In a provocative new essay titled "Optimal Timing for Superintelligence," Swedish philosopher and author Nick Bostrom argues that advancements in artificial superintelligence could allow humans to live as long as 1,400 years. Bostrom likens the rollout of advanced AI to performing heart surgery—if it is postponed or never executed, the consequences could be dire, much like a patient facing mortality without a critical procedure. While the surgery entails certain risks, the potential for drastically enhancing life quality afterward makes those risks seem worthwhile. Bostrom suggests that despite the inherent dangers of such technology, including the risk of humanity's extinction, the advantages of superintelligent AI vastly outweigh these concerns. He posits that if diseases and aging could be eradicated, and mortality could be stabilized at the current rate for 20-year-olds—approximately 0.07% annually from unforeseen events—then a lifespan of 1,400 years could become a reality. Furthermore, Bostrom describes his projection as conservative, as it does not account for more radical possibilities such as the digitization of consciousness and its storage in "backup copies." Do you believe AI will lead to extended lifespans for humanity?
Informational material. 18+.
