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The Race to New Races
Dec. 19, 2024. 9 mins. read.
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From AI caregivers to cyborg animals, our future can be a symphony of life forms. But can we balance innovation with ethics in this race toward a new epoch?
The Epoch of Humans, Machines, and the Blended Future
Imagine a race where the competitors are not human athletes but futuristic entities: AI-powered robots, enhanced humans with digital interfaces, and biohybrid animals equipped with sensors. This isn’t a sci-fi fantasy; it’s our imminent future—a blend of human, robotic, and biological life, racing toward unknown potentials. As we stand on the brink of this new epoch, we must ask ourselves: how do we coexist equitably and responsibly?
A New Kind of Evolution
In this “race,” how many humanoid AI beings will walk among us ten years from now? And how many cyborg-enhanced humans will be part of our everyday lives? Imagine a city where humanoid AI outnumbers human residents in specific sectors, such as elder care or customer service. What social dynamics would arise if half the people you interact with each day aren’t human?
Evolution used to be a slow, natural process. Today, we are the architects of new forms of life—creating robots, cyborgs, and hybrids in labs, each representing a leap into an ethically complex future. As companies like Tesla and Neuralink redefine what it means to be “alive,” we face critical questions: are we creating tools or companions? And how will this affect our society?
In the field of human augmentation, companies like Neuralink are developing brain-computer interfaces that promise to blend human intelligence with digital capabilities, creating a future of “enhanced humans” with expanded mental and physical abilities. Non-humanoid robots are also advancing, with specialized robots like Starship’s delivery bots reshaping logistics, and Boston Dynamics’ Spot handling tasks that are dangerous for humans.
And then there are the cyborg animals, bridging biology and robotics in an entirely new way. For instance, cyborg cockroaches equipped with electronic backpacks can be remotely controlled, assisting in search and rescue missions. Even more intriguing will be cyborg mice, lizards, fish, and birds designed with implants that allow scientists to direct their movements in a controlled setting. These animals could someday scout hazardous areas or gather environmental data too risky for humans to access.
As David Hanson, the founder of Hanson Robotics, eloquently stated, “If we create life in a machine, should it not be a good life?” Hanson’s words highlight the ethical dilemmas that accompany this race. Are we creating tools, or are we forging new forms of life?
| Category | Company/Project | Description | Market Introduction Estimate |
|---|---|---|---|
| Humanoid Robots | Tesla Optimus | Tesla’s humanoid robot aiming for factory use by 2024, broader availability by 2026. | 2024-2026 |
| Humanoid Robots | Figure AI Humanoid Robot | Figure AI’s general-purpose humanoid robots, with market potential in the next few years. | Next few years |
| Cyborg Humans | Neuralink | Developing brain-computer interfaces (BCIs), in human trials, 5-10 years for wider use. | 5-10 years |
| Cyborg Humans | Precision Neuroscience | Developing flexible electrode arrays for brain interface, potential in 5-7 years. | 5-7 years |
| Non-Humanoid Robotics | Boston Dynamics’ Spot | Quadruped robot used in construction, safety, available commercially since 2020. | Available since 2020 |
| Non-Humanoid Robotics | Starship Technologies’ Delivery Robots | Autonomous delivery robots operational in select markets since 2018, expanding. | Available since 2018 |
| Cyborg Animals | Cyborg Cockroaches | Remote-controlled cyborg cockroaches for search/rescue, experimental, 3-5 years potential. | 3-5 years |
| Cyborg Animals | Cyborg Jellyfish | Biohybrid jellyfish for ocean monitoring, experimental stage, possible in 5-7 years. | 5-7 years |
In the past, human evolution was a slow process shaped over thousands of years. But today, we’re entering an era of rapid technological evolution, where robots and cyborgs are crafted in labs rather than born in nature. This race toward “new races” is both exhilarating and daunting. Tesla, Boston Dynamics, and Figure AI are among the leaders in humanoid robotics, striving to create machines that resemble us not only in form but also in cognitive function. Tesla’s humanoid robot, “Optimus,” is already expected to debut in factories by 2024, with home use anticipated by 2026.
Would you trust Tesla’s Optimus humanoid robot to care for your child or assist a loved one in a hospital? A child grows up with Optimus as a nanny and teacher. How does this relationship shape their understanding of humanity, emotion, and intelligence? Conversely, could Optimus “learn” to feel attachments in the course of caregiving?
If your friends or colleagues enhanced their cognitive abilities with brain-computer interfaces, would you feel compelled to do the same to stay competitive? Picture a workplace where half the employees have cyborg enhancements, increasing their productivity. Would unenhanced workers feel left behind, and how might this impact social and economic divides?
Would you trust Optimus not only to care for your children but to be cared for by them? Could children develop empathy and a sense of responsibility toward humanoid robots? A classroom uses humanoid robots for interactive learning, and children form attachments, even expressing worry when a robot “gets tired” and needs maintenance. What does this say about the nature of empathy and care in human-robot relationships?
The Benefits of a Blended Future
The possibilities are transformative: humanoid robots could assist the elderly, cyborg animals might scout hazardous zones, and enhanced humans could overcome disabilities. But these benefits come with profound risks. Could enhanced humans form an elite class, deepening social divides? Will cyborg animals pose ethical dilemmas? As we advance, we must balance ambition with caution.
| Technology | Potential Benefits |
|---|---|
| Humanoid Robots | Elderly care, hazardous jobs, routine healthcare tasks |
| Cyborg Humans | Enhanced cognitive/sensory abilities, disability support |
| Cyborg Animals | Search/rescue, environmental monitoring |
For cyborg animals, the benefits are especially poignant. A swarm of cyborg cockroaches could help locate survivors in earthquake rubble, or a team of cyborg mice might inspect collapsed mines for dangerous gases before humans enter. These hybrid beings extend human capability into environments that would otherwise remain inaccessible, reducing risk to human life.
Would you support the use of cyborg animals like dogs or birds to inspect disaster zones if it saves human lives? What if it meant some might be harmed in the process? Scenario: after a natural disaster, cyborg dogs enter a collapsed building to locate survivors. Some get crushed or damaged, and an activist group raises concerns. Are they just “tools,” or does their biohybrid nature require ethical oversight?
The Dangers of the Race
But the risks of this rapid evolution are just as profound. Enhanced humans with implanted technology could create an elite class, leaving those without such enhancements at a disadvantage, socially and economically. As Sam Altman, CEO of OpenAI, warns, “Artificial intelligence will be the best or worst thing ever to happen to humanity.” A society that cannot keep pace with these advancements risks deepening inequality and mistrust.
There are also concerns about control. Autonomous robots and cyborg-enhanced animals are vulnerable to hacking and malfunction. A glitch in a cyborg mouse could lead to unintended consequences in a high-stakes environment, and unmonitored robots could misinterpret commands or take unintended actions. Demis Hassabis, co-founder of DeepMind, has cautioned, “We must be mindful not only of AI’s capabilities but also of its potential to disrupt the social fabric if it is not managed carefully.”
What happens if a human-like robot or cyborg-enhanced animal malfunctions or is hacked in a high-stakes situation? Imagine a cyborg hawk programmed to patrol a stadium, scanning for security threats. If hacked, it could cause chaos or harm. Are there sufficient safeguards, and who is accountable?
| Technology | Potential Risks |
|---|---|
| Humanoid Robots | Job displacement, ethical concerns |
| Cyborg Humans | Socioeconomic divides, privacy concerns |
| Cyborg Animals | Control issues, ethical considerations |
Ethical Questions and Collaborative Competition
This “race” toward advanced robotics and human augmentation should ideally be a cooperative one. Instead of viewing it as a competition where one technology or company “wins,” we should aim for a collaborative model that benefits all of society. Developing shared ethical standards, open communication protocols, and cooperative research initiatives are essential to achieving this goal. If robots, cyborgs, and humans learn collectively, the risks of siloed innovation and isolated development can be reduced.
However, this approach raises more questions than answers. How do we protect the rights of enhanced humans and humanoid robots alike? Should biohybrid animals like cyborg cockroaches, cyborg mice, lizards, fish, and birds be afforded some level of ethical consideration? Can we ensure that these technologies remain under human control, and how can we foster trust in a world that includes autonomous robots and biohybrids?
As companies race to create the best humanoid or biohybrid technology, how do we prevent “winner-takes-all” scenarios that could concentrate power in a few hands? Imagine a future where one company monopolizes advanced humanoid technology and refuses to share protocols for security and ethical oversight. What mechanisms should be in place to ensure transparency and societal benefits?
The Path Forward: Unity and Responsibility
As we embark on this transformative journey, we must approach these technologies with both ambition and humility. Creating humanoid robots and cyborg entities isn’t just about showcasing technical prowess; it’s about building a future where humanity flourishes alongside its creations. Fei-Fei Li, professor of computer science at Stanford, reflects on this with clarity: “We are the designers of our future, but we must also be its guardians.”
Our task, then, is to blend innovation with responsibility, recognizing that each step forward alters not only the world around us but also our understanding of ourselves. For a successful outcome, we must strive for cooperation over competition, ethical oversight over exploitation, and inclusivity over elitism.
Final Questions for Reflection
In this close race toward new races, there is still much to consider.
- How can we maintain our humanity—empathy, creativity, responsibility—as we create beings that may one day rival us?
- What measures can ensure that robots and hybrids are allies, not tools or threats?
- Are we ready to treat biohybrids and cyborg animals as part of our ecological web?
Just as the wisdom of the Garden teaches humility and respect for the boundaries of our understanding, we must approach this new era with reverence, recognizing that true progress lies in balance, stewardship, and compassion. The choices we make today will shape whether this race leads to mutual advancement or an existential divide. By asking the right questions, we can work toward a future where humans, robots, and hybrids coexist, each adding value in a harmonious ecosystem that honors all life, both natural and created.
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