugenics in America Engineering Mankind: The Sociopolitical Impact of Eugenics in America Megan Lee “It is better for all the world, if instead of waiting to execute degenerate offspring for crime, or to let them starve for their imbecility, society can prevent those who are manifestly unfit from continuing their kind…Three generations of imbeciles are enough.”1 This statement was made by U.S. Supreme Court Justice Oliver Wendell Holmes Jr. while presenting the court’s majority opinion on the sterilization of a seventeen-year old girl in 1927. The concept of forced sterilization emerged during the American Eugenics Movement of the early 20th century. In 1909, California became one of the first states to introduce eugenic laws which legalized the forced sterilization of those deemed “feeble-minded.” The victims were mentally ill patients in psychiatric state hospitals, individuals who suffered from epilepsy and autism, and prisoners with criminal convictions, all of whom were forcibly castrated.
    [Show full text]
  • Humanizing the Posthuman in Powers, Wallace, Gibson And
    HUMANIZING THE POSTHUMAN IN POWERS, WALLACE, GIBSON AND DELILLO A dissertation submitted to Kent State University in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of the Doctor of Philosophy By Ahmad Ghashmari December 2016 © Copyright All rights reserved Except for previously published materials Dissertation Written by Ahmad Ghashmari B.A., Yarmouk University, 2006 M.A., Yarmouk University, 2009 M.A., University of Akron, 2015 Ph.D., Kent State University, 2016 Approved by Tammy Clewell_______________, Chair, Doctoral Dissertation Committee Robert Trogdon_______________, Members, Doctoral Dissertation Committee Kevin Floyd__________________ Michael Byron________________ Brian Baer___________________ Accepted by Robert Trogdon_______________, Chair, Department of English James L. Blank________________, Dean, College of Arts and Sciences i TABLE OF CONTENTS Acknowledgements ……………………………………………………………………………..……..ii Introduction………………………………………………………………………….…………….….…..1 Chapter 1: Richard Powers’ Galatea 2.2: Love, Companionship and Boundaries between Humans and Machines………………………………..………………....32 Chapter 2: David Foster Wallace’s Infinite Jest: Entertainment Technology and the Reclaiming of the Human………………….………………………………………….60 Chapter 3: William Gibson’s Pattern Recognition: Finding Human Agency in a Commodified Techno-Culture……….……………………………..……………....89 Chapter 4: The Illusion of Transhuman Immortality and the Importance of the Self…………………………..…………………….………….……………………………….122 Conclusion: Towards a New Understanding of Posthumanism………………………….151 Works Cited…………………………………………….……………….………………………………….156 ii ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS I am immensely grateful to my dissertation director, Tammy Clewell, for her encouragement and patience. I would not have been able to complete this study without her guidance, valuable feedback and suggestions. I would also like to thank my dissertation committee members, Dr. Robert Trogdon, Dr. Kevin Floyd and Dr. Michael Byron for their feedback and interesting questions during the defense, the candidacy exams and the prospectus defense.
    [Show full text]
  • Human Vs. Posthuman Author(S): James Hughes, Nick Bostrum and Jonathan D
    Human vs. Posthuman Author(s): James Hughes, Nick Bostrum and Jonathan D. Moreno Source: The Hastings Center Report, Vol. 37, No. 5 (Sep. - Oct., 2007), pp. 4-7 Published by: The Hastings Center Stable URL: http://www.jstor.org/stable/4625770 Accessed: 26-10-2016 01:22 UTC JSTOR is a not-for-profit service that helps scholars, researchers, and students discover, use, and build upon a wide range of content in a trusted digital archive. We use information technology and tools to increase productivity and facilitate new forms of scholarship. For more information about JSTOR, please contact [email protected]. Your use of the JSTOR archive indicates your acceptance of the Terms & Conditions of Use, available at http://about.jstor.org/terms The Hastings Center, Wiley are collaborating with JSTOR to digitize, preserve and extend access to The Hastings Center Report This content downloaded from 129.67.119.184 on Wed, 26 Oct 2016 01:22:33 UTC All use subject to http://about.jstor.org/terms letters Human vs. Posthuman To the Editor: In "Whereto Tran- to expand access to enhancement. Dif- able for some posthumans to expunge shumanism? The Literature Reaches a ferences in biology and ability challenge all fellow-feeling for mere humans, or Critical Mass" (May-June 2007), social solidarity, but the Enlightenment for any other persons? Whether local or Nicholas Agar correctly notes that argues for solidarity among equal citi- universal values, ensuring that our de- Simon Young's effort to ground trans- zens irrespective of biological differ- scendents retain capacities for solidarity humanism in a drive to evolve is a non- ences.
    [Show full text]
  • Transhumanism
    T ranshumanism - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=T ranshum... Transhumanism From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia See also: Outline of transhumanism Transhumanism is an international Part of Ideology series on intellectual and cultural movement supporting Transhumanism the use of science and technology to improve human mental and physical characteristics Ideologies and capacities. The movement regards aspects Abolitionism of the human condition, such as disability, Democratic transhumanism suffering, disease, aging, and involuntary Extropianism death as unnecessary and undesirable. Immortalism Transhumanists look to biotechnologies and Libertarian transhumanism other emerging technologies for these Postgenderism purposes. Dangers, as well as benefits, are Singularitarianism also of concern to the transhumanist Technogaianism [1] movement. Related articles The term "transhumanism" is symbolized by Transhumanism in fiction H+ or h+ and is often used as a synonym for Transhumanist art "human enhancement".[2] Although the first known use of the term dates from 1957, the Organizations contemporary meaning is a product of the 1980s when futurists in the United States Applied Foresight Network Alcor Life Extension Foundation began to organize what has since grown into American Cryonics Society the transhumanist movement. Transhumanist Cryonics Institute thinkers predict that human beings may Foresight Institute eventually be able to transform themselves Humanity+ into beings with such greatly expanded Immortality Institute abilities as to merit the label "posthuman".[1] Singularity Institute for Artificial Intelligence Transhumanism is therefore sometimes Transhumanism Portal · referred to as "posthumanism" or a form of transformational activism influenced by posthumanist ideals.[3] The transhumanist vision of a transformed future humanity has attracted many supporters and detractors from a wide range of perspectives.
    [Show full text]
  • Superhuman, Transhuman, Post/Human: Mapping the Production and Reception of the Posthuman Body
    Superhuman, Transhuman, Post/Human: Mapping the Production and Reception of the Posthuman Body Scott Jeffery Thesis submitted for the Degree of Doctor of Philosophy School of Applied Social Science, University of Stirling, Scotland, UK September 2013 Declaration I declare that none of the work contained within this thesis has been submitted for any other degree at any other university. The contents found within this thesis have been composed by the candidate Scott Jeffery. ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS Thank you, first of all, to my supervisors Dr Ian McIntosh and Dr Sharon Wright for their support and patience. To my brother, for allowing to me to turn several of his kitchens into offices. And to R and R. For everything. ABSTRACT The figure of the cyborg, or more latterly, the posthuman body has been an increasingly familiar presence in a number of academic disciplines. The majority of such studies have focused on popular culture, particularly the depiction of the posthuman in science-fiction, fantasy and horror. To date however, few studies have focused on the posthuman and the comic book superhero, despite their evident corporeality, and none have questioned comics’ readers about their responses to the posthuman body. This thesis presents a cultural history of the posthuman body in superhero comics along with the findings from twenty-five, two-hour interviews with readers. By way of literature reviews this thesis first provides a new typography of the posthuman, presenting it not as a stable bounded subject but as what Deleuze and Guattari (1987) describe as a ‘rhizome’. Within the rhizome of the posthuman body are several discursive plateaus that this thesis names Superhumanism (the representation of posthuman bodies in popular culture), Post/Humanism (a critical-theoretical stance that questions the assumptions of Humanism) and Transhumanism (the philosophy and practice of human enhancement with technology).
    [Show full text]
  • Superhuman Resources Responsible Deployment of AI in Business 2 Superhuman Resources Foreword
    Superhuman Resources Responsible deployment of AI in business 2 Superhuman Resources Foreword Foreword 1 Since the turn of the century, there has been an exponential increase in the creation and management Background 3 of data. Technologies that can sift, analyse and deploy this growing wealth of digital information are being Development of machine learning 6 rapidly adopted across government and business, as well as by consumers themselves. Artificial intelligence now Transformative potential 8 promises to transform the application of these resources. Deployment risks 10 The effect will be highly disruptive to existing ways of doing things, but promises huge opportunities for consumers and Regulation as society’s 16 for the entrepreneurs that realise their dreams. The argument approach to managing risk that artificial intelligence will cause mass unemployment is as unpersuasive as the argument that threshing machines, Key principles for responsible 18 machine tools, dishwashers or computers would cause deployment of AI mass unemployment. “The bogeyman of automation consumes worrying capacity that should be saved for real Conclusion 21 problems,” said the economist Herbert Simon in the 1960s. None the less, genuine concerns about the misuse of artificial intelligence, and the unintended consequences, need to be taken very seriously. I am therefore delighted to see this white paper published because it is critical that the risks and liabilities associated with AI adoption are equally well recognised as businesses increasingly expose machine
    [Show full text]
  • Preparing for the Future of Artificial Intelligence
    PREPARING FOR THE FUTURE OF ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE Executive Office of the President National Science and Technology Council National Science and Technology Council Committee on Technology October 2016 About the National Science and Technology Council The National Science and Technology Council (NSTC) is the principal means by which the Executive Branch coordinates science and technology policy across the diverse entities that make up the Federal research and development (R&D) enterprise. One of the NSTC’s primary objectives is establishing clear national goals for Federal science and technology investments. The NSTC prepares R&D packages aimed at accomplishing multiple national goals. The NSTC’s work is organized under five committees: Environment, Natural Resources, and Sustainability; Homeland and National Security; Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) Education; Science; and Technology. Each of these committees oversees subcommittees and working groups that are focused on different aspects of science and technology. More information is available at www.whitehouse.gov/ostp/nstc. About the Office of Science and Technology Policy The Office of Science and Technology Policy (OSTP) was established by the National Science and Technology Policy, Organization, and Priorities Act of 1976. OSTP’s responsibilities include advising the President in policy formulation and budget development on questions in which science and technology are important elements; articulating the President’s science and technology policy and programs; and fostering strong partnerships among Federal, state, and local governments, and the scientific communities in industry and academia. The Director of OSTP also serves as Assistant to the President for Science and Technology and manages the NSTC. More information is available at www.whitehouse.gov/ostp.
    [Show full text]