Reviews
Exponential technologies are driving a new dimension of human evolution.' In her compelling book, Virtually Human, Martine Rothblatt outlines how artificial consciousness is just around the corner, and explores the scientific and ethical ramifications.'Science fiction is rapidly becoming science fact and the implications are breathtaking. Virtually Human is critical reading to anyone who plans to be around for the next couple of decades., In Virtually Human , Martine Rothblatt builds on the observation that "I think, therefore I am" in ways that Descartes could not have imagined.' With the rapid evolution of artificial intelligence, Rothblatt predicts that we soon will confront cyberconsciousness comparable to--indeed, indistinguishable from--the human mind.' When we cross this technological Rubicon, we will be forced to reconsider the meaning of concepts as foundational as life and death, law and liberty, love and kinship.' Bringing to bear the lessons of history, philosophy, psychology, law and science, Rothblatt makes abundantly clear that these unprecedented challenges will define the humanity not just of our technological doppelgangers but of ourselves., Martine Rothblatt's combination of stunning intellect, imagination, and optimism about the future take us to places that most of us can't yet contemplate, but should. The term 'renaissance person' is overused, but so deserved in Rothblatt's case. With her unparalleled expertise from several fields and deep understanding of our fears and trepidations, Rothblatt describes the science and human processes that will bring us to virtual humanity and to the vast possibilities it brings."--Judy Olian, Dean and John E. Anderson Chair in Management, UCLA Anderson School of Management "A wide-ranging, very readable, and possibly prescient look at one of the future's most exciting -- and at the same time most disturbing -- possibilities. Martine Rothblatt has been investigating this field, which some call uploading, for as long as anyone and has many rewarding insights."--J. Storrs Hall, author of Beyond AI and Nanofuture "Advances in cognitive and computer sciences render artificial humans possible, some duplicating natural individuals with increasing fidelity. When must we confront the ethical, legal, and social implications? Now, in Virtually Human !, The social struggle over the moral status of uploaded personalities and machine minds will be as fraught and momentous as the struggles to end slavery and extend women's suffrage.' In Virtually Human , Martine Rothblatt brings her remarkable intellect and profound ethical insight to this issue in a way that will make it essential reading., We are in the midst of a war between biological and electronic brains for dominance in our hybrid population. Bio-brains are, so far, ahead based on their inventiveness, energy-efficiency and exponential improvement rate. Will ethics asymmetrically restrict engineering humans or will it equally apply soon to 'virtually human' electronic brains? Martine's insights on these and many other topics are timely and welcome., The social struggle over the moral status of uploaded personalities and machine minds will be as fraught and momentous as the struggles to end slavery and extend women's suffrage. In Virtually Human , Martine Rothblatt brings her remarkable intellect and profound ethical insight to this issue in a way that will make it essential reading., In Virtually Human , Martine Rothblatt builds on the observation that "I think, therefore I am" in ways that Descartes could not have imagined. With the rapid evolution of artificial intelligence, Rothblatt predicts that we soon will confront cyberconsciousness comparable to--indeed, indistinguishable from--the human mind. When we cross this technological Rubicon, we will be forced to reconsider the meaning of concepts as foundational as life and death, law and liberty, love and kinship. Bringing to bear the lessons of history, philosophy, psychology, law and science, Rothblatt makes abundantly clear that these unprecedented challenges will define the humanity not just of our technological doppelgangers but of ourselves., Virtually Human is a fascinating read that clearly brings Alan Turing into the 21st century. I have argued that we are DNA-software driven machines and as we expand digital-biological interconversions, Martine's "mind clones" and functional avatars are a logical outcome. Only by attempting to recreate models of humans will we truly begin to understand ourselves. Virtually Human is a great beginning., "Ingenious... a thoughtful philosophical exploration of the role of virtual humans in our future" - Kirkus Reviews on Virtually Human "Maybe the most fascinating woman on the planet" - Jezebel on Martine Rothblatt"The former Sirius Satellite Radio chief executive and current chief executive at United Therapeutics [Martine] offers a provocative look at mindclones, which are essentially digital clones of ourselves." - washingtonpost.com on Virtually Human, Exponential technologies are driving a new dimension of human evolution. In her compelling book, Virtually Human, Martine Rothblatt outlines how artificial consciousness is just around the corner, and explores the scientific and ethical ramifications. Science fiction is rapidly becoming science fact and the implications are breathtaking. Virtually Human is critical reading to anyone who plans to be around for the next couple of decades., We are in the midst of a war between biological and electronic brains for dominance in our hybrid population. Bio-brains are, so far, ahead based on their inventiveness, energy-efficiency and exponential improvement rate. Will ethics asymmetrically restrict engineering humans or will it equally apply soon to 'virtually human' electronic brains? ?Martine's insights on these and many other topics are timely and welcome., Martine Rothblatt has a knack for expanding our minds as well as our comfort zones beyond customary boundaries, be they of gender or substrate., Martine Rothblatt's combination of stunning intellect, imagination, and optimism about the future take us to places that most of us can't yet contemplate, but should. The term 'renaissance person' is overused, but so deserved in Rothblatt's case.'With her unparalleled expertise from several fields and deep understanding of our fears and trepidations, Rothblatt describes the science and human processes that will bring us to virtual humanity - and to the vast possibilities it brings."--Judy Olian, Dean and John E. Anderson Chair in Management, UCLA Anderson School of Management "A wide-ranging, very readable, and possibly prescient look at one of the future's most exciting -- and at the same time most disturbing -- possibilities. Martine Rothblatt has been investigating this field, which some call uploading, for as long as anyone and has many rewarding insights."--J. Storrs Hall, author of Beyond AI and Nanofuture "Advances in cognitive and computer sciences render artificial humans possible, some duplicating natural individuals with increasing fidelity. ?When must we confront the ethical, legal, and social implications? ?Now, in Virtually Human !, Martine Rothblatt delivers an engaging exploration of the pathway to the near-term realization of our digital clones, and through the many ethical, legal, and spiritual challenges their advent will pose. Even skeptics, like myself, will find Virtually Human an intriguing vision filled with profoundly challenging ideas., "Ingenious... a thoughtful philosophical exploration of the role of virtual humans in our future" - Kirkus Reviews, Advances in cognitive and computer sciences render artificial humans possible, some duplicating natural individuals with increasing fidelity. When must we confront the ethical, legal, and social implications? Now, in Virtually Human !
