Humanity will soon consist of four distinct categories.
In the new, shaken and transformative era we live in, fire played a pivotal role in the lives of our ancestors, much like the internet and artificial intelligence do now.
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Eudald Carbonell, the renowned anthropologist who discovered one of our ancient human species, offers a provocative yet captivating prediction: The human species will reach a critical "bottleneck" in the 21st century, requiring us to evolve into four distinct variations or fade away. Amazingly, one of these new types will be us, Homo Sapiens. And the remaining three will come about due to advancements in DNA manipulation and technology.
Does it sound like a wild-west movie script? Perhaps. But this forecast comes from the esteemed mind of Eudald Carbonell, the discoverer of "the precursor human." After decades dedicated to studying our ancestors, this Spanish scientist is confident in where evolution will take us.
As the author of the best-selling book "From the Cave to the Cosmos: New Frontiers of Humanity as a Species," Eudald Carbonell asserts that his recent work is more significant than his earlier prestigious publications in top journals like Nature and Science.
Move beyond disbelief, and consider the ancient historical examples Carbonell presents: humans have transformed to conquer territories, innovate technologies, and master communication—from stone tools to smartphones—and it's happened before.
FIRE - THE SOCIAL HUB
Just as the internet serves as a social hub and communications channel today, fire—our ancestors' technology—once acted as the heart of the home for our ancestors.
While the technological advancements may seem vastly different, both fire and the internet function as more than mere tools for progress; they are conduits for human interaction and connection. By gathering around the fire or in online forums, people wanted to talk and communicate, building stronger family and societal bonds.
Of course, the timelines for these advancements are radically different: Humans refined fire over hundreds of millennia, while the internet took mere decades to become essential. But the impact on social dynamics remains the same.
ART AND COMMUNITY BONDS
Life for primitive humans was harsh, with little time for leisure. However, art and the customs related to burial rituals emerged as significant indications of human evolution. These activities not only reflected but also generated communities, serving as expressions of cultural identity.
But, as we stand on the precipice of the fusion of humans as a biological species with artificial intelligence, this next stage may mark the dawn of a wholly new era in human development.
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FROM THE "KP" FILES
Born in Spain in 1953, Eudald Carbonell-i-Rovira holds a doctorate in both geology and history. A scientist and professor at the University of Rovira i Virgili in Tarragona, Spain, his research at the Atapuerca archaeological site in Spain has been instrumental in understanding human history. In 1994, he discovered the previously unknown species Homo antecessor, who first settled in Europe 800,000 years ago.
What Made Us Human, According to Eudald Carbonell?
Firstly, our ancestors learned to walk upright (which, of course, set us apart).
Secondly, they embarked on a quest to reign over the world. They expanded beyond Africa, venturing out onto other continents. This tenacity to conquer and adapt is expected to manifest once more, asserts Carbajal. Humanity will settle the Moon and other planets, he predicts, to survive and continue to advance as a civilization. We're born "conquistadors," says the Spaniard.
Thirdly, we not only conquer the world, but also shape and reshape it to suit our needs. From basic tools to smartphones and quantum computers, our technological prowess is far from our first foray into innovation.
The desire to conquer and reshape the world is one of the traits that transformed us into human beings.
THE INTERNET - A NEW HEARTH IN THE CAVE
Just as fire had a profound impact on early humans, the internet plays an equally transformative role in our lives today.
Like fire, the internet serves not only as a technological wonder, but also as a tool for communication. Gathering around the virtual fireplace, people feel the desire to converse and exchange ideas, just as our ancestors did. This strengthens personal and societal connections.
Modern technology has advanced at a lightning-fast pace, but some ancient instincts abide.
THE POWER OF DNA MANIPULATION
By the end of the 21st century, four distinct human types will populate the Earth, predicts Eudald Carbonell:
- Us, natural beings ("Homo sapiens")
- Lab-created humans ("edited humans")
- Humans who modify their DNA to combat diseases
- Cyborgs - humans connected to chips and computers
Though it might seem fantastical, similar advancements in technology have already occurred, such as in vitro fertilization. Each step forward in human evolution will require us to adapt—and perhaps embrace our inner "conquistador" to survive and grow alongside our technology.
Indeed, one type may go extinct, but the remaining three varieties have a chance at survival. It's happened before, recalls Carbony: only one out of four human species from 40,000 years ago survives to this day—our own. Homo Sapiens.
- In Eudald Carbonell's proposal, Homo Sapiens will persist among four distinct human variations emerging in the 21st century, following advancements in DNA manipulation and technology.
- Artificial Intelligence, much like fire in the past, functions as more than a tool for progress; it's a conduit for human interaction and connection, forging stronger bonds.
- By 2024, such advancements may mark the beginning of a new era in human development, fusing humans as a biological species with artificial intelligence.
- Quantum computers, like smartphones before them, are indications of human technological prowess, shaping and reshaping the world as we adapt and conquer.
- In space-and-astronomy, humanity will continue its quest to conquer the universe, settling on the moon and other planets to survive and advance as a civilization.
- To be ready for the fusion of humans with artificial intelligence, science must address health-and-wellness, fitness-and-exercise, and mental-health aspects, ensuring the well-being of the new variant of Homo Sapiens.
- Nutrition will play a significant role in supporting the physical demands required for our evolution and survival, as we venture into the next stage of human development.
