The story of life on Earth began with a single cell organism which was just a combination of some organic materials. Overtime, this simple cell organism evolved into much complex life with specialised cells performing specialised function.



Over billions of years, different evolutions resulted in different species and in time these evolved differently yet again and that’s how, life as we know it and see here on Earth came to be. This is quite an oversimplification, but you get the point.


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We humans are a result of the same process as well. We were once a primate species and over millions of years, we evolved to become what we are today, an intelligent species capable of the most complex thoughts.


Our intelligence is quite a unique feature and has allowed us to achieve countless things since the days of the early men. This asset of ours is the single reason why our modern civilisation stands where it does today.



Our Intelligence Rivalled


If science fiction novels are anything to go by, there comes a time in every intelligent species’ history, when the species tries to replicate its intelligence, thereby, creating its own. There is a certain allure to being able to create what nature took millions of years to achieve herself. 


The fact is, we have already begun doing it and you might have heard it by the name of Artificial Intelligence (AI). Much has been said and written about AI, which grows in capabilities day in and day out. In fact, the intelligence that we have created is getting so mart now, that it is beginning to rival our own. 

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AI is beating us at poker, it is beating us at a game called Go and that too just not anyone but champions and experts in these games. AI is also solving problems for us which we couldn’t earlier, helping doctors diagnose diseases much faster than us. AI is behind the wheel now and running our homes too and most recently, AI is making other AI!



It is not difficult to imagine that soon, in the not so distant future, AI might surpass us in intelligence and could start making decisions for us. This is not something that is said by someone to sound dramatic anymore. This is becoming a reality, and it is becoming fast. Our intelligence is being rivalled and there is only one way we can solve it (at least according to some experts).



Evolution


We know for a fact that in nature, those species who adapt to their environment quickly survive for a longer duration than those who don’t. This adaptation is often a result of evolution giving the species new means to cope. 

We are at a point where we need to evolve into higher intelligent beings. Ones who can match the intelligence of AI. If we leave it to nature, we might take millions of years to get there, even if. So, scientists have been looking for ways to achieve the same at a much faster rate (like within a span of a few decades).


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All this sounds so bizarre not like anything that sounds even remotely possible. It is so unconventional and controversial and sounds like something that mad scientists do in their basements.



But, it is true and we are going to get a big announcement of some kind in about a month and the man behind it is non other than Elon Musk, the very man who brought to us self driving cars, affordable solar power, Hyperloop and the dream to one day travel easily in space through his endeavours in SpaceX. 



The Neural Lace

A neural lace is a thin and supple device that can be implanted inside the brain which will grow and merge with the brain itself essentially creating a merger between man and machine. 



Such a device will allow us to optimise our mental output and access the internet at all times. This sentence has a huge gravity to it because we are talking about ascending humanity to the next level of existence. In theory, in the future, this could allow us to merge with AI itself. 


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The neural lace will also enhance our cognitive abilities that are at par with a super powerful computer. Also, it could help us repair the human brain that is damaged by diseases such as Alzheimer’s. And not only this, such a technology could allow us to reprogram our individual brains themselves, essentially transforming a person into whoever he wants to be in a matter of hours. We, it seems, are poised to become programmable beings. 

Elon Musk has said that there will some kind of announcement about this in the next month and the world is holding its breathe as to what it may be. We certainly need to be prepared to take on AI if it goes rogue which is something that worries even the most brilliant minds of this planet. Only time will tell.