Transhumanism: A technological "worldview"
(1 NOV 2017 â Virgina ) â Mark Waser, an AGI Researcher and board member of the TNCÂ (Transhuman National Committee)Â is featured in a new article by local ABC affiliate in Virgina.
âNORFOLK, Va. (WVEC) â From the minute we wake up until we go to sleep, weâre constantly surrounded by technology.
Computers, cell phones, iPads, theyâve become ingrained in our everyday lives.
âThere are all sorts of technological advances that conceivably could make the world much better for human beings,â said Mark Waser, an artificial intelligence expert.
He believes with the help of technology, life can be even better for all humans.
âWe definitely need to pay attention to technology,â he said.
He considers that his worldview, called âtranshumanismâ.
âI came more into transhumanism as I started to get more involved in artificial general intelligence, realizing that there are more problems in terms of we have no idea how to govern machines or govern human beings,â said Waser.
A simple internet search brings up articles and videos full of information. Whatistranshumanism.org describes it as a âway of thinking about the future based on the premiseâ that humans in its current form is not the end of our development and can be accelerated by means of science and technology.
âTo me, transhumanism is just realizing how much of an impact technology has on us and the realization that we really have to pay attention to it,â Waser said.
Fellow âtranshumanistâ Nathan Orme shares the same worldview and is adamant on not calling it a âbeliefâ.
âBelief always strikes me as something religious and I donât view it like that at all,â said Orme.
In the 2016 presidential election, transhumanism popped up as a political party led by Zoltan Istvan, who Orme followed closely.
Recently, a company in Wisconsin microchipped employees, which Orme and Waser see as something on the path to transhumanism. Throughout the country, and even the world, Orme and Waser said there are several different branches of transhumanism.
Some, who they said, think thereâs a possibility of advancements like bionic limbs and lifespan longevity, while some just believe in maximizing technology to benefit all humans.
âI personally believe in equality and make the world better for everyone,â said Waser.
Since itâs so widespread, it can also come with misconceptions and disagreements. The idea of living forever brings up an argument of morals and the idea of human-level artificial intelligence can spark a sense of uneasiness.
âWe should take advantage of the good things that can be done with technology,â said Waser.
âYou gotta make that investment otherwise it wonât happen,â Orme said.
Whether theyâre things that are already a part of our everyday lives or things that we havenât seen yet, these transhumanists think they can be good things that come over time.
http://www.13newsnow.com/news/local/transhumanism-a-technological-worldview/488195665
Transhumanism: A technological âworldviewâ was originally published on transhumanity.net
