I came across a Web site today that will be of some interest to those interested in speculating about alien life: The Future Human Evolution Website at humansfuture.org.
Yes, it is about human life and not alien life, but speculating about the future of human evolution and speculating about alien life, especially alien sentient life, overlap. If there is a Universal Biology, then examining the evolution of human life and the future of our evolution (both natural and artificially guided) will inform our discussion and speculations on the evolution of alien sentient life.
Technology Singularity: Or, We Are Borg
The overlap is particularly salient when it comes to speculations regarding the technology singularity—when technology advances to the point that it becomes sentient. This advancement also allows sentient races that feel they have reached the limits of what biology can do for them to integrate themselves (partially or, eventually, fully) with advanced technology and machines.
This is also referred to as “postbiologic.” Some scientists feel that this technological singularity may arrive for the human race as early as 2040, though most feel that it is more likely to be much later, in the year 3000 or so.
The concept of a technological singularity, where artificial intelligence surpasses human intelligence, has intrigued scientists and futurists for decades. As advancements in technology continue to accelerate, the possibility of reaching a point where machines become sentient becomes increasingly feasible.
This notion has given rise to the idea of postbiologic integration, where sentient beings can augment themselves with advanced technology, blurring the boundaries between biology and machinery. While some speculate that the arrival of this technological singularity could occur as early as 2040, others are more cautious, predicting a much later timeframe, perhaps around the year 3000.
