Y'know, this leads me to thinking. We're all talking about AI taking everything over because of how much faster, more performing it will eventually be. But what if, somewhere down the line, there's a future where we advance biochemistry and transhumanism to the point where we actually can be a challenge to these AI? It sounds like this sort of thing could lead there. I most certainly hope not - but it's not impossible at this point, is it? Side note - I really hope that it won't happen and that we'll use it for things that matter, if it's safe - like emergency service employees being able to take a dose for emergency in emergencies - like these firefighters who had to do a 36-hour shift. (Another side note: I really wonder what effects this has on sleeping and the body. Because I'll be honest, I'm straight-up TERRIFIED of the prospect of a no-sleep pill.)
well, the human brain is essentially one big organic AI. It's entirely possible that we could strip out all the unimportant shit that it wastes time on and make something that could outperform an AI, but at that point you're making something that's not really human.
From my understanding of drugs, stimulants don't get rid of the need to sleep, they just prevent you from feeling sleepy. The article mentioned histamines. Sleep is a physical necessity of humans, and a pill won't change that. There are some other augmentations that could maybe do so; I'm thinking an AI that could take over certain brain functions for a while, and just let parts of the brain or body sleep at a time. But, I'm a transhumanist, and so I'm coming at this from the side opposite you, and I like to think and dream of that sort of thing.
The main reason I dread a no-sleep supplement is twofold: first, sleep is amazing (I know, lame right). Second - removing the need for sleep may make some things allowable to companies if we don't regulate it well, including longer working hours (and you know that the US won't be able to regulate it because lobbyists)
Oh, trust me, as a teenager nearing the end of my summer, I know sleep is awesome. The regulation is a good point, though I believe existing drug regulations could be used to cover it. Amphetamines are Schedule II, and proper enforcement could help avoid that. At the same time though, strengthening the war on drugs isn't something I would generally be in favor of. Probably be best to deal with the underlying problem: lobbyists. I believe full heartedly that we need a cultural and spiritual shift along with any technological advancements for transhumanism to work.
Entirely agreed. Transhumanism must be developed as a tool to further the interests of humanity, and not of a select group of elite people.