Mind Uploading

What is it?

Mind Uploading is the concept of taking somebody’s mind and digitizing it, allowing it to exist in an inorganic format and now run as software on a computer. In this state, a mind would hypothetically no longer deal with organic versions of aging and body failure and would exist in a format that was no longer susceptible to biologically human ailments or restrictions.

 

Uploading a Mind

Approaches to uploading minds can be described in two ways- whether they are “top-down” or “bottom-up” and whether they are “on-line” or “off-line” (Bamford). When mind uploading is “top-down” it is focused on emulating the behaviors shown by the brain and the individual and lower level processes are derived from them (Bamford). It is considered “bottom-up” when the focus is more towards brain cells, their interactions, and building up the mind from there (Bamford). Additionally, when mind uploading is “on-line” it is when there is parallel operation between the organic and inorganic mind as the transfer from organic to inorganic is occurring and mind uploading is “off-line” when data about the brain is collected and then assembled (Bamford),

​

Gradual Replacement

A proposed method of mind uploading is gradual replacement, which is where parts of the brain are gradually replaced with mechanical counterparts and ease the transition from organic to inorganic (Wiley and Keone). Invoking elements of the Ship of Theseus, some believe that this version of mind uploading is superior due to the higher likelihood of preservation of identity and successful transfer of the human mind into an inorganic fashion (Wiley and Keone). This is considered a “bottom-up” and “on-line” approach to mind uploading, as the gradual replacement allows both the organic and inorganic parts to function together and is focused on replacing the parts of the brain (sometimes on a cellular level) and replicating each portion of the brain precisely (Bamford).

​

Scan-and-copy

Another way of performing mind uploading is Scan-and-copy, in which the human brain is scanned, modelled, and simulated in a virtual copy (Wiley and Keone). This could be done using advanced scanning software (like MRI microscopy, XRay microscopy, Atomic-beam microscopy, etc.) to go through and analyze the brain for future virtual recreation(Sandberg and Bostrom). This is considered a “bottom-up” and “off-line” approach (Bamford). 

Behavior Modelling

There is also the Behavior Modelling approach, which is centered around observing behavior and deriving the subtler details from observations. This is considered an “off-line” and “top-down” approach to mind uploading (Bamford). The end result of this version of mind uploading would likely be measured in degrees of similarity to the individual with a risk of the modelled emulation being considered non viable due to its developed behaviors  (Bamford).

 

Inherent Risk

Perhaps the biggest issues within this is the inherent risk of damage from each of these approaches. While there are some that are less invasive than others, there are none that can really be considered non traumatic to the person (Bamford). Even under the best conditions, the experience would be an ordeal. It is also doubtless to say that anything involving the brain carries an inherent risk of structural damage from accidental factors. It is difficult to say which is the least hazardous, as there would be different variations of how the mind uploading procedures occur (as they have not been developed yet, there can be only speculation). There are also philosophical differences in what an identity is and certain methods risk damaging or failing to preserve identity according to different philosophies (Wiley and Keone). One of which is the relationship between the original brain and the artificial copy produced (Wiley and Keone).

 

Digital Immortality and What It Means

Living Forever

The most obvious and individually practical element of mind uploading is the concept of digital immortality. While different variations of mind uploading imply different things, there is still a goal of something (if not all) of yourself living onward (Kurzweil). The notion that there will still be a ‘you’ existing and contributing in the world can be comforting (Kurzweil). Likewise, the digitally immortal will be able to do things in digital spaces and mechanical vessels that organic versions would not be able to perform at all while still learning and growing (Kurzweil).

​

Benefits in Long Term Plans

One of the biggest benefits towards mind uploading is the concept of having people present and able to perform tasks that would take impractical or impossible amounts of time for a normal human lifespan. A common discussion is the application of mind-uploading for space exploration. With our current technology, space exploration would take impractically long amounts of time and it would likely be unmanageable to explore other star-systems with biologically human crews. A proposed solution is using crews of emulated humans to man the star-systems and explore space on behalf of humanity (Prisco). Digital crews would likely be able to outlast organic individuals and reduce transport requirements human crews would require (Prisco). The weight and size of the spaceship would be reduced due to a lack of food, air, and space requirements; doing so would be able to increase the potential speed and efficiency of the resources onboard could be increased to a previously impossible level (Prisco).

 

Issues

Practical Issues

Limitations of Current Computers

A current issue with the development of simulated minds is the current limitations of computer storage and processing power. While it is theorized to be possible for computers to improve to the point of accurate simulation, the both the memory and processing power of our strongest computers are not capable of truly emulating the brain (Sandberg and Bostrom). Until these problems are solved, mind uploading is not a feasible technology (Sandberg and Bostrom).

Vulnerabilities of Computer Systems

An issue with creating virtual people is that there are virtual risks. Perhaps the biggest virtual risk is that of cyber attacks causing actual casualties and other issues. Attacking networks that host virtual individuals could result in their damage or erasure (Eckersley and Sandberg). Other risks fall into place if cyber attacks lead to modifications of the individual or copies made and taken (Eckersley and Sandberg).

 

Ethical Issues

Societal Issues of Mind Uploading

Transferring people to a digital format would definitely have socio-economic consequences on whichever societies are connected to digital-human production.There are some that worry that mind uploading and what it may bring will lead to disastrous results for organic, unmodified humans. The advent of digital-humans could lead to events like the “intelligence explosion”, in which digital-humans outcompete organic humans in making discoveries and use them to dominate the world (Hanson). Issues with rules and consequences about the use of mind-uploading and the replication\production of digital workers is also a concern- being able to produce high skilled digital workers at a faster rate than organic humans could be trained could destroy the current economic system in place and the general welfare of organic humans (Hanson). On top of all this, there is the fear that conflicts between digital individuals and organic ones could lead to violence and hostility between the groups (Eckersley and Sandberg). Likewise, there is the possible threat that an aggressive AI could lead to an uncontrollable and hostile force with power we have yet to see (Eckersley and Sandberg).