ALTERED STATE
HUMANITY AND AI IN THE MACHINE AGE
By J. Scuderi / Lasergun Factory
The 21st century is marked by significant changes driven by artificial intelligence (AI). As machines advance, humanity plays a dual role: both guiding this evolving technology and adapting to it. The rise of AI raises important questions about the trajectory of human development: Are we progressing alongside these intelligent systems, or are we potentially moving toward a state of devolution?
[ ODYSSEY ]
The journey of AI began with early pioneers like Alan
Turing, who laid the groundwork for machines to
perform basic reasoning in the mid-20th century.
Today, AI is part of our everyday lives through tools
like voice assistants and self-driving cars, helping us
process vast amounts of data and uncover patterns
that even humans might miss.
However, AI still has its limits. While it‘s excellent
at specialized tasks, it doesn‘t possess the broad,
flexible intelligence that humans do. The idea of
artificial general intelligence (AGI) — machines that
can think, learn, and innovate across different areas —
remains largely a dream. If AGI is achieved, it raises
a significant question: Will humans stay in control, or
will we become more dependent on machines to do
our thinking for us?
Some worry that as AI advances, human thinking
skills might diminish. If machines take over more
intellectual tasks, we could become less mentally
engaged, leading to what some view as a decline in
our own abilities.
[ FOUNDATION ]
AI’s development relies heavily on human data. The
vast datasets that power AI come from our actions —
such as online interactions, searches, and purchases.
In this way, humans are the foundation of AI’s growth,
much like genes drive biological evolution.
AI learns from both our strengths and weaknesses,
optimizing processes beyond what we can achieve.
Unlike humans, machines don’t get tired or biased,
making them more efficient. However, this also
raises important questions about our future role as
machines outperform us in more and more areas.
As we hand off more tasks to AI, we might risk losing
some of our own skills. Our creativity, focus, and
problem-solving abilities could decline as machines
take on more responsibilities. It’s possible that we are
laying the groundwork for a new form of intelligence
that evolves from what we’ve contributed.
[ SOUL ]
AI’s influence isn’t limited to our brains and bodies —
it also touches on the concept of the human soul,
often linked to creativity, emotion, and spirituality.
Traditionally, these qualities have been seen as
uniquely human, but now they’re being explored
through the lens of transhumanism.
Transhumanism envisions a future where technology
enhances human abilities. Innovations like neural
implants, advanced prosthetics, and digital mind
uploads could extend our lives and reshape what it
means to be human.
This vision hints at a future that breaks free from our
biological limits, but it also brings challenges. As
technology becomes more integrated into our lives,
the line between human and machine might blur.
The individuality and depth that define our humanity
could be at risk, and we might find ourselves
in a world where collective intelligence values
efficiency over creativity. Instead of elevating our
consciousness, the merging of human and machine
might dilute what makes us truly human.
[ THRESHOLD ]
AI fundamentally relies on human memories,
ideas, and data, which act as its DNA foundation.
This connection underscores how our collective
knowledge shapes AI’s evolution and capabilities.
While it evolves rapidly with human data as its
foundation, there’s concern that we may lose
important skills and characteristics by relying too
heavily on machines.
However, the future doesn’t have to be a choice
between evolution and devolution. There is potential
for humans and machines to collaborate, combining
our strengths to create a better future. The decisions
we make today about integrating AI will determine
whether we lose some of our human uniqueness or
enter a new era of cooperation.
Right now, humanity is at a crucial crossroads: Will
we become the foundation for a more advanced
species, or will we take an active role in shaping a
future that includes both humans and AI? Only time
will tell whether we remain creators or merely the
starting point in a new evolutionary journey.