OK, let's wrap up the TEDGlobal summaries with the final session, kicked off by Nick Bostrom, of the Oxford Future of Humanity Institute. Another big thinker, Bostrom challenged the attendees to think beyond our current understanding of human nature, to imagine what he called Humans+ and Humans++. This would enable us to confront what he sees as the three biggest problems for humanity:
- Death - usually not viewed as a problem because it is, "too familiar and too big"
- Existential risk - the substantial probability that humanity will not survive the 21st century
- Life isn't usually as wonderful as it could be - we're very familiar with the things we don't want--the absence of bad--but not all that clear about what positive things we do want.
We've heard these points before, which means these memes are being validated as legitimate points of intellectual discourse, not the work of crackpots. What would we have to change? Only human nature. Currently we try to change human nature through a wide range of methods and actions: clothing, mood modifiers, vaccinations, anaesthetic, cosmetics, contraceptives, brain-reprogramming techniques (e.g., reading, arithmetic). In the future we'll use: rejuvenative medicine, IT, nootropics, mood enhancers. These will improve our: health span, intellectual capacity, modality and special faculties (e.g., music, humor, spirituality, aesthetics, emotions, nurturing/caring), body functioning, affective self-control, conscientiousness/sympathy, . This will lead to greater subjective well-being, better ability to switch between relaxation and activity, greater capacity to choose emotions. This is when we will become Human+ and ++. Wow...I was impressed then and practically speechless now. I know it's difficult to imagine these enhanced human capabilites (which go far beyond DeGrey's), but it does my heart good to see someone thinking on this level, if only to continue to help us to dream.
Neil Gregory then did a three minute TEDster talk he entitled, "The Future Is Wet." Biology. In his words, "Professor Wang (I think the name is correct) has just invented the transistor"; that is, therapeutic cloning is close at hand. Gregory's predictions: 1) commercial application of biology within five years, 2) leadership in the individual application of biology will not take place in the US, 3) highly lucrative market ("how much money would you be willing to spend for rejenerative therapies?") Very provocative remarks.
So, speaking of dreaming, Peter Diamandis wrapped up the conference. The founder of the X Prize Foundation, Diamandis spoke of his life-long fascination with space. It is, he says, our "moral imperative" to explore space. Why? Curiosity (the weakest rationale), fear (someplace to go if things get really bad) and wealth (there's gold in them there asteroids!). Of course, the government will no longer be able to fund rapid space exploration; at $1 billion per shuttle launch, it can no longer take the risks. Once again, it's entrepreneurs vs. dinosaurs. The key metric is the cost of getting into orbit, Diamandis says, since 2/3 of the cost of getting anywhere in space is expended escaping Earth's gravity. Today that cost is $20 million per person; Diamandis believes he can do it for $100. How? Prizes!!
Diamandis wants to continue to use the prize model (you don't pay if no one wins) to skip the usual steps in attaining extraordinary goals (get people to believe, face ordeals, convince others, raise funds, deal with bureaucracies, failure), and instead cut to the chase using prizes. Going beyond sub-orbital space flight Diamandis wants his foundation to offer prizes for: orbital flight, energy conservation, genetic sequencing, water, medicine and social entrepreneurship.
Once again, it's exhilirating to see imagination on this scale.
So, overall TEDGlobal impressions? A few outstanding speakers, several very good ones and a couple of duds. As good as Monterey? Just about. Liked the questions from the audience, enjoyed the more geographically and professionally diverse attendees, and wish Chris could loosen up just a little bit more (a couple of his comments seemed unnecessarily strident, especially his "quips" to the Oxford folks invited in free on the last day). Despite a few quibbles the venue was very good. Would I attend another TEDGlobal? Yup.
Next scheduled brain expansions: Semi-Permanent in New York in September, Pop!Tech in October, and TED in February. Watch this space for reports!
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