Author: Zoe C.

Reading Time: 2 minutes

Living in a world where technology can make everything possible, even the hybrid of creatures-opening such a possibility stirs curiosity and ethical questions for enhancement in human capabilities by merging with animals. If I had to choose, I’d hybridize with a bear. Bears symbolize both strength and adaptability; I find this quite interesting. The ability to be joined with the bear would give me access to an immense amount of physical energy, along with endurance and survival capabilities.

I can imagine this hybridization extending into the body structure of increased mass, heightened stamina, and augmented sensory perception to allow me to pass through the world with more physical and sensational awareness. Bears hibernate for months, conserving energy, surviving in harsh conditions. This would be a good adaptability for the ever-changing, fast world we live in today. However, to such an extent, I would not go regarding hybridization but retain most of my humanity. As much as I do appreciate the bear’s physical capabilities, I would never want to lose my complex thinking, emotional depth, and human connections.

The bigger question, though, lies in how much of our humanity we would then be willing to give up for that Enhancement. For myself, I value my human experience too much to give up large parts of it. I wouldn’t want to trade my emotional intelligence or creativity for physical power. At the same time, on many levels, it would mean a lot to me if my physiology was enhanced in certain ways, mainly in this world, which is very appreciative of physical endurance and resilience.

This speaks to the reflection of what it means to be human. Would adding animal attributes to us really enhance our lives, or would that remove us further from the core of what makes us human? While fascinating, the prospect of merging ourselves with other species has many effects on the theme of identity and enhancement versus self-preservation.

Reading Time: 1 minute

Human augmentation, whether of body or mind, sounds like science fiction, but it’s now a field that’s rapidly approaching. Over the coming decades, we’re going to witness unimaginable breakthroughs that will blur the lines of what it means to be human. From physical enhancements to cognitive upgrades, the possibilities will test our understanding of ourselves and our limitations. In my lifetime, human augmentation will move from optional upgrades to essential tools. Wearables, such as smartwatches, are only the first step. Apple is constantly upgrading its products and using more and more AI. Neural implants could permit instant access to knowledge or perhaps even permit control of devices directly from the mind. Bioprinted organs and tissues may replace not only failing parts of the body but also improve them. Consider a liver, which can process alcohol more effectively, or even a heart that never tires. Physical augmentations like exoskeletons could give people superhuman strength and endurance, revolutionizing industries like construction or healthcare. If given the choice, I’d consider enhancements that help with learning and productivity. A neural implant that sharpens memory or improves focus would be appealing, especially as demands on our time grow. Physical improvements, like enhanced vision or better stamina, would also be useful, provided they were safe and reversible. However, I would draw the line at enhancements that involve changing personality, emotions, or individuality. It’s imperative to retain a sense of self, and anything getting in the way of this would feel wrong to me. Yet, these technologies come with risks. Will they remain affordable and available, or will they widen the social gap? Might they be turned to surveillance and control? As much as human augmentation excites me, we need to approach it with caution-balancing progress with ethics.
Ultimately, human augmentation is a question of choice. It’s about the choices we make to push our limits and the values we will uphold. That brings amazing potential; it’s up to us to use the technology wisely. Would you want these enhancements, or would you rather remain as nature designed you? Personally, I would take these enhancements with a grain of salt. It is obvious that every human being will want to improve their lives and make themselves better. There will just be a group of individuals who use this AI enhancement wisely and others who just take things overboard and forget what it is like to be human. If we use these enhancements safely, we can all shape this future of AI together.

Reading Time: 2 minutes

Having read several cyberpunk narratives this semester, I was intrigued by how that genre’s depiction of corporate power parallels our modern reality. The Tyrell Corporation in Blade Runner-with its monopoly on artificial life and “more human than human” motto-feels particularly resonant with today’s tech giants racing to develop artificial intelligence.
Look at how decisions in large technology firms, like OpenAI, are made by an assemblage of executives with limited public oversight or accountability for the development of global AI. Certainly, it resembles how the Tyrell Corporation could function almost autonomously, considering the strong ramifications of their replicant technology. Of course, we are not yet in the process of creating humanlike androids, but making advanced AI systems by firms like OpenAI, Google, and Meta raises similar ethical considerations: control, consciousness, and corporate responsibility.
The pharmaceutical industry is another out-and-out parallel. Without going to the radical extent of “pill funders” in Machinehood, recent real-life examples show disturbing similarities. The insulin pricing crisis, where corporations kept this lifesaving medicine at artificially high prices, shows how human needs are sacrificed at the altar of corporate profits. The opioid crisis, where pharmaceutical companies knowingly pushed addictive medications for profit, illustrates further this disturbing dynamic.
I do not believe that cyberpunk’s corporate dystopias are inevitable. Contrary to the uncontested corporate powers of those narratives, corporations today see growing resistance in the form of antitrust investigations, restrictive privacy laws like GDPR, and growing public distrust. What has set us apart is democratic institutions that still stand and public activism in dampening corporate power.
Some trends raise red flags: a never-before-seen concentration of wealth in technology companies, never-before-seen collections of personal data, and heavy corporate influence on government policy suggest we’re trending toward cyberpunk’s warnings. While these narratives often seem hyperbolic, they are important cautionary tales regarding where unchecked corporate power might lead.
What do you think? Is a cyberpunk, corporate-dominated future in our future, or are these tales of a truly hyperbolized criticism of capitalism? I am most interested in hearing others’ thoughts on what might make today’s tech and pharmaceutical giants different from those in fiction.