Human Life Extension and the Future of Technology

Some Thoughts as I Prepare for the MVM Future Talks

Although I was born in Budapest, I am rarely in Hungary due to my business interests being elsewhere. This is why I am particularly happy to have been invited to participate in a panel discussion at the MVM Future Talks conference. MVM Future Talks is an annual large-scale scientific, educational, and entertainment interactive online talk show, where renowned Hungarian and international experts and celebrities come together at a virtual table.

The main topics this year will revolve around the extension of average lifespan, the technological foundations behind it, and its societal implications. The online recording of the conference will be available starting from October 11th. On the website, two documentaries are also available, analyzing what is happening in the world and how the expansion of our possibilities is being researched.

I am often asked what I think should be done and whether it is really necessary to consider the consequences of these changes. However, unlike other technologies, such as artificial intelligence, the extension of human lifespan gives society time to adapt, as do we. We won’t suddenly have 200-year-old people walking around us overnight. This gives us time not only to consider the consequences, but also to implement the decisions we make.

Another question that frequently arises, not only in relation to this but also with other technologies, is whether I am enthusiastic or concerned when thinking about their consequences. It bothers me that it seems as if these two positions were mutually exclusive. But that’s not the case: one can be perfectly enthusiastic about the benefits while also realistically understanding that the dangers need to be addressed.

The third question, which also universally arises, is whether a particular technology increases social inequalities. The misunderstanding stems from the assumption that a technology available at a specific price point at a given time won’t change. But what always happens is that what was expensive initially becomes cheaper, while its quality improves, allowing more and more people to afford the product or service.

The biggest challenge is not whether we can afford to extend the average lifespan. This already happened in the last century, when science helped to double the average life expectancy. The bigger question, in conjunction with the spread of artificial intelligence and humanoid robots, is how we can organize our long and healthy lives so that we consciously, purposefully, and with dignity build our shared future.