Your opinions on human immortality: the 2045 initiative?

27 Comments

For those of you who don't know, the 2045 Initiative is a project founded by Russian Billionaire Dmitry Itskov who is working with a group of Leading Russian Scientists to preserve human life permanently by artificial means. The project is separated into 4 phases -

1) Phase 1 (2015 - 2020): There will be android avatars created that will be operated by BCI (Brain Control Interface)
2) Phase 2 (2020 - 2025): The creation of a life support system for the human brain linked to a robot.
3) Phase 3 (2030 - 2035): The transfer of a person's consciousness into an artificial brain.
4) Phase 4 (2045): A person's consciousness existing in the form of Holograms.

Itskov claims all that 4 phases will be completed by the year 2045 and once this is made avaliable to the public, it will be as affordable as a car.

Do you guys have any opinions/thoughts on this?

I think this is pure nonsense 49
I think it's possible but I doubt all of this can happen by 2045 68
This kind of thing will probably cause big problems for society. 18
I think this kind of thing can be very beneficial 32
I wouldn't hesitate to participate in this once it's finished 52
I would not want to be immortal, at least not like this 14
I would rather die naturally then participate in this 27
Other (Add a comment) 6
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Comments ( 27 )
  • Terence_the_viking
    11 years ago | pl

    People die for a reason and i think it should remain that way. If people didn't die where would we all live?

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    • q25t
      11 years ago

      See phase 4. If we all are holograms or effectively, complicated programs within the mainframe of a massive computer, it would not be a large use of space.

      If memory size and capacity keep increasing as they are today, the human consciousness should be able to be kept in a very space efficet way.

      Speaking of space, with all of these "minds" running for theoretical ever, the problems that they could solve, like effective space travel, would be unfathomable.

      Also, as machines are becoming more and more efficient, the upkeep for these beings would be negligible. They live in a holographic world, and so any constraints of limited resources or pleasures do not exist.

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  • dappled
    11 years ago

    Phase 1 - already exists in a limited way. Phase 2 - support, yes, but the person's brain would be blind, deaf, mute, and completely unable to interact with the world. Phases 3 and 4 - he's tripping.

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    • q25t
      11 years ago

      Deaf and blind are easily remedied. A simple camera and audio feed would do the trick. Mute also is easily fixed. I'm communicating with you now, right? Also speech software is getting better, although it sucks at the moment.
      Taste and smell would be slightly more complicated but until they are developed, there is no real need for them.

      As for phase 3 and 4, why are they so shocking? The human brain is simply a biological computer so why wouldn't it be able to be simulated or even transferred?

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      • dappled
        11 years ago

        I wouldn't say easily remedied. A camera and audio feed easily provide the data but do they provide it in a format that can be understood? I'd be amazed if the brain encoded video as computers do. The problem isn't the recording equipment (which has existed since the late 1800's), the problem is the lack of a common interface.

        It's easy these days when everything is digital and there are common pathways to distribute data but, with the brain, no communication channel exists, nor does a detailed definition of the structure of the data.

        Phase 3 and 4 were shocking to me because of the word "consciousness". Define that. If you can, you only think you can.

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        • q25t
          11 years ago

          It's not really related to the previous conversation, but this belongs here nonetheless.

          <a href="http://www.thepriceofrice.com/2012/09/immortality-through-plastic-brain.html?m=1" rel="nofollow">http://www.thepriceofrice.com/2012/09/immortali...</a>

          It's at least interesting, if a little bit on the crazy side.

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    • Legion
      11 years ago

      "the person's brain would be blind, deaf, mute, and completely unable to interact with the world."- Possible, unless they have researched prostetics and how the senses work with the brain well enough that they can develop prostetic senses and organs that can allow the brain to hear, see, and interact. Of course, i doubt that would be in 2025.

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      • dappled
        11 years ago

        Definitely some work going on in that area but the brain as a computer is very different to the computers I know. Given time, I think it could be done. Pessimistically, I don't think we have the time.

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  • [Old Memory]
    11 years ago

    Even if you could live forever, your skin and bones would eventually bio-degrade just like plastic.

    Nobody ever realises this.

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    • Legion
      11 years ago

      they woulden't have their original bodies, they would either have another body (robot, cyborg, cloned human body,etc.), or they would exist in a computer network. it would be their mind, their thoughts, and possibly their essence or "soul",(if it exists)

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      • [Old Memory]
        11 years ago

        Oh.

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  • NotStrangeBird
    11 years ago

    I'm already a sex machine.

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  • Store210
    11 years ago

    To everyone who thinks this is immposible, think about the past, many of the things they said was immposible is now common, its just a matter if science, and time, but personaly i don`t think this is a good idea.

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  • FrancoisDillinger
    11 years ago

    2045 is extremely optimistic.

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  • PumpkinKate
    11 years ago

    I wish! Totally put me in an immortal robo-body!! Just imagine being able to see the next several thousand years of human history!

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  • thinkingaboutit
    11 years ago

    -_- How is science going to upload consciousness into a computer, if it can't definitively say how much data a brain actually processes? this won't happen.

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  • kelili
    11 years ago

    First time I hear of this and I think that it will never be possible. Never ever.

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  • Shadoweyes
    11 years ago

    Live forever? What nonsense. I wouldn't believe such folly nonsense. This would is dreary, miserable and cold. Why would I want to spend an eternity here? I'd much rather die when I'm supposed to.

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  • Kejone
    7 years ago

    I only have one issue. If our consciousness were transferred, would it really be us, or a copy of us? Think of it like this: You and your twin are raised under the exact same conditions, experience the exact same thing, therefore you feel, react, and think the same exact way. You also have the same memories. This is basically you in another body, so it's like the same consciousness. The problem is, this isn't you. You can't see through the others eyes. If you die, you don't continue living in the other's body. Sure, others could feel that the other can take your place, but you, in reality, have ceased to exist. If anyone has an answer to this issue please feel free to respond.

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  • 1000yrVampireKing
    11 years ago

    2045? Do you know how long away that is? Fuck it we will deal with it at that time.

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  • davesumba
    11 years ago

    who wants to live more than 85-100 years?? not this guy.

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  • kingpin1
    11 years ago

    hmmmmmmm, i used to think, this a fable before, but now i know is very real. science is going extra miles. i don't think this is necessary but i know is very possible.

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  • shade_ilmaendu
    11 years ago

    Aw shit, the Cybermen are coming.

    No, but seriously, I hate to be referencing Dr. Who here but it sounds like you pulled this whole thing right out of the Cybermen's first introduction in the revamp.

    And I don't think it's a good idea. Everyone dies, it's the natural progression. If we didn't die the planet would overpolulate, shit would go haywire, we've already removed ouselves almost completely from our niche in the natural order of things, and are growing like a cancer.

    I don't know what would happen if you put a human brain in a robot body, but we are creatures of flesh and blood for a reason. Evolution dictated that this is the best form for our circumstances, and I'm not one to mess with nature. We can barely understand our own minds or our own DNA we're such a complex species, but people really think they can just go on and completely change the way we live when they don't even understand the bodies we have now?

    What if it makes us go insane? What if it kills us? And even if it didn't, would you really want to live out the rest of your days in a cold, metal shell? I'll choose death first, who knows, maybe there'll end up being something interesting on the other side, but even if not, I'll take nonexistance over life as a bleeding robot.

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    • q25t
      11 years ago

      The planet would overpopulate.

      Why? If this path is followed, the necessary space and resources for such a being would consist of electric power, a small sleeping chamber, and a few choice chemicals with the brain portion.

      Evolution meant for us to be this way.

      Well, sure there is no arguing that but what is the next step? Who is to claim that it isn't this? Why is self evolution such a bad thing?

      We barely understand our DNA and minds.

      True, for the moment. Our DNA is much less of a mystery now than a year ago and understanding is growing everyday. As for the brain, I agree, we do know very little but progress is being made. If you want an example, there is a TED talk on the subject that seems quite promising.

      What if it kills us or drives us insane?

      We won't do it. It's very simple. Honestly, though, this should all work with enough understanding.

      Cold, metal shell

      You're in a warm, fleshy shell right now and I would guess you don't feel too warm or cold at the moment either. So what is the difference? Is it the flesh on the bones? That can be synthesized and made to feel with technology that exists today, which will undoubtedly improve in the coming years.

      I'd take death first.

      I sincerely doubt anyone would be forced to do this. I would but that's a personal choice.

      That ended up being kind of long.

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  • dom180
    11 years ago

    I think all of this will happen, but not by that near in the future. All this "transferring consciousness" stuff is very fuzzy to me. It would take some pretty major scientific revelations for that to be considered possible. Not saying it won't - I actually think it will - but not for a long time. Not within the next 33 years.

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  • Legion
    11 years ago

    My question is, if someone were actually able to put their consciousness in a robot, or to download themselves into a computer network, would it actually be the person who downloaded themselves, or just a simulation based on their personality and thoughts at the moment of download.

    so, would it actually be the real you, or just something that looks and acts the same as you?

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  • howaminotmyself
    11 years ago

    I am not familar with this idea and I'm not sure how I feel about it. But I don't think I want to trap my consciousness in a box, so to speak. I mean, it kind of is now. It's firmly in place inside my body and doesn't get out much. And I don't remember what it was doing before it entered this body but I'm pretty sure it was ready to move on when it did...except that one time.. And I'm curious to see where it goes next when it is done with this body.

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