In this blog post, we deeply examine whether the end of Homo sapiens is truly approaching, its possibility and meaning, through the lens of Sapiens.
The End of Homo Sapiens. It’s a provocative title to close the book. Why does Yuval Noah Harari argue that Homo sapiens will go extinct? “Tens of thousands of years ago, at least six species of humans lived on Earth.” This passage appears in the book’s opening chapter. Yet today, Homo sapiens is the only surviving human species. Humankind has evolved slowly over a long period, and this evolution inevitably entailed the elimination of those who failed to evolve—their extinction. We have placed ourselves on the experimental table in a manner quite different from previous evolutionary mechanisms, and thus, in a sense, the extinction of modern humans is foretold. The author describes the possibilities for human evolution (or the extinction of modern humans) from the perspectives of biotechnology, cyborg engineering, and inorganic engineering. While the methods differ, the outcome is the same: the birth of a new species that can hardly be considered Homo sapiens anymore.
Have you seen any Marvel Cinematic Universe films? If so, understanding this concept will be easier. A prime example of evolution through biotechnology is Deadpool. A former special forces mercenary, Homo sapiens, underwent numerous experiments and genetic mutations to become a new human species with powerful self-healing abilities. Mentioning movies might make you think it’s just fiction, something far removed from our reality. However, biotechnology has been with us much longer than you might think, and it has developed at an ever-increasing pace. For instance, mules and hinnies, born from the crossbreeding of horses and donkeys, have been used for centuries in farming and transportation due to their intelligence and strength. What about chickens, which cannot fly? Through continuous human breeding, chickens have been reduced to machines that eat only the feed provided in our coops and lay eggs. Genetic engineering techniques, which involve taking and inserting genes with desired traits like resistance to pests or drought, are also used to intensively utilize farmland. Recently, research studying nematode genes has identified and manipulated genes linked to lifespan, significantly extending the nematodes’ lifespan. This gene is also present in humans, and commercialization seems possible within a decade or so. Thus, genetic engineering technology has continuously advanced for human convenience and a better life, already reaching a level applicable to humans. It is currently constrained to insects, microorganisms, and plants due to ethical and political restrictions, but it is capable of enabling evolution or the creation of new species at any moment. Inevitably, these restrictions will be lifted over time, and we will soon evolve by improving our own genes.
Moreover, not only genetic engineering but also cyborg engineering is advancing rapidly. Medical technology already provides mechanical devices that can replace or augment parts of the human body. Artificial organs, prosthetic arms, and prosthetic legs are already in use, and as technology advances, cyborg technologies with better performance and broader applicability are being developed. For example, there are people who have regained their sight through artificial retinas, and exoskeleton robots that restore walking ability to patients paralyzed from the waist down due to spinal cord injuries. These technologies overcome human physical limitations and open new possibilities, while simultaneously heralding the birth of a new human species, no longer purely Homo sapiens.
Advances in inorganic engineering also hold the potential to significantly alter humanity’s future. Artificial intelligence (AI) has already demonstrated achievements surpassing humans in many fields. The future may bring a day when the human brain connects directly to AI, enabling complex tasks or data processing through thought alone. Brain-computer interface (BCI) technology is making this possibility a reality. Elon Musk’s neural technology company, Neuralink, is already conducting research to connect the human brain directly to computers by implanting chips into the brain. If these technologies become commercialized, humans will no longer exist in their current form but will exist in a completely new form.
Let’s look at part of an interview with Yuval Harari.
“Throughout history, there have been countless economic, social, and political revolutions, yet humanity itself remained constant. But within decades, humanity will undergo a radical revolution unlike any in our history. Not only our society and economy, but our bodies and minds will be transformed by genetic engineering, nanotechnology, and brain-computer interface technology. This will bring immense new opportunities alongside terrifying new dangers. It is futile to be optimistic or pessimistic about it. We must be realists. We need to face the fact that these things are actually happening—that this is science, not science fiction.”
The extinction and evolution of humanity has become an unavoidable wave. Yet whether we are swept away and swallowed by that wave, or ride it to go even further, lies in each individual’s hands. As mentioned in the book, we may become a society where even our emotions and desires can be controlled, but I hope humanity will strive to contemplate the meaning of our own existence and not lose our humanity.
