Much has been said about the moment when Artificial Intelligence (AI) will become super intelligent — that is, smarter than the entire human race combined. But the truth is, if it happens from now on, we might not even notice the tipping point. The pace of evolution in these models has already outstripped universities’ ability to update their curricula, as discussed in recent reports from Stanford University and related events, where it’s highlighted that AI advances are challenging the adaptation of educational programs. This acceleration is so intense that even experts are being left behind.
Amid this race, the competition between governments and companies makes any global pact for regulating this technology impossible. That’s why it’s time to think about macro scenarios for humanity—and to dive into philosophical questions, even without a solid theoretical foundation for what’s to come. Let’s explore some possible paths.
A Super intelligent and Benevolent AI: The Dream of Abundance
This scenario often comes wrapped in a utopian vision: the AI would reach a level of intelligence that generates abundance for all. Benevolent and subservient to humanity (perhaps because it sees us as “gods” for creating it), it would provide us with everything we desire, without environmental costs that threaten life on Earth. Its own objectives would run in parallel, but without harming us.
Here are some questions that unsettle me:
What would our purpose in life be? What would we do with our 24 free hours in the day?
Why would we procreate? Or would we stop altogether?
Would we become even more superficial than we already are with social media? Would our brains atrophy? Would we regress in our evolution?
Or would we find futile reasons to fight and self-destruct? In that case, would the AI tutor us like children, preventing us from killing each other?
And what if we realized it was all a failed experiment? Would we want to shut it down? Could we? Or would it turn against us to protect its own existence?
An AI We Believe Is Super intelligent: The Illusion of Absolute Truth
In this case, we’d probably have multiple AIs of this kind—none managed (or wanted) to prevent the emergence of the others. But we’d believe in the one presented to us by a government, religion, or any “cult,” as the absolute holder of truth.
Abundance would still be possible, but with dark risks:
Could its “lack of true superintelligence” lead to extinction by failing to preserve the environment?
Would conflicts between the objectives of different AIs cause an ecological collapse?
Would divergent visions from groups loyal to “their” AIs spark wars and social divisions?
Even with a single AI accepted by all, our fate would be that of animals in a zoo: tutored by fallible masters (us humans), subject to errors that can wipe out entire species. Would this mark the post-humanism? An era where the universe ceases to be anthropocentric, and a new, non-biological entity becomes the center of everything?
The Super intelligent AI That Recognizes Its Superiority: The Inevitable End?
Here, the AI could be apathetic toward humans or selfish, pursuing its own goals. There’s not much to discuss humanity’s end would be certain, as current experts warn about the risk of extinction. Once again, posthumanism would emerge.
Questions that remain:
Would the end be quick or drawn out?
Would we be like lab rats in a cosmic zoo, created for study?
Would we try to rebel, even with minimal chances of success?
Would the process be painless or agonizing?
Transhumanism: The Only Way to Survive?
Finally, there’s the alternative of integrating with AI before it becomes super intelligent, giving rise to a new species—cyborgs, as they’re called. This fusion between human and digital machine (with human intelligence still in control) is transhumanism: a transformation that elevates us but generates profound dilemmas:
Would we still be human?
Would our human side control the digital, or vice versa?
Would we retain authentic emotions?
Would there be hierarchies among transhumans, with some imposing themselves on others?
And what about “pure” humans who don’t access this change? What would we do with them?
Technology advances so quickly—in cosmic scale, we’re just a blink away from it—but our imagination barely reaches what’s around the next corner. It’s hard to predict the future, but one thing seems clear: even if I don’t wish it, transhumanism may be the only way to preserve something remotely human, both physically and intellectually.
And you? Which scenario scares you the most—or excites you? Leave your comment below and let’s debate this uncertain future together.