Will Humans Become More Powerful Than God? | Unveiled - video Dailymotion

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00:00 Have you ever witnessed a technology, or encountered a theory, and thought "wow, this is going

00:05 to change everything"?

00:07 For better or worse, it seems to happen more and more in the modern world, thanks to the

00:11 relentless pace of our own advancement.

00:14 And as a result, it's now more than ever that the old ways are not only being questioned,

00:19 but could well be on the brink of being replaced.

00:21 That's including some of the oldest, most entrenched, and most fundamental aspects of

00:26 life on Earth.

00:28 This is Unveiled, and today we're answering the extraordinary question; will humans become

00:33 more powerful than God?

00:35 Do you need the big questions answered?

00:37 Are you constantly curious?

00:39 Then why not subscribe to Unveiled for more clips like this one?

00:42 And ring the bell for more thought-provoking content!

00:45 There is no doubt that the concept of God has played a central role in shaping humankind

00:49 to this point.

00:50 In whatever guise, the idea of God has bred belief systems, entire cultures, and whole

00:55 societies throughout history.

00:57 From the polytheistic pantheon of ancient civilizations to the monotheistic traditions

01:01 of major world religions, humans have sought to understand and connect with a higher power.

01:07 God, however you view this unknowable figure, often serves as a moral compass, providing

01:12 guidance and purpose to individuals and communities.

01:15 Although of course, the exact role of God differs according to the diversity of our

01:20 kind.

01:21 Various religions, systems, and groups have presented their own unique perspectives.

01:25 In Hinduism, deities like Brahma, Vishnu, and Shiva are central figures, each representing

01:31 different aspects of the divine.

01:33 In Christianity, there is an emphasis on the Holy Trinity, the Father, the Son, and the

01:38 Holy Spirit.

01:39 Islam professes the belief in one God, Allah.

01:42 The ancients of Greece, Egypt, Rome, and Old Norse presented many gods, although usually

01:47 with one higher figure, such as Zeus or Odin.

01:50 In contrast, Buddhism focuses far less on a supreme deity.

01:54 Although that view in itself is arguably somewhat shaped by the significance of God elsewhere.

02:00 Regardless of what you believe, or if you believe nothing at all, the notion of "playing

02:04 God" has become more and more prominent in recent times.

02:07 Whether you subscribe to an overriding, supernatural, all-seeing force or not, everyone has some

02:12 form of understanding of what's inferred by "God".

02:15 And that supreme level of power has come to be a key consideration in contemporary scientific

02:21 research.

02:22 To this day, as our scientific and technological prowess has grown, the phrase "playing God"

02:27 is variously used to critique humanity's pursuit of capabilities traditionally associated

02:32 with a divine being.

02:33 Broadly, the criticism is rooted in ethical, moral, and philosophical concerns, questioning

02:39 whether certain advancements exceed the boundaries of what humans should ethically or responsibly

02:44 pursue.

02:45 So, have we already gone too far?

02:48 Or are there still plenty of more levels through which to ascend?

02:51 If we are not more powerful than God just yet, will we soon come to be so in the future?

02:56 One area where the accusation of "playing God" is most frequently heard is in the realm

03:00 of genetic engineering.

03:02 With the ability to manipulate DNA, scientists can now edit the genetic code of organisms,

03:08 potentially altering the course of evolution… on an individual, but perhaps even species,

03:13 scale.

03:14 CRISPR-Cas9 technology, for instance, has enabled precise gene editing, and sparked

03:19 debates about the ethical implications of modifying human embryos to eliminate genetic

03:24 disorders… or to create designer babies.

03:28 Critics view such possibilities as tinkering with the building blocks of life.

03:32 They argue, is nothing sacred anymore if even the most fundamental parts of ourselves can

03:37 be rewritten, reorganized, or simply deleted at source?

03:42 Elsewhere, an advancement in artificial intelligence has increasingly led to concerns about humanity

03:47 creating intelligent entities that may surpass our own cognitive abilities.

03:52 From self-learning algorithms to sophisticated neural networks, the development of AI has

03:57 triggered debates on the ethical responsibilities of creating potentially sentient beings.

04:03 Here, the question arises, are we playing God by bestowing machines with the ability

04:08 to think, learn, and make decisions?

04:11 What right do we really have to even try to create sentience in the first place?

04:15 And if we succeeded, what difference will there then be between ourselves and the God

04:20 that so many believers claim made us, that created will have turned creator?

04:25 Similarly, cloning is yet another area of research continually tagged with the same

04:30 kinds of warnings.

04:31 Of course, the cloning of animals has already been achieved, and it's a field that's

04:35 growing and growing and gathering pace.

04:38 So much so that, for some, the notion of cloning human beings is no longer science fiction.

04:43 Naturally, this potential to replicate individuals represents a massive challenge to our understanding

04:49 of uniqueness, identity, and the sanctity of life.

04:52 Cloning, along with many of the other apparently near-future technologies on the horizon, is

04:56 also billed by some as a potential route toward immortality.

05:00 For many, this is the ultimate end goal for all science - the greatest achievement that

05:05 humans could ever make.

05:06 But, on the other hand, if and when we become immortal, will we then have become less human,

05:12 as a result?

05:13 More broadly, transhumanism explores ways to enhance human capabilities, blurring the

05:18 line between the natural and the artificial.

05:21 Implantable devices, augmented reality, and brain-computer interfaces all aim to extend

05:26 our cognitive and physical abilities, and we're seemingly on the cusp of all of these

05:31 being readily available.

05:34 Transhumanism might also be viewed as a culmination of the modern age of technology; as a coming

05:39 endgame, blending all that we've learned and are learning about genetic engineering,

05:44 AI, cloning, and the rest.

05:47 This convergence of various technologies certainly presents intriguing possibilities, but the

05:51 question still inevitably arises; could future technology elevate humans to a level where

05:57 we surpass the traditional attributes associated with God?

06:01 Will we one day become not just as powerful, but more powerful than even our most supreme

06:07 of supreme beings?

06:09 Looking ahead, the development of AGI, or Artificial General Intelligence, represents

06:14 a potential huge leap in what a machine will be able to do.

06:18 AGI would possess cognitive abilities comparable to or better than those of a traditional,

06:23 organic human, across a wide range of tasks.

06:26 If left unchecked, there are thoughts and fears that AGI could itself become more powerful

06:32 than God, and quickly… and then that we will be inescapably trapped and under its

06:37 control.

06:38 If it is in any way interwoven with the fabric of humanity, however, as many hope it will

06:42 be, then the same might also be true of we humans, as well.

06:46 It'll be us that surpasses God, and perhaps even with ease.

06:50 Again, looming advances in biotechnology may soon offer possibilities for enhancing human

06:56 physical attributes.

06:58 From genetic modifications to regenerative medicine, the potential exists to augment

07:02 human strength, resilience and longevity.

07:06 While these developments could clearly hold great promise for addressing the many health

07:09 concerns of our species, they also raise the same ethical questions about tampering with

07:15 the natural course of life.

07:17 Mix improving biotech with AGI and the trajectory could soon skyrocket beyond anything that's

07:23 even comprehensible to us as we are.

07:25 Funnel all of the future's new information through brain chips and sensory improvers

07:30 of some kind, and suddenly we really could have knowledge and understanding that's

07:35 far, far beyond that which we have now.

07:38 Alongside all of this, there's our apparently constant want to physically travel and expand.

07:44 And as humans continually strive to explore and colonise outer space, in future times

07:49 when we may be powered by transhuman technologies, the idea of mastering the cosmos further echoes

07:55 the ancient myths of our gods being all-seeing, all-controlling, celestial beings.

08:01 Achieving interplanetary travel is one thing; potentially establishing colonies on a distant

08:06 world is another.

08:07 But if all that goes to plan, then humanity could one day elevate itself to a position

08:13 of unprecedented influence over the universe.

08:16 And if that sounds familiar, it's because it's what many envisage a true god to be

08:21 like.

08:22 With all of this in mind, is now a time to pause or put the pedal to the floor?

08:27 It's something of a central debate in all of scientific and technological research.

08:32 How do we ensure that there's a balance between what we can do, what we might be able

08:36 to do, and what we should do?

08:39 How do we move from the current climate of potentially "playing god" to the future

08:43 one in which we have the entire celestial toybox at our fingertips?

08:48 For many, and especially for those who don't believe in divine beings to begin with, this

08:53 is much more than a question of science versus religion.

08:56 It's a real possibility that humans will become more powerful than God, no matter how

09:02 you understand a god to be.

09:04 As for the route we take to get there, it's a profundity that only the future can know.

09:09 What do you think?

09:10 Is there anything we missed?

09:12 Let us know in the comments, check out these other clips from Unveiled, and make sure you

09:16 subscribe and ring the bell for our latest content.

Will Humans Become More Powerful Than God? | Unveiled

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