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This article is adapted from episode #2 of the weekly series
L’hAI Sentito? – Tech News Bites
,
hosted by Antonio Venece, Director of Geeks Academy, and aired every Wednesday on Channel 14 of Italian national TV.
Introduction
In recent years, artificial intelligence and biotechnology have revolutionized medicine and surgery, making possible what was once science fiction. Today, surgical robots and nanobots perform complex operations with precision, reducing risks and speeding up recovery times. AI is also transforming drug discovery, enabling the identification of innovative treatments in record time. This is just the beginning of a journey toward a future where technology could one day surpass the limits of life itself.
Advanced technologies promise to cure diseases and extend life. According to Ray Kurzweil, former Chief Engineer at Google, technology may one day defeat aging - and perhaps even death. Kurzweil envisions digital avatars: virtual replicas of ourselves created from collected personal data. These avatars, built through AI and data mining, could mimic our behavior and interact with loved ones after our passing.
These “replicants” would exist in digital worlds - like the metaverse - where our family and friends could engage with realistic versions of us. After-Life Technology leverages immersive tools like VR and AR to create emotionally resonant experiences that offer comfort and new forms of human connection.
Another critical aspect involves managing personal data after death. Google, for example, has introduced a tool called Inactive Account Manager, allowing users to appoint trusted contacts to access their digital content posthumously. This helps ensure data protection and responsible management of our digital legacy.
Toward Digital Immortality?
Imagine a future where not just our digital data - but also our thoughts and experiences - can be digitized. Our minds might be transferred into robotic bodies or physical clones, creating a nearly immortal copy of ourselves. But this possibility raises profound questions:
Is a replicant a continuation of our identity - or merely a simulation?
Could it develop its own consciousness?
And what rights would it have?
Kurzweil predicts that we will eventually merge our biological intelligence with artificial intelligence. This could enable the creation of incredibly realistic digital avatars, based on complete neural and memory mapping of our brains.
These avatar could potentially be hosted in robotic bodies or human-like clones, pushing the boundaries of what it means to be alive. But again, key questions remain:
Would a digital replica with our memories and personality still be "us"?
If it develops autonomous awareness, should it be recognized as a being with rights?
After-Life Technology may redefine how we view death and legacy. People may no longer leave behind only physical assets, but also a digital presence - a version of themselves their loved ones can still interact with.
Conclusion
The prospect of digital life - or continued existence beyond death—is both fascinating and unsettling. As technology brings us closer to what once seemed unimaginable, we are confronted with deep ethical and philosophical questions. Leaving a trace of ourselves in the metaverse or extending our lives through robotic copies forces us to rethink what it truly means to be human.
Tools like Google’s Inactive Account Manager offer practical ways to handle our digital footprint, but the journey toward digital immortality has only just begun.
Ray Kurzweil’s reflections on the Singularity point to a future where technology becomes an intrinsic part of our existence, enhancing our cognitive abilities and allowing us to reinvent ourselves. Yet, with such potential comes responsibility - and uncertainty.
How will we define the identity and rights of a replicant?
Are we ready to consider a digital copy as a true extension of our being?
This article is adapted from episode #21 of the weekly series “L’hAI Sentito? – Tech News Bites”, hosted by Antonio Venece, Director of Geeks Academy, and broadcast every Wednesday on Channel 14 of Italian terrestrial TV.