Tech enthusiasts are getting enthusiastic again. A common refrain among this online faction is 'Don't die.' While generally good advice, in this context it means that AI development is getting us close to the technological singularity. This, in turn, will inexorably lead to radical life extension, unless the bots kill us first.
I don't personally take this very seriously as it breaks the universe's most fundamental law: Nothing Ever Happens. However, the idea does raise interesting philosophical questions.
If we could all live to, say, 300+ years old, would that be a good thing?
I reckon no.
An aging society
Such radical life extension would likely cause a further drop in fertility rates, for instinctive reasons we don't understand well. Rather than dramatically increase the population, it's more likely that the world would plateau and become much older, on average.
What would that be like?
Stagnant.
Source: Japan.
Look, I'm fairly old. My audience is generally older. Let's be honest: innovation mostly comes from the young. They have the energy, the ready-for-anything attitude, the chip on their shoulder. They're the ones who have something to prove.
We older chaps just want a little comfort in the second half of our lives. Our conversations are mostly about real estate prices and blood pressure.
The old naturally conserve that which is safe and familiar. Senior scientists defend their early work, blocking progress. Politicians hold on to power for decades longer than is wise. Companies are dominated by relics who make teeth-sucking sounds whenever a young whipper-snapper suggests a bold move.
You have all seen this to some extent. I have seen it to a greater extent. If life extension is achieved, we will see it to a ridiculous extent.
No country for young men
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