Welcome to Uncanny Valley

The uncanny valley, which most people will experience when they watch the robots in the video above, is shorthand for the notion that when something has humanoid features that look and move almost, but not exactly, like natural human beings, it causes a response of mild revulsion among most of us. (Perhaps we are finding this ever easier to tolerate though; I feel like my uncanny valley response may have lessened in recent years. How about you?)

Apart from humanoid robots, some human beings who have been enhanced or repaired with mechanical apparatus also disturb current sensibilities, especially if something mechanical has been implanted directly into their flesh. Many of us find the mix of human and machine disquieting. But the likelihood is that if technology continues in its current directions at its current rate, then it won't be long till some if not most humans will move away from the purely animal form in which they have evolved through nature.

The humans of the near future may well enjoy bioengineered enhancements and modifications that make them look and work differently than our bodies do today; their blood streams, organs, and brains may be inhabited by tiny robots or engineered organisms that monitor and optimize health, prevent seizures, and control appetites. Humans may come to merge with machines or biotechnically engineered components, replacing natural body parts with human-made alternatives. Eventually, human brains might be implanted in robots (humanoid or otherwise); some humans may have their consciousness merged with machine intelligence so that they can live on in electronic form without organic bodies at all (if that's your idea of a good time!). These used to be pure science fiction, but all of them are currently being worked on by smart humans, and some also by AI.

As we've seen, our meat brains may continue to rely more and more on technology for extended minds that allow us to think (some may still say "think," in scare quotes) better, faster, and in more ways than our meat is capable of. But there will also be the possibility of much more dramatically extended bodies. People may choose to have adjustable skin and hair pigments, both male and female genitalia (and maybe all new invented forms of pleasure organs!), radically new looks (horns, fur, tails), and more.

Finally, other complex systems, such as AI networks, genetically enhanced animals, or sophisticated robots may come to have so many "human" qualities that our definition of personhood must be expanded to include them (there are people already arguing this should be done for apes, whales, dolphins, and other animals with something like human intelligence - maybe even octupuses!). Or else a new category of sentient, rational, feeling beings must be created, of which humans will only be the founding members.

The unmanipulated human animal that evolved through natural selection may soon be seen by the newer breed(s) of humans as an "heirloom" variety, like heirloom species of apples or tomatoes. (Those varieties often don't last as long, don't always look as good, or get as big as the engineered fruit you get at the supermarket; but some people still find the heirloom fruit more delicious, and in some cases they are more nutritious as well ...) Engineered human organisms are more and more within reach. How would you rebuild yourself, if you could do anything you wanted? Would you focus on size, attractiveness, shelf life, or something else ...?

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