num_pages: 368
description: Virtually Human explores what the not-too-distant future will look like when cyberconsciousnesssimulation of the human brain via software and computer technologybecomes part of our daily lives. Meet Bina48 the world's most sentient robot commissioned by Martine Rothblatt and created by Hanson Robotics. Bina48 is a nascent Mindclone of Martine's wife that can engage in conversation answer questions and even have spontaneous thoughts that are derived from multimedia data in a Mindfile created by the real Bina. If you're active on Twitter or Facebook share photos through Instagram or blogging regularly you're already on your way to creating a Mindfilea digital database of your thoughts memories feelings and opinions that is essentially a back-up copy of your mind. Soon this Mindfile can be made conscious with special softwareMindwarethat mimics the way human brains organize information create emotions and achieve self-awareness. This may sound like science-fiction A.I. (artificial intelligence) but the nascent technology already exists. Thousands of software engineers across the globe are working to create cyberconsciousness based on human consciousness and the Obama administration recently announced plans to invest in a decade-long Brain Activity Map project. Virtually Human is the only book to examine the ethical issues relating to cyberconsciousness and Rothblatt with a Ph.D. in medical ethics is uniquely qualified to lead the dialogue.
language: English
title: Virtually Human: The Promise and the Peril of Digital Immortality
publisher: St. Martin's Press