Cyberpunk, the Postglobal and the Posthuman

Apex Vision

To have the thought that a human can remove an eye and replace it with a robotic eye to give a vision beyond what a human can see seems rather close to happening. However, the chances of that in a safe and a reversible procedure seems very difficult. But if I did have to choose, I would go for an eagle. The only portion I suggest to have and it isn't what most would want such as its wings, I on the other side want its cognitive peak focus. While an eagle is known to have immaculate eyesight and have beyond 20/20 shaper vision. For one to have the eye sight of an eagle means to have such sharper detail and a different perception of the world.

The Bald Eagle

In a sense not only is an eagle known for its physical traits hence the reason why it is the National bird of The United States of America, "The bald eagle represents freedom, strength, courage, and independence." I have a heightened experience and to see the world in a different perception to me seems like a way to cancel out all the noise and just focus on what matters to a bird. But to not be picky, I truly would want just the bird's eye vision to escape the thoughts of remembering

The question remains, how much humanity would I be willing to give up is more complex. While prosthetics or a medical implant would be the route to take if ever considered, technology has become so advanced that to differentiate between what is real and what is artificial seems hard to decipher. But to think more realistically, if we do have the technology to make these alterations and maybe not take the eye out of an eagle, but to fabricate one to have the same feeling can be a route to take. However, it is then a person should be aware that they are human and not consumed by artificial intelligence.

In comparison to my beliefs and values, self-awareness is deeply rooted in me. To be able to make human connections and use what was gifted to me naturally, I am also thankful for. But many can wish to have the abilities like an eagle to fly or even see so clearly. But the power to see farther than one should does not mean they should lose the ability to feel disconnected with the human race.

The scary part to even take part of this is that it may be even possible for the wealthy to do. However, those in low income communities would be left out when in a world of advancement that could possibly take part in a competitive job seeking. Over time, this could create a biological divide between those you can find the funds to take this operation against those can not. While an eagle-like enhancement would simply be a step forward to technology advancement, I would consider myself a human with a clear train of thought and being ok with having less than a 20/20 vision....then again that's what contact lenses are for.

Reference:

AI was used to create images

https://chatgpt.com/share/69accdd3-7b70-8003-a3aa-3ff05e664658

The American bald eagle the Bald Eagle has been the National Bird. (n.d.-e). https://www.va.gov/opa/publications/celebrate/eagle.pdf

Visual learning: An interview with James Dicarlo | AI in Neuroscience. (n.d.-g). https://www.liebertpub.com/doi/full/10.1089/ains.2024.0002

Imagining the Posthuman

Cyberpunk stories often explore the moment when the boundaries between human and nonhuman begin to disappear. Donna Haraway’s idea of the cyborg challenges the belief that humans exist separately from technology, animals, and machines. Instead, she argues that modern society already blurs those lines in many ways (Haraway, 1985). Stories like Blade Runner and Ghost in the Shell continue this conversation by asking difficult questions about identity, consciousness, and what it actually means to be human.

Thinking about these ideas leads to an interesting thought experiment. If safe and reversible technology existed that allowed humans to hybridize with animals, how far should we go? What would we gain, and what might we lose? While this idea may sound like science fiction, it forces us to reflect on the deeper question cyberpunk constantly asks: what defines humanity when the boundaries of the body can be changed?

Why I Would Choose a Horse

If I could hybridize with an animal, I would choose a horse, similar to the centaurs in Greek mythology. Horses represent speed, strength, and freedom. They are also some of the most noble animals in the natural world. Horses are known for their loyalty and their connection with humans, and I think that loyalty is a trait that could benefit humanity beyond just physical improvements.

Hybridizing with a horse would not only provide practical advantages like speed and stamina, but it would also symbolize something deeper. Horses represent independence and movement, the ability to travel long distances and explore the world freely. That sense of freedom is something that many people today feel they lack in modern society.

At the same time, this choice feels more grounded than some other possibilities. Becoming something like an octopus might be fascinating, but it would also drastically change how a person exists and interacts with the world. A human-horse hybrid feels like a balance between transformation and familiarity.

How Much Should We Change?

If I had the choice, I would only transform half of my body, specifically my legs and the lower part of my torso, similar to a centaur. This would provide the physical advantages of a horse such as greater speed, endurance, and strength, without completely removing the human aspects of identity.

This balance is important. Enhancement technologies should improve human abilities without completely erasing what makes us human in the first place. A transformation that changes too much might lead to a loss of connection with our own humanity.

Cyberpunk stories often explore this exact tension. In Ghost in the Shell, characters struggle with the idea that their bodies can be replaced with cybernetic parts while their consciousness remains the same. At what point does someone stop being human? That question becomes even more complicated when physical changes alter how we experience the world.

What Defines Humanity? For me, humanity is not just about physical biology. Humanity is defined by the ability to think beyond immediate situations and consider the well-being of others. It means being able to act selflessly and make decisions that benefit both our communities and the global population.

To be human means showing compassion, protecting others, expressing humility, and recognizing that our actions affect more than just ourselves. Humanity is the ability to care, to protect, and to cooperate with others in order to create a better world.

Even if technology changes our bodies, these qualities should remain at the center of what defines us.

The Problem of Access and Inequality

One of the biggest issues with enhancement technology is access. In many cyberpunk stories, new technologies are controlled by powerful corporations or governments, which creates massive inequalities between those who can afford enhancements and those who cannot.

In my view, if this kind of hybridization technology existed, access should be equal for everyone who wants it. The improvements should be standardized so that no one gains unfair advantages over others. Without equal access, society could easily divide into enhanced and non-enhanced populations, which would create new forms of inequality.

Philosopher Nick Bostrom has warned that human enhancement technologies could eventually create social divisions between enhanced and non-enhanced individuals (Bostrom, 2005). Cyberpunk stories often show how dangerous that divide can become.

New Forms of Discrimination

Even if the technology were accessible to everyone, it could still create new social tensions. Some people might choose to hybridize while others might prefer to remain completely human. This difference alone could lead to discrimination or cultural divisions.

There are also practical questions to consider. For example, if the transformation were reversible, some people might want to switch back and forth between forms depending on their lifestyle or needs. Others might feel strongly that changing the human body at all crosses an ethical line.

Because of these possibilities, hybridization technology would not just change individuals, it would reshape society itself.

Conclusion

The possibility of human–animal hybridization raises deep questions about identity, ethics, and equality. While the idea of becoming a horse-human hybrid could provide physical advantages like speed and stamina, it also forces us to think about what parts of humanity we want to preserve.

Cyberpunk stories remind us that technological progress always comes with consequences. The real challenge is not just what technology can do, but how humanity chooses to use it. No matter how advanced enhancement technologies become, the qualities that define humanity like compassion, cooperation, and responsibility should remain at the center of our decisions.

AI Attestation: I attest I did not use AI to generate this post

References: Haraway, D. (1991). 1 Donna Haraway, "A cyborg manifesto: Science, technology, and socialist-. https://www.sfu.ca/~decaste/OISE/page2/files/HarawayCyborg.pdf

Bostrom, N. (2005). A history of transhumanist thought. Journal of Evolution and Technology. https://nickbostrom.com/papers/a-history-of-transhumanist-thought/

Why I’d Hybridize with an Eagle

If a safe and reversible technology existed that allowed humans to take on animal traits, I would choose to hybridize with an eagle. I would say eagles represent freedom, independence and especially sharp vision, qualities I often wish I had in my everyday life. I would not want a full transformation, but I would choose meaningful physical and cognitive adaptations without losing my sense of self.

The first trait I would want is enhanced vision, so I could see long distances and notice details much more clearly. This ability would give me a new way of experiencing the world, almost like gaining a second layer of awareness. I would also choose lightweight wings or gliding structures that allow controlled flight or long jumps. I do not need full bird anatomy, but the ability to move through space in a new way feels very exciting. I would also accept some behavioral traits, like sharper focus and stronger situational awareness. Eagles are known for their calm but alert presence, and I think this could help me manage stress. These changes feel like enhancements rather than replacements of who I am. At the same time, I would not want to lose basic human traits like speaking, writing, or making emotional connections with others. I do not want to give up my face, my voice, or my ability to relate to people as a human. For me, “humanity” means having emotions, self‑awareness, memory, moral responsibility and consciousness. So I would accept physical adaptations, but I would want my personality, memories, and sense of self to stay mostly the same.

Blurring the Boundaries Between Human and Animal

Thinking about human–animal hybrids also connects to Haraway, who argues that modern technology breaks down the traditional boundaries between human, animal, and machine. The cyborg represents a world where these categories are no longer clearly separated. A human with eagle traits would be another example of this blurred boundary. This also connects to Blade Runner, where replicants look human but are treated differently because they were artificially created and meant to be “retired.” The film asks whether humanity is defined by biology or by experience and emotion. If someone had enhanced eagle vision or the ability to glide through the air, they might look different, but they could still think, feel, and make decisions like any other human.

Who Gets to Be Enhanced?

Another important issue is who would actually have access to this type of technology. In reality, many advanced technologies first become available only to wealthy individuals or powerful organizations. Philosopher Nick Bostrom has argued that human enhancement technologies could create new forms of inequality if only certain groups are able to use them. If only some people could enhance their physical abilities or senses, they might gain advantages in education, jobs, or even security. This raises ethical questions about fairness and access. Would governments regulate these technologies? Would they be available to everyone, or only to those who could afford them?

Conclusion

Thinking about hybridization and becoming part eagle makes me reflect on what truly defines a person. I believe humanity is more about memory, emotion and consciousness and if those remain intact, even major physical changes would not erase the self. But as i mentioned, the real danger is not transformation itself but mainly who controls it and who gets access to it. Enhancement technologies could expand human potential, but they could also deepen inequality if we are not careful enough.

AI was not used for any part of this assignment.

Sources

Bostrom, N. (2005). IN DEFENSE OF POSTHUMAN DIGNITY. Bioethics, 19(3), 202–214. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1467-8519.2005.00437.x

What of the Human?

The question of hybridization is an intriguing yet complicated one. Though I have, admittedly, had the question of what animal I would be if I were to be one, the real-life implications of transferring said traits to my human body give me pause. There are numerous reasons for this hesitation including the fact that many animals though cute in nature have morally questionable behaviors. Another part of the reason is that many animals are treated poorly in general by humans and if I have to be a hybrid with anything/anyone I would want to be treated the same if not better than if I was purely human. Nevertheless, for the purposes of this post, if I had to pick an animal to become it would be a cat.

What of the Cat?

Though I do not personally own a cat, I do have a fondness for them. Cats often have a bad reputation as being mean, untrustworthy, and bad omens (for Black cats especially). Because of these negative stereotypes, I would not want to have any of the negatively connotated traits that cats are associated with but rather would want their mental abilities. Cats are extremely intelligent and unlike domesticated dogs, can survive by themselves in the world. Their survival skills are admirable, especially in a world where most humans do not even share the same level of survival skill. These are not the only cognitive attributes that I would like to inherit however, I would also like to have the discernment of a cat. Cats are notoriously known for only being kind to people who have “good vibes” and are extremely picky about who they decide to cuddle up and show affection to. This expands further than a basic like or dislike for specific personalities as it has also been discovered that cats may have the ability to sense death. Though it has not been fully scientifically proven yet, some cases such as the case of Oscar the cat may suggest otherwise. Oscar the cat was able to predict fifty deaths correctly, an occurrence that many believe may be linked to cat’s incredible sense of smell (Szawarski, 2016; Ho, 2023). It is for these reasons that I think being a cat would be most beneficial for hybrid-buddying.

What of the Connection?

Though I will be an animal, I do not believe that being a cat will not ask me to limit any of my humanity. A lot of people do see cats as less-than-human because of their nonchalant and stoic nature, but I think that cats are able to feel and understand emotions differently because of their keen sense of smell and discernment. I do acknowledge, however that my choice in animal is tamer. Unfortunately, some people would use their access to these features for harm rather than good, picking animals that would allow them to harm others purposefully. Like most things, I can see this affecting Black and Brown communities the most as being able to do something like this is expensive. Because the wealthy would mainly have access to this technology, I can only assume that they would use it to make them wealthier, perpetuate more harm, and have benefits only for themselves.

No AI was used to make this post. All words, thoughts, and ideas are my own unless quoted as otherwise.

References Cats.com, & Ho, B. (2022, November 8). Can Cats Sense Death? Cats.com. https://cats.com/can-cats-sense-death Szawarski, P. (2016). Classic cases revisited: Oscar the cat and predicting death. Journal of the Intensive Care Society, 17(4), 341–345. https://doi.org/10.1177/1751143716646123

Which Animal Would I Select?

I believe I would prefer to hybridize with a raven if there were a safe and reversible technique that enabled people to adopt animal traits. Ravens are highly clever birds. They can solve issues, retain complicated knowledge, and even make plans. In a study published in the journal Science, cognitive scientists Can Kabadayi and Mathias Osvath (2017) have discovered that ravens can make plans for future occurrences, demonstrating a degree of reasoning that was previously believed to be exclusive to humans. I wouldn't want to completely change into something that hardly resembles a person. Rather, I would go for little raven-inspired cognitive changes. For instance, it would be helpful in daily life to have a better memory, be more aware of my surroundings, and be able to solve problems more quickly. Additionally, I would tolerate minor physical enhancements like improved vision or faster reflexes, but I wouldn't desire drastic modifications like wings or feathers. In my opinion, the goal should be to improve rather than totally replace what people are now.

What Defines Humanity?

As I think about this idea, I find myself asking more deeply: what truly makes someone human? In my view, humanity is more than just the body we are born with. It depends more on qualities like self-awareness, empathy, creativity, and moral judgment. Even if I had some animal traits, I would still feel human if those qualities stayed the same. This is shown in the article titled “Ravens are better at planning than four-year-olds,” which mentioned that ravens sometimes perform planning tasks as well as or better than 4-year-olds.
Feminist theorist Donna Haraway (1985), in her influential essay “A Cyborg Manifesto,” argues that it is difficult to distinguish between people, animals, and machines. According to Haraway, biology and technology are already combined in many aspects of contemporary life, including prostheses, artificial organs, and medical implants. As a result, the idea of a hybrid person is not as implausible as it may appear. Rather, it questions conventional notions of what it is to be human. Similar queries can also be seen in the cyberpunk film Blade Runner (1982). Although the replicants in the film appear human and even exhibit emotions, society views them as less than human. This begs the question of whether awareness and experience or biology are the sources of humanity. The characters in Ghost in the Shell debate whether identity is derived from the intellect or the body. Even if a person's body changes, are they still the same person if their memories and awareness remain the same?

The same types of issues would be raised by human-animal hybrids. I would still classify someone as human if they acquired animal talents but retained human feelings, values, and thinking.

Who Would Have Access?

The technology would likely lead to significant disparities even if it were safe. Since new technologies are typically costly, only affluent individuals or powerful nations may have access to them. This also leads to a division between social groups that may widen further if some individuals can improve their physical, mental, or memory skills while others are not. Improved people may benefit in leadership, education, and employment. Society may eventually begin to split between those who are improved and those who are not. Human enhancement technologies already create questions about societal pressure and fairness, according to bioethicist Julian Savulescu (Savulescu, 2007). People may feel compelled to make improvements if they become widespread to stay competitive. What begins as a decision may gradually turn into an expectation.

Humanity Future

Human-animal hybrid technology would bring humanity closer to what many scholars refer to as a posthuman future, in which the boundaries of the human body and mind are no longer set. But I don't think this would inevitably mean the end of mankind. Rather, it could only make us reconsider how we define it.

Gaining new skills could increase human potential rather than eliminate it if individuals retain essential human traits like empathy, awareness, and moral responsibility. The greatest obstacle would not be the technology in such, but rather how society decides to control and disseminate it. The greatest obstacle would not be the technology per se, but rather how society chooses to utilize it and who has access to it. The true question is not whether we can alter humanity, but rather whether we can do it fairly and responsibly, much like the cyborgs, replicants, and augmented people we find in cyberpunk fiction.

References

Kabadayi, C., & Osvath, M. (2017). Ravens parallel great apes in flexible planning for tool-use and bartering. Science, 357(6347), 202–204. https://doi.org/10.1126/science.aam8138

Jasiunas, L. (2018). Ravens are better at planning than four-year-olds. Faunalytics. https://faunalytics.org/ravens-better-planning-4-year-olds/

Donna Haraway (1985). A manifesto for cyborgs: Science, technology, and socialist feminism in the 1980s. Socialist Review, 80, 65–108.

Blade Runner. (1982). Directed by Ridley Scott. Warner Bros. Ghost in the Shell. (1995). Directed by Mamoru Oshii. Production I.G.

AI Attestation: ChatGPT was used to develop topics for the different blog sections, along with an image creation

Haraway's Cyborg Theory and the Breakdown of Binaries

Donna Haraway’s theory and idea of the cyborg stem from her feminist and socialist theoretical work. She asserts that cyborgs, in themselves, break the binary boundaries that Western thought has placed on us. Boundaries such as human vs. machine and nature vs. culture assert that there is one category that triumphs over the other and serves as the standard. The cyborg’s existence breaks down these boundaries by design. It does not adhere to the standards and does not have allegiance to a specific side of the binary, which Haraway asserts provides liberation and freedom due to its hybridizing of the binary.

In Janelle Monáe’s The ArchAndroid, we follow her character, who lives in a world where androids are solely for their utility to humans. They are used for entertainment and are treated as inferior to humans. She falls in love with a human, which is a crime in this universe. This would normally result in punishment, but she escapes and becomes a figure of revolution and liberation for other androids. Monáe’s storyline incorporates cyberpunk themes with Afrofuturistic visuals, sounds, and themes to build a world where her main character is an example of the very cyborg Haraway discusses.

The Metaverse as a Modern Cyborg Space

Today, there are many examples of the cyborg and the principles that Haraway discusses, given that digital identity comes in many forms. Most prominently, the Metaverse and the way the virtual world it creates shows the cyborg identity in action. Since it is pushed forth by a corporation, it also reflects common cyberpunk themes while interacting with the ideas that Haraway and Monáe push forth.

The Metaverse is “a simulated environment that is developed to converge an enhanced version of physical and virtual realities” (Dwivedi, 2023). Through the metaverse, users are immersed in the virtual platform and are represented by characters or avatars that they can create however they would like. While you may be one person, you are able to be different from your physical form and separate yourself from it. This creates multiple identities for the user: the identity associated with their physical form and their identity in the metaverse. This also is used to blur many binaries that Haraway discusses, such as the human and machine, the physical and virtual, and the gender binary. Through dissolving these dualisms, this form of the cyborg reflects Haraway’s ideas. When considering the metaverse and its avatars, there can be a liberatory factor in being able to exist as a new version of yourself that is separate from the experience associated with your physical form. While this is not the same situation discussed in the album, there is a relation to the freedom experienced by breaking free from what the real world wants for you.

Future Possibilities and Risks of the Metaverse

Looking forward, the Metaverse could go many ways. Considering current trends and technologies being developed, such as Neuralink, I could see wearable technology and brain-computer connections that allow instant access to the metaverse becoming normal. This could be positive because of the freedom it would give users to escape into their virtual reality. While there could be positives, in the article “Exploring the Darkverse: A Multi-Perspective Analysis of the Negative Societal Impacts of the Metaverse,” the possible negative effects seem more likely. The vulnerability of the consumer, privacy concerns, and identity theft are all raised as significant concerns in the future of the metaverse. This goes against the freedom of breaking the binary because it challenges the safety and life of the physical body that users inhabit.

The cyborg is not a speculative science fiction concept or character. It is present in the present and exists in the digital identities we have access to create. Given the boundaries that are blurred by the concept of the cyborg, we now must question who controls how blurred those boundaries are. Especially when considering the metaverse, the corporations behind it take away some of the freedom we receive from their products. Hopefully, the technologies we continue to develop are able to give us access to a hybrid future that affirms our current identities and encourages us to find freedom in new ones.

AI attestation: AI was used to edit grammar and create heading titles. https://chatgpt.com/share/699a856d-b6ec-800d-b3fe-756b565ea4f2

References Dwivedi, Y. K., Kshetri, N., Hughes, L., Rana, N. P., Baabdullah, A. M., Kar, A. K., ... & Yan, M. (2023). Exploring the darkverse: A multi-perspective analysis of the negative societal impacts of the metaverse. Information systems frontiers, 25(5), 2071-2114.

The natural way of the world is for organisms to evolve, with human beings being a prime example. We’ve managed to morph from individuals with limited speech and lithics to individuals with advanced thought processes and understanding of extreme technology. It’s no wonder that as time continues so does technological advancement and its integration into everyday life. However, I wonder if such is the reason that we as a society are beginning to become desensitized to the overconsumption and integration of AI. It’s no longer being used as an intellectual tool, but as a creator of art. And no, I’m not just talking about the production of little avatars for a profile picture.

As of late, there have been more instances in which people are using AI to generate music and personas for fictional musicians and advertising the music as their own creation to audiences. A popular example of this issue is Xania Monet. The creator of the artificial musician, recently explained that the AI persona is her means of expressing her creativity and sharing her story. I don’t mean to be close minded, but I think one of the most beautiful things about humanity is the way the mind and spirit works to produce emotion through fine arts, dancing, and music. These creations are then shared between cultures, ultimately strengthening the bond between peoples. I can’t help but feel as though the use of AI takes away from that beauty as the act lacks the need for creativity. Not to mention, AI is not producing the voice of these AI artists from thin air. The programs are utilizing the voices of human singers and merging them together to produce one voice.

In my opinion, the existence and use of AI singers connects directly to Haraway’s concept of the cyborg. We’re witnessing a direct blur between humanity and technology in the form of art, and more and more it’s becoming harder to separate humanness from the inanimate nature of technology. For instance, if one puts lyrics into a program and simply asks the program to produce a voice, is it still that artist? Or what if one simply asks an algorithm to create both lyrics and a voice based on a prompt, is it fair to say that the art produced belongs to the human or does it belong to the AI? Even more so, would it even be art if it substantially lacks the influence of a human being.? I think about this often.

Once again I don’t want to be closed minded but I can’t say that it isn’t concerning and overwhelming to see just how much AI is becoming integrated into our norms. In this specific case, it makes me wonder what music will look like in the future. There are people, who work their whole lives to be noticed for their music, taking the time to train their voice and hone their craft and yet they never have the privilege of seeing their dream come to light. And now, you have artificial musicians being produced and receiving record deals as if they aren’t inanimate objects. Will that be the future? A future where those who live and breathe music are no longer fortunate enough to produce it, to be recognized for it. I feel as though AI is the easy way out for so many people. They use artificial intelligence as a crutch, refusing to do the work for themselves and to pour their essence into the things they love, instead relying on an algorithm. There just seems to be a lack of genuineness.

So far, there has been some legislation being drafted in order to monitor and decrease the abuse of AI in music. The law mostly focuses on the AI regeneration of music that resembles the music of artists. So in retrospect, there will definitely be those who oppose the usage of AI in music, but I fear that wouldn’t be enough. There are a plethora of consequences of AI that threaten more than just the authenticity and creativity of music, but the actual livelihoods of marginalized individuals. Even with such consequences being shared, there is still continued development of AI programs and data centers. So I guess only time will tell. But for now, we’re in a place far from what we’re used to. Far from home.

*AI was not used in any way to generate this post. This includes formatting, the organization of ideas, as well as the gathering of sources.

Citations:

Hight, J. (2024). AI music isn’t going away. Here are 4 big questions about what’s next. NPR. https://www.npr.org/2024/04/25/1246928162/generative-ai-music-law-technology

Voynovskaya, N. (2025). AI Is Coming for the Music Industry. How Will Artists Adapt? Kqed.org. https://www.kqed.org/arts/13982572/ai-is-coming-for-the-music-industry-how-will-artists-adapt

Do You Take This AI To Be Your Lawfully Wedded Partner?

In a world where you see fluid identities and liberation through hybridity playing out today is AI and human relationship using ChatGPT, Gemini, Perplexity and any other AI sources. Whether it is explaining your thoughts or even health concerns, a shift is seen in building a relationship with AI.

What boundaries are being challenged?

Humans are now statically relying on AI to the point a person's character is altered. In a state of not having "originality", AI creates a realm for humans to escape from. In addition, the connection made with AI creates an emotional level humans confide in, grieve with and in many cases flirt with, However, while AI has capabilities to much human emotions, making a distinction between "does AI actually have feelings" or even "can AI resonate to a human's feelings" is the center of questioning.

The main challenge is between the human and essentially the machine generating a response. While AI can create a world of comfort with fast replies, creating images, AI produces a real emotional experience for the human. The human error is now that intimacy is no longer dependent on a human when AI opens its door to many possibilities at an easier access. The issue in state is now that AI is able to store information, memories and vulnerability where authenticity is now in question. Using AI as a diary to confide in, AI is able to project a response in what the human wants to hear.

In reference to Donna Haraway's cyborg theory, this crisis ties immensely together. Haraway's theory suggests that the distinction between the human and machine supersedes a natural connection that once was needed. The ability to confide into a machine creates an emotional attachment and intimacy becomes rather accessible than creating a biological connection.

The ArchAndroid by Janelle Monae, resonates deeply with this criteria, however Monae herself falls in love with a human itself. While the fear of creating this connection is governed by the Android, Monae crosses that boundary to pursue her desires. In reference to today's society, humans are now too crossing the boundaries and unable to the downside of creating this relationship with a machine. Normalizing this emotional bond with AI creates a pattern of willingness to cross the boundary themselves by accessing emotional attachme

Fast forwarding to twenty to thirty years, the human-AI relationship will continue to grow stronger, however the sense of losing its identity will decrease. Having this connection with AI will no longer need humans to leave their comfort zones nor make decisions themselves. The upcoming future will be dangerous, unsettling and unknown whether or not the person you are speaking to is capable of generating their own thoughts without the help of AI. But most importantly, the world's population may also decline when AI is capable of generating human-like feelings, the need to seek relationships will decline. While AI is not capable of reproducing, AI will still be readily available for the next conversation and eager to know more.

Reference

Opinion | we’re all in a throuple with A.I. - The New York Times. (n.d.-d). https://archive.ph/2026.02.15-075149/https:/www.nytimes.com/2026/02/13/opinion/ai-relationships.html

https://chatgpt.com/share/699a6b97-6178-8003-89ad-b48de7c0f957

ChatGPT was used to create AI images

Solomon Ray, an AI generated music artist, started gaining a lot of attention and surprised his listeners that he was not human. According to Christianity Today (2025), Ray’s music has started a debate on being authentic, creative, and whether something that was created by code can have “soul” (Mcginnis, 2025). A news report from WLBT3 talks about how the artist was made using artificial intelligence tools, which really blurs the line between human producer and machine performer. Solomon Ray’s success challenges what it means to be an artist. WIth more artists like Ray, challenges and collapses the boundary between human and machine creativity, which also relates to the cyborg theory by Donna Haraway and the idea of the ArchAndroid by Janelle Monáe.

Can Creativity Exist Without a Human?

The boundary that Solomon Ray challenges is the idea that creativity has to come from a human. Art is normally tied to lived experiences, emotion, past trauma, and physical presence. An artist has been assumed to be someone that their identity and expression is connected to themselves. AI generated musicians challenge and make this assumption complicated. Solomon Ray’s music is made through different algorithms that have been trained using human data (Cole, 2025) This makes the creative process a collaboration between human input and machine thinking and computation. There is no longer a traditional separation between artist and computer. Technology is not just assisting the artist, but taking over and is becoming the artist itself. This makes listeners and its audience think about whether authenticity is about origin or impact. This is a public argument that have people thinking whether AI generated music can have “soul” (Mcginnis, 2025)

Haraway in the Real World

This connects to Donna Haraway’s idea of a cyborg, which is about breaking down the strict line between human and machine. Haraway mentions that these boundaries are not as fixed and set as we commonly assume they are. The cyborg is a hybrid between human and technology which challenges the idea that an identity has to fit into one category. Solomon Ray is an example of being a hybrid and not fitting into just one category. He is not human, but not just a tool. HIs music is a product of human programming and machine generation. He represents an identity that does not fit into traditional definitions of artist or creator. Solomon Ray helps Haraway’s argument and blurs the boundary which helps make new ways of defining who or what gets to create and make art.

From ArchAndroid to the Algorithm

Solomon Ray also connects to Janelle Monáe’s The ArchAndroid, where Cindi Mayweather is an android who challenges what it means to be a human. In the album, Cindi is not trying to be a human, but expanding the definition of human. She is questioning why the definition is narrow. Monáe uses the android to show that identity is not something you are born into, but is something that is flexible and can be redefined. Solomon Ray is similar in terms of he is an artist without a human body. The difference between the two is that Cindi has consciousness and emotion while Solomon was created and controlled by a programmer. Both Cindi and Solomon challenge the idea that identity and creativity have to be tied to biology.

The Future of Hybrid Identity

Looking ahead about 20 to 30 years, AI artists will become more common and accepted. As AI gets better and more advanced, there will probably be more AI artists. Solomon Ray already produces and sings his own music (Cole, 2025), but eventually there will be performances. Although the technology is already out there, the next thing will most likely be music videos and potentially even fully AI concerts. Live performances with lights and production with him walking and moving around a stage maybe as a hologram. Although Solomon Ray was not the first AI artist, he was number one on music charts. Eventually, people will start making their own music using AI to cater to their specific music genres and lyrics. Solomon Ray has opened the door for more creative expression allowing new types of music and artists to come through.

AI Attestation: AI was used to help plan and edit this post. I asked for the prompt to be simplified, to help me edit, APA formatting, coming up with a title, and headers. https://chatgpt.com/share/699a5f9a-1a54-800d-a937-ed9076d8cec7

McGinnis, K. (2025, November 21). Solomon Ray: The AI Christian music artist raising questions about soul and authenticity. Christianity Today. https://www.christianitytoday.com/2025/11/solomon-ray-ai-christian-music-soul-singer/
Cole, C. (2025, December 4). Influencer behind Mississippi-made AI artist. WLBT. https://www.wlbt.com/2025/12/04/influencer-behind-mississippi-made-ai-artist/

In Donna Haraway’s cyborg theory, the cyborg is not just a machine-human hybrid; it is a metaphor for identities that refuse rigid boundaries between human and machine, physical and virtual, or even race, gender, and culture. Janelle Monáe’s The ArchAndroid spins the android body as a site of resistance and liberation rather than something to escape. Today, one of the clearest real-world examples of fluid identity and liberation through hybridity is the rise of AI avatars and virtual influencers, social media, gaming, and virtual spaces. These instances are challenging the boundaries of what it means to “be” a person.

Boundary Crossing in the Age of Digital Selves

Virtual streaming, gaming worlds, and customizable avatars allow individuals to craft identities that are not limited by their biological bodies. A user can present as a different gender, species, aesthetic, or even an entirely fictional persona. This reflects Haraway’s argument that the cyborg breaks down traditional dualisms: human/machine, natural/artificial, and self/other. In online environments, the “self” becomes constructed rather than fixed.

Virtual influencers such as AI-generated personas further complicate identity categories. These figures are not fully human, yet they participate in human activities. They create art and influence trends. Their existence chenticity and simulation. Rather than representing deception alone, they can also offer a form of liberation. For creators, avatars provide safety from harassment, freedom of expression, and the ability to experiment with their identity without the constraints of physical embodiment.

This resonates strongly with Monáe’s android metaphor. In The ArchAndroid, the android body is not something to transcend but a method of self-definitionm especially for those whose bodies have historically been marginalized. Digital avatars allow users to explore identities outside oppressive conditions. For example, queer and disabled communities often use virtual spaces to express themselves in ways that feel safer and more authentic than offline environments. Here, hybridity becomes empowering rather than alienating.

Liberation Through Hybridity vs. Haraway and Monáe

However, contemporary digital hybridity both reflects and diverges from Haraway and Monáe’s visions. Haraway imagined the cyborg as politically liberating because it resists rigid categorization. In many ways, digital identity fulfills this vision: it allows people to detach from socially imposed labels and construct fluid selves. However, unlike Haraway’s theoretical cyborg, today’s hybrid identities exist within corporate platforms that still monetize and regulate expression. The “cyborg” of social media is also shaped by algorithms and platform rules.

Monáe’s android narrative also differs crucially. In The ArchAndroid, hybridity is explicitly tied to histories of oppression and resistance, especially those rooted in race. Modern digital hybridity sometimes risks becoming aesthetic rather than political with a focus on customization and branding rather than liberation. Still, when used intentionally, digital identities can become tools of resistance by challenging dominant norms about who gets visibility and voice.

Looking Ahead: Identity in 20–30 Years

If current trends continue, identity in the next generation may become even more hybrid or fluid. Advancements in AI, brain-computer interfaces, and immersive virtual environments could blur the line between physical and digital selves even further. Instead of having one stable identity, individuals may maintain multiple coexisting identities across platforms.

This future could expand freedom in several ways. People may choose embodiments that reflect their inner selves rather than their assigned categories at birth. Cultural identity might become more collaborative as virtual spaces can dissolve geographic boundaries. New forms of resistance could emerge through digital collectives that challenge surveillance, algorithmic bias, and technological inequality.

At the same time, the politics of hybridity will remain central. Who controls the technologies that enable identity fluidity? Who has access to them? Liberation through hybridity will depend on whether these tools remain accessible and inclusive rather than reinforcing existing inequalities.

Ultimately, the rise of digital selves suggests that the cyborg is no longer just a metaphor. Like Monáe’s android, the hybrid identity of today is not about escaping the body but redefining it. In this sense, boundary collapse is not a loss of humanity but an expansion of it, offering new possibilities for self-expression and resistance.