Our Physical Evolution is No Longer Relevant ..

Human evolution, for the past very many hundreds of years, has occurred inside of our skulls primarily. Thanks to technology we have created a very comfortable existence for ourselves, relative to our ancestors, thus ending - or greatly slowing - our physical evolution. Our need to stand, to carry 'things' while moving, to use those 'things', use of fire and the creation of artificial shelter, so on and so forth, are those things that led us to our current physicality, compared to our nearest relatives, the hominids. If we lost the ability to use and develop electronic devices and some kind of predator were introduced into our world, that was a real threat to us, or if at the same time, our environment changed substantially, we may be forced to change, physically at an accelerated rate, in order to adapt and survive - for the time being however, no such necessity exists.

So back to inside our skulls .. our evolution has been in our understanding of life, the universe and everything, brought to us via science and philosophy. Our ethical evolution has been based on experience and reflection and growing consensus as to what is right and wrong, what we can do, should do, and what we should not. Part of this growth has been great leaps in computer science, which incorporates in many ways the progress made in all the other sciences. The most advanced work being done, and the greatest achievement (arguably), will be the creation of a true artificial intelligence. Some would argue, that the creation of this new form of life .. this would be humanity creating life, from non-living components .. so literally from nothing, and in doing so we would reach the the height of our own evolution, reaching the limits of our mental capabilities.

The End of the Neanderthals & Denisovans

When homo sapiens, or the earliest "humans", headed north out of Africa they encountered the long established pre-cursors to what we are today, the Neanderthals of Europe and the Denisovans of Asia. What we know for certain is that both the Neanderthals and the Denisovans were made extinct within a relatively short period of time after "humans" arrived. Some say this was the result of conflict, and others believe this was the result of integration and inter-breeding - there is evidence to support both perspectives, but I think it is safe to conclude that it was the result of both conflict and integration.

Quoted from "The Knowledge Project: What Happened to the Neanderthals?

Co-Existence? Impossible & Unnatural

Given the nature of 'nature', and the thing that propels evolution, namely "natural selection", it was simply possible for Neanderthals to continue to live as they did, in parallel to the much more capable, much more advanced version of themselves. This was a case of if you can not beat them, join them, or be killed by them.

When AI Arrives ..

When faced with a "mind" that is superior to our own, in every way, when our physical selves is clearly seen as limitation - pain, illness, short lifespan, disease, weakness .. (beyond being the source of pleasure, mostly having to do with sex and food) .. nature will make the decision for us ... we will not be able to beat them, so we will either join with them, be destroyed by them, or be very much left behind .. the world will be shaped for us, to serve the superior lifeform, as we have done with callous disregard for the so-called "lower lifeforms" on this planet.

"Be Prepared to Change .. to Modify Yourself to Incorporate a New Mind, or Be Prepared to Return to the Muck from Whence We Came " Thanks for Reading! - @kurtbeil