We do not discuss trans-raccoonism that much since even a transraccoon would
still be less intelligent than a human. Put another way, in terms of future
boundaries of possibilities it makes sense only to concentrate attention on the
group that would possess the highest level of intelligence. In a weak AI
future, that group very well could be transhumans. However, in a strong AI
world it appears highly probably that some nonhuman nonbiological group would
be at the top of the intelligence "heap".
A fair amount of discourse exists concerning what such ultra-intelligent
artificial minds would "do" with humans (or transhumans for that matter). Some
scenarios have humans being discarded but allowed to exist. The scenario I
consider more probable would be the eventual eclipse of humanity. This
scenario is based on several assumptions about the nature of superintellgient
nonhuman entities which I will not go into here.
I submit that such discourse is irrelevant. Does it matter what happens to
humanity in a strong AI future? The raccoon example serves as a useful
parallel. Is there significant (or any) discourse on the fate of raccoons (or
any nonhuman biological lifeform) in a transhuman future (regardless of the
variation)? Not that I am aware of. Why? Its irrelevant. What does it
matter what happens to raccoons in the future?
Following the consequences of a strong AI future leads me to believe that
transhumanity and the very fate of humanity (and transhumanity) will become
irrelevant. After a cursory review of this conclusion I do not see any way to
avoid this conclusion. We have moved from a geocentric to heliocentric to
baryonic to anthropic view of the universe. Our own universe may not even be
that big of a deal, one of a virtual infinity of universes. Now it seems, that
in a future where the strong AI hypothesis holds true, that humanity is
irrelevant. Though I would rather not sound melodramatic (maybe its too late
for that) it appears rueful that we would have the ability to fathom our own
irrelevance.
I invite others views on such a future and ways in which humanity
(transhumanity) can maintain relevance. Then again, is "relevance" such a
noble goal in the first place?
Doug Bailey
doug.bailey@ey.com