In this blog post, we explore how the advancement of cyborg technology is blurring the boundaries of what it means to be human.

The End of Humanity and the Dawn of the Cyborg Era

Homo sapiens, or humans, first appeared on Earth approximately 240,000 years ago. Compared to our human lives, where even reaching 100 years is difficult, 240,000 years feels unimaginably long. Yet, if we compress Earth’s entire history from its birth to the present into a single year, human history amounts to a mere 30 minutes. In this brief span, humanity has achieved dazzling progress. We eliminated natural predators, mastered nature, and used technology to develop civilization. Now, with a population nearing 8 billion, we have become Earth’s dominant species. And now, humanity is turning its gaze beyond Earth into space, attempting to bring other celestial bodies under its influence.
Yet Yuval Noah Harari warns in his book 『Sapiens: A Brief History of Humankind』 that the end of Homo sapiens may come in the near future. This doesn’t merely mean survival is threatened; it suggests a future where the human species undergoes such fundamental change that it can no longer be called ‘Homo sapiens’.
Surprisingly, Harari cites three key technological fields as evidence: biotechnology, cyborg engineering, and inorganic engineering. These three fields are deeply connected to attempts to reconstruct the human body, mind, and life itself. Among them, cyborg engineering is singled out as a core technology that fundamentally shakes the very identity of humanity. This blog post will focus on exploring how ‘cyborg engineering’ could bring about the end of Homo sapiens.

What is the end? And why is it approaching?

First, we must address the impression conveyed by the word ‘end’. Generally, the term ‘end’ easily evokes negative images like death, destruction, or collapse. However, the end of Homo sapiens discussed in 『Sapiens: A Brief History of Humankind』 differs slightly from that meaning. Here, the end refers to a change in the biological identity of Homo sapiens—specifically, the moment when current humans cease to be ‘current humans’.
It does not mean the extinction of all humanity. In fact, it could mean the opposite. Humanity survives, but exists in a form entirely different from today’s humans. In this context, cyborg engineering is emerging as one of the key technologies transforming Homo sapiens.

The Concept of Cyborgs and Current Technological Advancements

The term ‘cyborg’ is a portmanteau of ‘cybernetics’ and ‘organism,’ originally referring to beings whose bodily functions are augmented or replaced by machines. Strictly speaking, individuals using artificial hearts, hearing aids, or prosthetic limbs could already be considered cyborgs. Furthermore, in a broader sense, all modern individuals who constantly use smartphones or wearable devices in daily life could be considered cyborgs.
Of course, current technology remains at a primitive level. Human-made machines cannot yet fully replace the human body, composed of cells, especially complex organs like the brain. But the issue is speed. Technology is advancing at an increasingly rapid pace, and through convergence with fields like artificial intelligence, nanotechnology, and bioengineering, cyborg technology is demonstrating possibilities beyond imagination.
Within the next few decades, humans might voluntarily choose to replace parts of their bodies with machines. While most current cases involve artificial organs used out of necessity due to accidents or illness, the future could see widespread intentional body modifications for superior mechanical limbs, legs, or organs.

Human or Machine: The Boundaries of Identity

So, would such beings still be considered Homo sapiens? For example, can a human whose entire body except the brain has been replaced with machinery, or a human-like artificial intelligence whose entire neural network has been digitally replicated and stored in a computer, truly be called ‘human’? Can an entity operating without emotions or desires, stripped of fundamental human instincts like appetite, sexual desire, or the need for sleep and equipped with a new system of desires, truly be considered a ‘person’?
These questions are not mere philosophical musings but increasingly real concerns brought by technological advancement. Recent films like the Blade Runner series and various sci-fi works depict such beings as ‘replicants’ or ‘androids’. Though outwardly human, these beings—programmed with different thought patterns, emotions, and desires—blur the line between human and machine, posing fundamental questions about human identity.
When such beings become reality, by what criteria can existing humans claim to be ‘human’? Or might the criteria themselves lose all meaning?

Is the Cyborg Era a Crisis or an Opportunity?

The advent of the Cyborg Era cannot be viewed solely as a threat foreshadowing the end of the human species. Rather, it could present humanity with a new frontier of opportunity.
Cyborg engineering enables humans to overcome physical limitations previously perceived as boundaries. For instance, it can restore lost bodily functions for those with disabilities and push physical capabilities to extremes, enabling space exploration or activities in harsh environments. It could significantly extend the average human lifespan and, ultimately, attempts to overcome death—the dream of immortality embodied in projects like ‘Project Gilgamesh’—might cease to be mere fantasy.
But can these benefits be granted equally to everyone? If the technology is only accessible to certain classes, the gap between cyborgs and ordinary humans could widen uncontrollably. This goes beyond mere physical differences, potentially leading to ethical, social, and philosophical issues.

What should we desire?

『Sapiens: A Brief History of Humankind』 asks: Before posing the question “What do we want to become?”, it urges us to first ask “What do we want to desire?” Future technology can be powerful and disruptive. But ultimately, it is we ourselves—present-day humans, Homo sapiens—who determine its direction.
We cannot prevent the arrival of the cyborg era. But we can set its course so it does not become mere apocalypse. How we will inherit human desires, values, and ethics is the task now before us.
There’s a saying: “If you can’t avoid it, enjoy it.” But we must not forget that this enjoyment must be grounded in thorough discussion and philosophical reflection, not blind acceptance. The cyborg era is no longer a fantasy; it is a future approaching as reality. Depending on how we greet that future, the end of Homo sapiens could be a tragedy or the beginning of a new evolution.