Davos 2013: world leaders to discuss aliens, super-

humans, and immortals

Business, Opinion & Analysis, Russia, World, Davos

forum

Yulia Zamanskaya Jan 25, 2013

© Colalge "The Voice of Russia"

This year, apart from the traditional economic

concerns, the program of the World Economic

Forum in Davos is scheduled to address a number of

highly controversial issues which have been kept

classified for decades. Called the 'X factors', these

issues include the potential risks of medically

induced enhancement of cognitive abilities,

prolongation of human life, and discovery of

extraterrestrial life.

After reading the Executive Summary of the WEF 2013

one is left with an impression that he has just read the

scenario for the next 'X Files' episode. Runaway climate

change, rogue deployment of re-engineering, and digital

wildfires are just a few issues that the readers of the

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Executive Summary can find not only unconventional

but also futuristic. Nonetheless, all of these themes are

due to be discussed under the rubric of the 'X Factors'.

Developed in partnership with the editors of Nature, a

leading science journal, the 'X Factors' category looks

well beyond the landscape of 50 traditional global risks

and identifies the most significant game-changers of the

next decade. Apart from the already mentioned runaway

climate change, digital wildfires, and rogue re-

engineering, which seem to be at least minimally

realistic, the list of 'X Factors' also includes the possible

implications of people living longer, getting smarter,

and meeting extra-terrestrial 'Others'. While some

remain highly sceptical regarding these issues, the

editors of Nature together with the WED team seem to

be convinced that in the very near future these risks will

not only become very real, but will also profoundly

challenge the existing social and scientific paradigms.

In WEF team's opinion, super-human abilities are no

longer the preserve of science fiction. Instead, the time

of human prodigies is fast approaching the horizon of

plausibility. At the time when researchers all over the

world are working hard to develop the medical cure to

such mental illnesses as Alzheimer’s and schizophrenia,

it is conceivable that in the not too distant future

scientists will identify compounds that will be more

effective than existing cognitive pharmaceutical

enhancers such as Ritalin and Modafinil. While these

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new compounds will be prescribed only for treatment of

severe neurological diseases, it is highly likely that they

will also be used off-label by healthy people seeking for

an edge in their every-day endeavours. effective new

compounds which appear to enhance intelligence or

cognition are sure to be used off-label by healthy people

looking for an edge at work or school.

Interestingly, WEF experts believe that significant

enhancement of cognitive abilities can be attained

through hardware as well as drugs. Laboratory studies

indicate that direct electrical stimulation through the

implanted electrodes can significantly improve

memory. Unlike drugs, such cognitive enhancement

therapy is less easily available and is thus less likely to

be adopted by healthy people. Nonetheless, the

scientists suggest that within 10 years time intra-brain

devices and sensors will open a new realm of enhanced

neurobiology for those who can afford it. In this

context, the scientists wonder whether it can be

ethically acceptable for the world to be divided into the

cognitively-enhanced and the un-enhanced. Will

humanity accept the idea that significant cognitive

enhancement should be available to purchase on the

open market or will there be a push for legislation to

maintain a more level playing field?

The other question that the experts are asking is what

happens if cognitive enhancement program goes awry

or if it falls in the wrong hands. Cognitive enhancement

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drugs and devices have a very wide-ranging effects on

various systems of human body since they work by

targeting neurotransmitter systems. In this respect, WEF

scientists argue that "there is a significant possibility of

(un)intended effects on other systems – for example,

drugs to enhance learning may lead to a greater

willingness to take risks; drugs to enhance working

memory may lead to increased impulsive behaviour".

Indeed, recent research into the field already suggests

that, in addition to improving long term memory, it is

possible to use TMS to manipulate or even suspend a

person’s moral judgement of right versus wrong. The

technology can also be used to “erase” memory and

deliberately cause permanent brain damage. In this

sense, it is not difficult to see how new cognitive

enhancement drugs and technologies can open up a

space for their misuse by criminal organizations and

terrorist networks (or governments).

Another issue that the WEF experts decided to present

for discussion this year is the implications of longer

life-span among humans. The WEF team suggests that

while "medical advances are prolonging life, long-term

palliative care is expensive. Covering the costs

associated with old age could be a struggle". Indeed,

according to official statistics people all over the globe

now live up to 35 percent longer than hundred years

ago and more funds are needed to provide adequate

care for the millions of elderly. However, the problem

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of funding is not the only concern which is related to

longer life-span. The risk of over-populating the planet

is yet another issue which the world will soon face.

In this respect, most radical commentators were

quick to suggest that the only solution to the

problem of longer living humans is euthanasia. The

proponents of this view contend that with medical

advancements even the weakest and the sickest people

will survive and live to their late 90s and possible 100s,

which will not only lead to a significant increase in

global population, but will also negate the

fundamental law of the survival of the fittest. In this

context, some suggest that euthanasia might be the

only way out from the vicious circle of artificially

healthy individuals living unnaturally long lives.

The last and probably the most controversial X Factor

that will be discussed during the Davos Forum is the

possible discovery of extraterrestrial life. While it is the

first time that the Forum addresses the aliens, the issue

has recently become a frequent theme of discussion

among the world leading politicians and military

officials. In December 2012, Russian Prime Minster

Dmitry Medvedev mused on topic of aliens after

completing an on-camera interview with international

reporters in Moscow. Back then, Mr Medvedev jokingly

claimed that "I will not tell you how many of them

[aliens] are among us because it may cause panic". It

turns out, however, that Mr Medvedev's concern with

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the aliens did not end last December. A shocking Davos

Forum agenda aims to bring the topic of aliens

beyond the realm of jokes.

WEF experts contend that "given the pace of space

exploration, it is increasingly conceivable that we may

discover the existence of alien life or other planets

that could support human life. In 10 years’ time we may

have evidence not only that Earth is not unique but also

that life exists elsewhere in the universe." In this

context, the WEF team urges the global elite to

prepare themselves and their nations for such

discovery.

The scientists suggest that new funding and new brain

power will be needed to overcome the challenges that

the humanity will face as a result of its encounter with

an extra-terrestrial civilization. The world might even

need to create artificial-intelligence emissaries to

survive an inter-stellar crossing. The discovery of an

Earth 2.0 or life beyond our planet might also inspire

new generations of space entrepreneurs to meet the

challenge of taking human exploration of the galaxy

from the realm of fiction to fact.

At the same time, WEF experts do not believe that the

discovery of alien life will change the fabric of human

society in the short-term. While the discovery would

certainly be one of the biggest news stories of the year

and interest would be intense, it would not change the

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world immediately. Over the long term, however, the

psychological and philosophical implications of the

discovery could be profound. In the opinion of WEF

scientists, "the discovery of even simple life would fuel

speculation about the existence of other intelligent

beings and challenge many assumptions that

underpin human philosophy and religion."

All in all, it seems that humanity is heading to exciting

times, and Davos may be the first trigger that will

unleash a series of most extraordinary worldwide

revelations.

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