Author: Juleette A.

The Future of Human Augmentation

Juleette A.
Reading Time: 2 minutes

In my opinion, human augmentation is no longer confined to the realms of science fiction. As technologies like neuroprosthetics and brain-computer interfaces (BCIs) emerge, the lines between the natural and artificial grow increasingly blurred. Reflecting on the insights from our cyberpunk class, The Wandering Earth, and Hossain and Ahmed’s ethical analysis of neurotechnology, it’s clear that the future of human enhancement holds incredible potential, but it is brought with challenges

Human augmentation is positioned to transform how we live, work, and interact. In the medical field, which is a field I desire to work in, as highlighted by Hossain and Ahmed, technologies like BCIs and tactile neuroprosthetics could enhance cognition, precision, and sensory input for surgeons and physicians. Beyond healthcare, augmented reality interfaces, robotic exoskeletons, and memory-enhancing implants may become accessible, reshaping productivity and personal potential. In The Wandering Earth, we saw how technological ingenuity was essential for humanity’s survival; similarly, neurotechnologies could empower individuals to achieve beyond natural limitations, enabling faster learning, better decision-making, and expanded physical abilities.

However, as we discussed in class, such technologies also carry significant risks. Ethical concerns about autonomy, equity, and identity mirror cyberpunk narratives where augmentation creates dystopian realities. For instance, Hossain and Ahmed raise critical points about the dangers of malicious brain-hacking, loss of personal agency, and deepening social divides, all of which resonate with the cautionary themes of cyberpunk media.

In our lifetime, options for augmentation will likely range from sensory enhancements (such as improved vision or tactile sensitivity) to advanced cognitive implants that boost memory and attention. Hossain and Ahmed discuss how neuroprosthetics can be combined with tactile sensors to give surgeons the ability to feel during operations, enabling greater precision. Similarly, BCIs could allow individuals to interface directly with machines, streamlining tasks like education or professional training.

I would consider augmentations that enhance quality of life without compromising identity or autonomy. For instance, cognitive implants to improve focus or memory would be appealing, especially for tasks requiring long-term retention and problem-solving. Sensory enhancements, like advanced vision or hearing, could enrich daily experiences while maintaining personal agency.

However, I would reject augmentations that compromise mental integrity or exacerbate inequality. Hossain and Ahmed warn of malicious brain-hacking, where external agents could manipulate neural activity, stripping individuals of autonomy. This is unacceptable, as it poses risks not only to personal identity but also to broader societal trust. I would also reject adaptations that create unjust advantages, such as cognitive implants for competitive edge in professional or academic settings, as they could lead to new forms of discrimination and inequality.

The societal pressures to adopt augmentations are another concern. Hossain and Ahmed argue that non-augmented individuals might be perceived as inferior, leading to marginalization. This echoes the cyberpunk cautionary tales we’ve studied, where technology often amplifies societal divides rather than bridging them.

References: Hossain, S. Q., & Ahmed, S. I. (n.d.). Ethical analysis on the application of neurotechnology for human augmentation in physicians and surgeons. https://arxiv.org/html/2006.16925v3

Neuromancer’s Corporate Future

Juleette A.
Reading Time: 2 minutes

In the novel Neuromancer, by William Gibson a family called Tessier-Ashpool is introduced. The Tessier-Ashpool family is a dominant force to be reckoned with due to their combination of corporate power and familiant control. The family operates their suppressive dynasty from the Villa Straylight, where they control an immense amount of wealth and technology to sustain their influence across generations. The family is such a dominant force that they shape entire social structures.

Modern Society

Gibson’s Tessier-Ashpools are a chilling example of a world where corporate power transcends market boundaries, intruding into private lives and controlling individuals through technology. Today, corporations like Amazon, Meta, and Alphabet (Google’s parent company) have accumulated power that affects virtually every aspect of our daily life. Amazon, for instance, not only dominates online retail but also controls vast cloud computing infrastructure through AWS, hosting data for companies, governments, and nonprofits worldwide. This central position gives Amazon influence over the economy, public information, and even government operations which is a stark parallel to the Tessier-Ashpools’ economic and technological dominance in Neuromancer.

Likewise, Alphabet controls the information ecosystem through Google’s search engine and YouTube. The immense amounts of data these platforms collect allow Alphabet to shape user behavior and preferences, creating an informational monopoly where they control the knowledge people access. This power echoes the invasive control that Wintermute exercises over the characters in Neuromancer, who are manipulated by an entity that understands their desires, motivations, and vulnerabilities.

In addition, Google’s Alphabet development of AI in applications such as different algorithms embodies how AI can mold human behavior and choices. Due to users relying on these tools, the Google algorithms will influence daily decisions.

Imminent Reality?

In my opinion, Neuromancer is an extreme example of where corporations are headed. However, Gibson’s predictions about the future and technology have many parallels to society. Corporations such as Meta, Amazon, and Alphabet suggest that these companies are gaining a certain unchecked power which Gibson predicted. This unchecked power is similar to the power the Tessier-Ashpools desired in the novel. If there is not a system to limit the access and power that these corporations have, then Gibson’s future might soon be our reality

Image created by CHATGPT on November 12, 2024 (https://chatgpt.com/share/6733d65e-67dc-800a-a844-7f87878e5fc5)

Wings of the Peregrine: A Hybrid Dream in the Skies

Juleette A.
Reading Time: 2 minutes

If I had the chance to merge with another animal, my top choice would be the peregrine falcon. Known as the fastest animal on Earth, capable of diving at speeds over 200 mph, the peregrine symbolizes precision, freedom, and adaptability. I’ve always been captivated by the idea of soaring through the sky, unrestricted by human limits, with a perspective that only flight can offer. Becoming part peregrine would give me more than the thrill of flight—it would grant a connection to nature and a chance to explore the world from a bird’s-eye view. Flight is an ancient dream for humans, and through hybridization, it could become a reality. If given wings and heightened vision, I could travel beyond borders, experiencing life from a whole new vantage point, all without needing planes or parachutes.

However, this hybridization comes with a price: How much of my humanity would I be willing to sacrifice for such a gift? I would want to retain my human mind, emotions, and memories because they anchor my sense of identity. But I would be willing to let go of some physical traits—lighter bones to allow for flight, talons in place of hands, and perhaps the sharp instincts that peregrines possess. While these changes might alienate me from human society, the ability to escape the constraints of daily life would be liberating. I imagine gliding over mountaintops, riding the wind currents, and experiencing a sense of solitude that no human being on the ground could fully understand. In this form, I could live as both human and falcon—part observer, part predator—existing on the edges of both worlds.

The trade-off between freedom and connection would be difficult. While I wouldn’t want to lose my ability to communicate with people, I’d accept that living as a hybrid might mean spending more time alone. Yet, perhaps isolation isn’t such a bad thing—freedom often comes with some distance from others

This image was created using CHATGPT on 26 OCT 2024. https://chatgpt.com/share/671d6e94-4b0c-800a-8b37-608c3f999f5f

Beyond Boundaries: Exploring Identity in Janelle Monáe’s Dirty Computer and Haraway’s Cyborg Manifesto

Juleette A.
Reading Time: 2 minutes

In Dirty Computer, Janelle MonĂĄe constructs a dystopian world where individuals who defy societal norms are hunted down and “cleaned,” their non-conformity erased. This vision ties directly to Donna Haraway’s Cyborg Manifesto, where she imagines a future where identity is fluid, post-gender, and unfixed—a direct challenge to the rigid boundaries of race, gender, and sexuality that shape our current world. MonĂĄe’s work taps into Haraway’s radical ideas by using the metaphor of the “dirty computer” as a stand-in for the marginalized body, one that doesn’t fit cleanly into pre-assigned boxes.

In songs like “PYNK” and “I Like That,” MonĂĄe embraces this fluidity, celebrating identities that move beyond binary constraints. The body and the self are portrayed as ever-evolving, a concept that Haraway explores through her cyborg figure—neither fully human nor machine, embodying multiplicity. Both MonĂĄe and Haraway reject the traditional idea of purity or fixed identity, instead advocating for a world where hybridity is a source of strength.

MonĂĄe also shares Haraway’s critical lens on the systems of power that attempt to control and erase non-conforming bodies. Tracks like “Django Jane” and “Crazy, Classic, Life” serve as declarations of resistance, much like Haraway’s insistence that cyborgs are political, standing against the patriarchal structures that seek to categorize and dominate. Through MonĂĄe’s music, the cyborg becomes an empowering figure—one that reclaims autonomy in a world that tries to deny it.

Dirty Computer doesn’t just depict a dystopia; it imagines a path forward, a post-gender future where non-conforming identities are celebrated rather than erased. Like Haraway’s Cyborg Manifesto, Monáe’s album pushes us to envision a world that transcends the rigid boundaries of race, gender, and sexuality, offering a new, fluid way of being.

To dive deeper into this connection, you might explore Haraway’s Cyborg Manifesto. For a visual supplement, check out MonĂĄe’s Dirty Computer short film, which expands on the album’s themes of liberation and identity fluidity.

Quest for Identity

Juleette A.
Reading Time: 2 minutes

In 1982, Ridley Scott’s Blade Runner posed the question of the essence of humanity through the use of replicants which are lifelike androids whose creators were not able to strongly define their personhood. Two years later, William Gibson’s Neuromancer expanded the question into the digital landscape, where the human experience is processed through the logic of artificial intelligences and the vastness of cyberspace. Both works confront humans with a daunting truth: the more boundaries are pushed with technology, the blurrier the line between human and machine becomes.

For example, in the movie Blade Runner, the film revolves around Rick Deckard, a man tasked with “retiring” replicants—beings indistinguishable from humans except for their lack of biological birth. The replicants, especially Roy Batty, question the nature of their existence. Roy’s final monologue, also known as the “Tears in Rain” speech, reveals an inner life so rich that the audience is left wondering: If Roy can feel, dream, and regret, what truly separates him from us? His desire for more life, more time, echoes a fundamentally human fear—the fear of mortality.

On the other hand, in Neuromancer, Case, the protagonist, navigates the dark, shadowy digital landscape of cyberspace. Cyberspace is a place where the human consciousness can be uploaded, manipulated, even fractured. Much like replicants in Blade Runner, Case is caught between worlds, between the flesh and blood reality of his being and the virtual existence he embraces in the matrix. The AIs that Case interacts with such as Wintermute, defy the boundaries of human understanding, presenting a new kind of entity that is both more and less than human. This journey through cyber space forces Case to tackle the fragmentation of identity, where personal freedom is lost in digital manipulation.

Both works converge on one profound idea: that artificial beings, whether replicants or AIs, are mirrors held up to humanity. Blade Runner makes this personal, focusing on the individual quest for identity, while Neuromancer explores the more abstract implications of consciousness and freedom in a digital age. However, in both, the question remains what makes us human? Is it our memories and emotions, or the mere fact of being alive? In these dystopian futures, technology doesn’t just shape society; it reshapes the very concept of personhood. As we navigate our digital age, where AI grows ever more sophisticated and the boundaries between our real and virtual lives blur, the questions posed by Blade Runner and Neuromancer feel more relevant than ever.

AI or human thought?

Juleette A.
Reading Time: 2 minutes

According to evolution, humans are becoming increasingly smarter and better able to tackle complicated problems. The human mind has persisted in questioning outdated beliefs and pushing the boundaries of what is considered impossible. AI, or Artificial Intelligence, is a significant invention of human intelligence. AI was once seen as simply a tool for human work. Recently, the rules of the game have shifted. The line between human and non-human characteristics is becoming less distinct, and artificial intelligence is playing a key role in this transformation.

AI is no longer just operating in the background; it is now taking on tasks that were previously exclusive to humans. Consider this—virtual assistants such as Siri or Alexa, AI algorithms selecting our Netflix suggestions, and AI powering our vehicles. We used to view these duties as exclusive to humans. Now, machines are performing those tasks, and at times, they are doing them more effectively than we could have envisioned. The distinction between humans and machines is becoming increasingly blurred, causing us to reconsider the very definition of being human.

Over the last five years, AI has transformed from a fun gadget to an essential aspect of our everyday lives. AI is now being discussed by a wider audience beyond just tech enthusiasts. AI is employed for communicating with customer service, identifying medical conditions, and producing artwork. Our interaction with the world is evolving as AI becomes increasingly similar to us, or perhaps we are growing more similar to AI. This change is making us ponder the line between human intelligence and artificial intelligence. The previous guidelines no longer appear relevant, which is both thrilling and somewhat unnerving.

The shift is due to a combination of fast technological progress and societal shifts. Machine learning has become more intelligent, computers have become quicker, and there is now more data available. These factors have all come together to bring AI to the forefront. However, improvements in technology are not the only factor that drives this demand for more; people also desire greater convenience, efficiency, and solutions for complex issues. In a fast-paced world, AI provides a means to stay current, perhaps even take the lead. That is why we observe the line between human and non-human beginning to break down. In the futuristic world of cyberpunk, the blurred boundaries between humans and technology make the increasing presence of AI in our daily lives seem like a peek into tomorrow. The boundary is constantly changing, and we are still unsure of its ultimate destination. One thing is certain: the discussion on the essence of humanity has just started.