*4.3. Intelligent Machines*

We now have computer technology that, many consider exhibits its own intelligence. As pointed out by Alan Turing [31], this can be considered as being distinct from human intelligence and exhibits a number of different characteristics when compared to human intelligence. Turing said I "May not machines carry out something which ought to be described as thinking but which is very different from what a man does?" In particular a number of positive features associated with the performance of machine intelligence can be picked out and for this section the important thing is to see how the human brain could be dramatically improved in its functioning by a direct link with technology.

As a start "on any issue of computing power, if computers do not have the advantage over human brains already, then they will certainly have it before too long" [32]. This applies to both the speed and accuracy of dealing with data. The biggest advantage of all for machine intelligence however is communication. The present way that humans communicate is extremely poor when compared with that of technology. In speech for example humans convert highly complex electro-chemical signals concerned with emotions, feelings, colours etc. into trivial coded mechanical pressure waves. The possibility of our thoughts remaining in electronic form, as is most likely the case with a machine, would be an enormous step forward for Homo sapiens.

With a human brain linked to a computer brain, that individual could have the ability to [33]:


Each one of these examples appears to provide a valid reason as to why for an individual Homo sapiens would wish to upgrade to join the ranks of Homo technologicus.

As for the possibility for machines to have emotions and consciousness then, by following Turing's lead, this is not really an issue. However such characteristics will be very different to those of a human. The big question for research though is to look into the possibilities of integrating human and machine forms of consciousness such that the consciousness of Homo technologicus will be an amalgam of the two. Importantly this form of consciousness, with all its inherent abilities, will almost surely not be comprehensible to Homo sapiens.

### *4.4. Case 4 Conclusions*

Case 4 describes the situation when an individual's brain/nervous system is linked directly with a computer for the purposes of enhancement beyond the norm for Homo sapiens. The reason for including this section is to demonstrate that this is a realistic possibility and to assess the sort of enhancements that might well be possible and what this might mean in practice.
