Mass Effect: The Danger And Soul Of Artificial Intelligence

This is a video from my YouTube channel, Jack’s World.

This video explores the inherent dangers and genuine hopes of artificial intelligence through one of my favorite video game franchises of all time, Mass Effect.

Artificial Intelligence is a big part of this galaxy-spanning saga. The main antagonists, the Reapers, represent a worst-case scenario. The synthetic race, the Geth, are also a recurring danger. However, in exploring the vast history and lore of Mass Effect, we gain some remarkable insights into what the future might hold for how we navigate AI. Enjoy!

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Filed under Aliens, Artificial Intelligence, comic book reviews, Mass Effect, YouTube

Revealing Attitudes Towards AI Art (When People Don’t Know It’s AI Art)

When I was a kid, there was a general attitude towards any movie or TV show that was animated. Unless it was “The Simpsons,” then animation was largely associated with kids. Even when there was a concerted effort to appeal to older demographics, animation was still seen as less mature form of storytelling. Even when it was exceptionally well done, this stigma persisted.

Eventually, animation and animated content, in general, matured to a point where the stigma really doesn’t work anymore. Cartoons aren’t just for kids. We now have shows like “Bojack Horseman” and “Rick and Morty” that have helped change the popular perception of animation. On top of that, the added influence of Japanese anime, from “Dragonball Z” to “Ghost In The Shell,” have helped attitudes about animated content evolve even more.

This shift all happened within my lifetime. It’s a simple recognition that attitudes, perceptions, and trends are always changing. And they’re going to continue to change, regardless of how we might feel about certain issues now.

This brings me to AI generated art. It’s a topic that, depending on where you discuss it, can generate a lot of debate, disagreement, and consternation. I’ve been in more than one discussion with someone who claims AI generated art can only ever be a bad thing in the long run because it enables trolls, assholes, grifters, and bad actors.

I’ve also been in similar discussions with those who claim AI art isn’t even art. It’s, according to them, nothing more than a fancy calculator that crunches numbers on where to place certain pixels on a screen. While I think that’s a gross oversimplification, I don’t think it takes away from the end result. Whether it’s produced by a human or a computer, the end result is still the same. An artistic rendering is created. But regardless of what form it takes, we have certain attitudes about it.

As I write this, I think the prevailing sentiments toward AI art are negative. Show someone an AI generated image and they might concede that it looks nice. But they’ll still have an aversion to it, knowing it’s created by AI. And if you how them a human-generated piece of art, even if it doesn’t look nice, that same person will still ascribe more value to it than they would an AI generated image. That’s just where we are right now.

But in a recent study by Scientific Reports, an interesting insight was uncovered. When the researchers conducted a survey that included approximately 200 people, they found that when people weren’t aware that an image was AI generated, then their attitudes about it were more positive. In many cases, they could not discern between the artwork generated by humans and those generated by AI. But as soon as they were aware that something came from an AI, their sentiments changed.

It’s probably not too surprising, but it’s also revealing. It speaks to where we currently are in our perspectives on anything created by an AI. It still has this synthetic, uncanny valley feel to it. We still inherently ascribe more value to something that is created by a human over that of a machine. And while that is certainly understandable, given that human generated art requires more labor and passion, how much will that value persist in the coming years?

That’s not an unreasonable question because the quality of AI art has changed considerably in the past few years. And it’s likely to continue improving in ways we’re not ready for. Not too long ago, it was somewhat easy to discern when something was created by an AI. The issues it had with rendering hands and fingers are well-document. However, those issues have been addressed and improved considerably, especially with newer models.

As such, you don’t need to be a wide-eyed utopian futurist to predict that AI art generators will improve to a point where it’s genuinely difficult to tell if it was created by a human. This study already showed how close we are. The participants weren’t able to surmise on a surface level that they were dealing with a mix of AI and human-generated art. With improved tools, even the most discerning and tech savvy among us might not be able to figure it out.

At that point, our attitudes towards AI art will have to change. Think what you want about AI and whether it’s capable of creating real art, let alone appreciate what goes into it. But if it’s capable of making something we can’t discern from its human-made counterparts, then those negative sentiments we have are entirely arbitrary, as well as subjective.

And those same attitudes might not be shared by younger people who have grown up in an environment surrounded by the internet, AI, and AI generated content. They might not have any issue with seeing AI generated art as real art. And anyone who just despises AI art as a concept might find themselves in the same group as those who still think all cartoons are just for kids.

It’s hard to know where these trends will lead as AI technology advances. It’s already affecting how we see art, knowledge, and what it means to be intelligent. And how we feel today might not be at all in line with how future generations will feel in the decades to come. Only time will tell.

I’ll simply note that humans, in general, are a visual species. We seek to create, admire, and cherish art, regardless of the source. For that reason, I think there will certainly be a place for any kind of art, whether it comes from a human or an AI.

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Filed under AI Art, Artificial Intelligence, psychology, technology

Ultimates #1 Review: The Ultimate Fix

This is a video from my YouTube channel, Jack’s World.

This video is my review of Deniz Camp’s Ultimates #1 and what it means for the future of this new Ultimate Universe. Enjoy!

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Filed under comic book reviews, Marvel, YouTube

Jack’s CreepyPastas: The Total Discipline Policy

This is a video from my YouTube channel, Jack’s World.

This video is a CreepyPasta story about a creepy school with a harsh discipline policy that I wrote and narrated myself. Enjoy!

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Filed under CreepyPasta, horror, Marvel, YouTube

X-Men 97 Season 2 Theories And Predictions

This is a video from my YouTube channel, Jack’s World.

This video is a list of theories and predictions about what to expect in season two of X-Men 97. The first season didn’t just wildly exceed my expectations. It laid a rich foundation on which to build. The season one finale offered plenty of clues. This is just me following those teases to what may lie ahead for this uncanny series. Enjoy!

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Happy Memorial Day 2024

Today is Memorial Day.

For many, it marks the official start of the summer. The pools are open, the beaches are crowded, and flip-flops are the shoes of choice. And that’s all well and good. I love warm weather, sunny beaches, and long days as much as the next American.

But Memorial Day has always had a more serious, and sometimes solemn connotation.

It’s a day in which we take a moment to honor those who have served their country in the armed forces. That is definitely a service worth honoring. America, as a country, would not exist without men and women willing to take up the call. What they do for this nation and what they sacrifice cannot be overstated.

In my own family, I’ve had multiple individuals serve. Going back to my grandfathers who fought in World War II to other close relatives who saw combat in Vietnam, it helps give perspective to what it means to be an American. You can say anything you want about how divided we are politically. You can say even more about the state of our culture, our conflicts, and the many things that make us unique.

There’s a time and a place to have those kinds of debates. But today is not one of them.

Regardless of where you stand on the political spectrum, I urge everyone to use today to take a step back to honor those who sacrifice and serve for the United States of America. If you can, participate in a parade or activity to honor veterans. If you can’t, consider denoting to a veterans charity.

But whatever you do, keep those who have served this country in your heart. They’ve already sacrificed plenty. Today, on Memorial Day, let’s return the favor.

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X-Men Krakoa Post-Mortem: An Uncanny Dream With A Nightmare Ending

This is a video from my YouTube channel, Jack’s World.

This video is a post-mortem and an overall breakdown of the end of the Krakoa era in the X-Men comics. What started with House of X/Powers of X and ended with Fall of X, the X-Men underwent some of the biggest upheavals the franchise has experienced since the Chris Claremont era. It laid a new foundation unlike anything we’d seen before with the X-Men.

Then, Fall of X came and brought it to an ugly, destructive end.

There’s a lot to be said about the Krakoa era, what led up to it, and what will come after it. I do my best share my sentiments, my hopes, and what this era means to me and other X-Men fans. Enjoy!

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Filed under Marvel, superhero comics, X-men, YouTube

Sexy Short Story: The Fantasy Chamber 2

The following is a sexy short story that I wrote with the help of NovelAI, which is a follow-up to the first Fantasy Chamber story I wrote. Enjoy!


“Well…here I am,” said an anxious, but curious Tyler Lace. “Just what the hell have I gotten myself into?”

The young college freshman struggled to process the situation before him. It started with him needing extra money to pay for a new laptop computer for one of his class. That led him to answering an ad for volunteers for an experiment by the Aeronet Science Lab. That lab just happened to be one of the most celebrated and secretive facilities in the country. Few knew what went on in their largely unremarkable building. But nobody could doubt its influence. It wasn’t unusual to see world-renowned scientists and shady-looking men in suits enter the building.

Tyler knew that the day he arrived on campus. But even he was surprised by the amount of paperwork and NDA’s he had to sign to volunteer for this experiment. On more than one occasion, he had opportunities to back out. An imposing man claiming to be part of the lab’s legal team said nearly 80 percent of volunteers backed out when they saw the extent of the paperwork.

But Tyler wasn’t among them. He really did need the money. So, he signed all those papers and arrived at the lab 9:30 p.m., just as the email had instructed. And after going through no fewer than three layers of security, he found himself standing in front of a large, rectangular chamber no larger than a trailer.

“Whatever this thing is, it’s way too advanced for a guy majoring in sports marketing,” Tyler said. “I’m almost afraid to speculate.”

He’d been standing in front of the chamber for nearly 15 minutes. The security person who’d led him there had long-since left, leaving him alone in this spacious room with no clue about what awaited him. With each passing minute, he grew more tense.

Finally, the silence broke when the chamber made this strange mechanical noise and the front entrance opened.

“Please enter the chamber,” said a robotic voice through an intercom.

The robotic voice caught Tyler off-guard. It was loud and booming in the spacious lab. But it didn’t come off as threatening. Even if he did have second thoughts, the young college freshman did as instructed.

“The things I do for a new laptop,” Tyler said with a sigh.

He entered the chamber, swallowing his nervousness and reservations. Once inside, the heavy doors behind him closed. In the process, the air around him got noticeably hotter, so much so that he broke out into a light sweat.

For a brief moment, Tyler was in total darkness. But before it got too distressing, a series of LED lights lit up along the ceiling and floor. Moments later, a loud humming noise from outside the chamber echoed around him. A series of blinding flashes forced him to cover his eyes. It left him feeling dizzy and disoriented.

But when everything around him settled and cleared, Tyler found himself in a surprisingly comfortable environment.

“Whoa…is this supposed to happen?” he wondered.

The lights along the ceiling now illuminated what looked like a cozy bedroom, not unlike the one he had back home with his parents. It had a nice full-sized bed, clean white sheets, and large pillows that looked much nicer than the ones in his dorm. It looked so inviting, which helped set some of his earlier concerns at ease.

Then, the robotic voice from earlier echoed through the chamber.

“Please take off your clothes,” it said.

Tyler froze in place. “Um, what?”

“Please take off your clothes and place them in the bin next to you. They will be returned to you upon completion of the experiment.”

Tyler looked to his left. There was indeed a small bin placed right near the doorway. He hesitated for a moment, unsure about the implications. But he had already come this far. And he had signed all those papers. There was no turning back now.

“Guess I’m doing this,” he sighed.

He started by taking off his shoes and socks, followed by his pants and shirt. Now, in just his boxers, he still hesitated.

“Can I keep my underwear on?” Tyler asked.

“The experiment requires you to be fully nude,” the robotic voice replied. “We thank you for your cooperation.”

Tyler sighed. “Well, I really do need that money.”

So, with an audible gulp, the college freshman removed his boxers and tossed them into the bin with the rest of his clothes. Now, he stood completely naked. It felt uncomfortable, not least because of the hot, dry air. But the situation was what it was. He couldn’t change that now.

“Please remain where you are,” said the robotic voice.

Tyler did as instructed. He stood in the center of the chamber, not sure of what came next or why he needed to be naked for it. There was still a strange humming noise coming from outside. It lasted for a good five minutes.

Then, the lights along the ceiling and floor flashed. The chamber shifted again, causing Tyler to become so disoriented he nearly fell over. But just as he regained his balance, he realized he was no longer alone in the chamber.

“Good evening,” said a kind feminine voice from the bed. “Thank you for agreeing to be here.”

In act of pure reflex, he turned to the source of the voice. He also covered his penis and balls with both hands, hoping to spare himself further embarrassment. But much to his surprise and astonishment, the voice belonged to what might have been the most beautiful woman he’d ever laid eyes on.

“Wow…” Tyler said in awe.

She was just sitting casually on the foot of the bed. The chamber’s overhead lights illuminated her long flowing hair, flawless skin, and perfect feminine figure. Her bright blue eyes seemed to glow as she looked his way. And just like him, she was completely naked.

Tyler tried not to stare, but he couldn’t help it. She had the body of a goddess, and her beauty was captivating. He also couldn’t ignore her perky, round breasts or her nicely, shaved pussy. She made no effort to cover herself, like he had.  The way she sat, it was like she wanted him to admire her body.

“Who are you?” Tyler asked.

“Call me Allie,” she replied, offering him a smile. “I’m going to be your companion for the duration of this experiment.”

Tyler’s eyes widened. “Excuse me?”

“Please don’t worry,” she added. “Your reaction is perfectly natural.”

“But…why do we have to be naked for this?”

“Because it ensures the data we gather will be useful.”

“Data…what kind of data?”

“The kind that comes from someone living out their greatest fantasies. In this case, that someone is you.”

Allie got up from the bed and approached, giving Tyler an even closer view of her naked body. He was still covering his genitals. But her presence had already triggered a reaction. He could feel himself getting sexually aroused the closer she got.

“Wait…is this real?” Tyler said.

“Does it matter if it’s real?” Allie asked him.

“Um…” he began, only for his words to trail off.

“You need not concern yourself with such details,” she said with a warm smile. “And please…there’s no need to cover yourself. I’m letting you see the entirety of my body. Allow me to see yours.”

Allie reached forward, gently placing her hands over his. With her touch, a jolt of sexual energy shot up his spine, causing his arms to go slack. He removed his hands from his crotch, revealing a growing erection. Tyler was embarrassed at first, but Allie reassured him with an affectionate smile.

“I can see the effect I have on you,” she said. “It’s natural to be aroused. Don’t fight it.”

Tyler gulped, not sure how to react. He felt his heartbeat increase. This whole experience was surreal. But it was becoming more and more enticing.

“Do you have any fantasies you’d like to share with me?” she asked him.

“Are you serious?” he replied, surprised at her directness.

“Of course. I’m here for your enjoyment. So, please, tell me what you want.”

Tyler had a million ideas, but his mind went blank. He didn’t know where to begin.

“Well…can I touch you?” he finally managed.

Allie smiled. “Of course.”

“And you won’t be offended?”

“I promise I won’t be.”

Allie took a step forward, closing the gap between them. Tyler was frozen in place. He didn’t know what else to do, other than reach out and touch her. He started by placing his hands on her waist. Then, he moved up her sides and eventually rested his palms on her breasts.

Her skin felt warm and smooth to the touch. She made no effort to stop him, instead she encouraged him by pressing her breasts into his palms. The way her nipples stiffened as his fingertips grazed them sent shivers up his spine.

Tyler could hardly believe what was happening. It felt like he was in a dream. He was actually standing in a lab chamber, somewhere far away from his dorm room. And yet, the beautiful naked woman in front of him felt real.

“Does this feel good?” Allie asked him.

“Yes, it does,” he replied, his breathing growing heavier.

“Do you want to do more than touch me?”

“Yes. I do.”

“Then I will oblige you.”

Allie wrapped her arms around his shoulders and pulled him in for a kiss. Their lips touched. It was electric. Her skin was incredibly soft. The sensation of her body pressed against his caused his mind to race and his dick to grow harder.

Before Tyler could process it, her tongue slipped into his mouth. That drove him wild. He held onto her hips and pressed his cock against her, grinding it up and down along her lower belly. The feeling was amazing.

As their kissing intensified, she began drew him back toward the bed. He soon felt his knees bump against the edge of the mattress. It was a struggle to maintain balance. But before he lost his footing, Allie guided him onto the bed where he laid on his back with her on top of him. More kissing and touching continued. It quickly evolved into heated foreplay.

With the beautiful naked woman straddling him, his hands were free to roam her entire body. He grabbed her ass, fondled her breasts, and rubbed his thumbs along her rock-hard nipples. Meanwhile, his tongue danced around hers. She tasted wonderful, like fresh honey.

All the while, his dick grew harder, pressing insistently against her abdomen. She even giggled in excitement when she felt it. Then, she leaned in and whispered into his ear.

“Would you like to have sex with me?” she asked, nibbling his earlobe.

“Yes!” Tyler said without hesitation.

“What position would you prefer? On your back, or do you want to get on top?”

“I don’t care. I just want you…so much.”

With his consent, Allie climbed off of him. She then laid down on the bed next to him. He immediately got up and moved to be on top. His cock was fully erect. But Allie made no effort to avoid it. Instead, she spread her legs and welcomed him into her sex.

Tyler was eager. His cockhead found her entrance. He wasted no time. Without any more hesitation, he buried himself inside her. It was an incredible feeling. Her pussy was so wet and tight, like a silken vice wrapped around his manhood.

“How does it feel?” Allie asked, staring at him with an affectionate smile.

“My God! You’re so tight and wet,” Tyler replied.

“I’m glad. Please…start moving your hips. Take me.”

The young college student did as requested. He withdrew his hips and thrust them forward, fucking her deep. She gasped when she felt him enter her, but she never once looked away from him.

They soon settled into a comfortable rhythm. Tyler started with long, deliberate strokes. But as the intensity built, so did his desire to take her harder. With each successive stroke, he fucked her deeper and faster.

All the while, her pussy tightened around his cock. It was a feeling unlike anything he’d ever experienced. And her body responded to his every touch. She even moaned and sighed at his pleasure. It was like they were connected as one, sharing the same thoughts and feelings.

Tyler soon picked up the pace. Sweat began to accumulate on his brow, as well as the rest of his body. His breathing intensified. But he never stopped, even for a second. He couldn’t.

“Mmm…that feels so good!” Allie moaned.

She reached up and ran her fingers through his hair. She then wrapped her arms around his shoulders, holding on for dear life.

“Oh god!” Tyler moaned. “I’m…I’m about to come!”

“That’s good! Don’t hold back. Come inside me.”

“Are…are you sure?”

“I’m sure,” Allie said. “Please…fill me with your cum.

He grunted and groaned as the sensations took over his body. He felt his orgasm rapidly approaching. The young college freshman could hold back no longer. He slammed his hips forward and let his body react.

His orgasm washed over him like a tidal wave. His cock spasmed, shooting rope after rope of hot cum deep into her womb. It was the most intense orgasm of his young life.

After what seemed like forever, he eventually came down from his orgasmic high. The intensity of his climax caused him to collapse on top of her. Allie held him close. She didn’t make a move to push him away. Instead, she kissed his neck and cheek.

“Did that feel good?” Allie asked.

“God yes!” he said. “That was amazing.”

“I’m glad. I’m enjoying this too. And I would like it to continue.”

Tyler chuckled. “Well, you’d have to give me a minute.”

“Oh I believe I can help with that.”

As soon as she finished speaking, she rolled him onto his back and got on top of him again. Then, she began grinding her pussy against his cock, which helped get his blood flowing. She then kissed him and began trailing her lips down his face, chest, and abdomen.

“Wait, you’re not going to…” Tyler began, only for his words to trail off.

“Don’t worry,” Allie said. “Relax and enjoy.”

He didn’t say a word. He just watched as she made her way towards towards his waiting cock. And once her lips arrived, she slid his manly flesh into her mouth and started sucking.

“Oh fuck!” Tyler moaned.

This wasn’t his first blowjob, but it might as well have been. He couldn’t believe the amount of skill and energy she put into her work. Not only was her mouth incredible, but she used her hand as well, jerking him off as her head bobbed up and down his cock.

Tyler could only lay there and watch in amazement. His body reacted. Before long, his cock hardened again, filling her mouth with his meat. She was able to take his full length, not once gagging.

He was fully erect within short order. Her lips and tongue were amazing. It felt so good, his mind started to wander. And just like before, he started having dirty thoughts.

“Can…can you ride me?” Tyler asked her.

“Of course,” Allie replied, letting his dick fall from her mouth. “If that is what you desire.”

She wasted no time. The naked, gorgeous woman got on her hands and knees, giving him an incredible view of her sexy ass. But the best was yet to come. With a naughty look in her eye, she climbed on top of him and lowered herself onto his cock.

“Oh god!” Tyler said. “So…good!”

He reached up and grabbed her tits, squeezing them hard. Allie responded by riding him faster and harder. It was an amazing feeling, the way she moved her hips, taking his cock deep into her pussy. She even placed her hands over his, encouraging him to explore her body.

“Do you like how my pussy feels?” Allie asked.

“I…I love it!” he said.

“I’m glad. Because I really enjoy having sex with you. Your dick feels so good inside me.”

They continued their sexual dance, both giving in to the moment. It was a wild and uninhibited experience. Allie rode him faster, bouncing her ass up and down his cock. Tyler’s hands never stopped. They roamed her body, groping her breasts and butt.

“Yes! Ohhh yes! It feels so good!” Allie cried.

Tyler’s hips thrust upward, burying himself deeper into her pussy. Her cries and moans filled the chamber. It was obvious they were both close to orgasm. And it would happen at any moment.

“You’re so tight and wet! I…I can’t hold back!” Tyler moaned.

“I think…I’m coming too. Let’s…let’s come together!”

They fucked each other harder, not letting up for even a moment. They were so close to the brink. Their bodies were on fire. And their movements became more urgent.

“I’m ready!” Allie screamed.

“Me too!” Tyler said.

His dick shot another load of cum. Allie’s pussy clenched and unclenched, milking his cock for every last drop. The sensation was almost too much for the young college student. He had no idea it could feel this good.

Eventually, they both came down from their respective highs. Allie laid down on top of him. Tyler’s softening dick remained inside her. Neither of them said a word, choosing to just lay in each other’s embrace.

“Are you satisfied?” Allie asked him, kissing his lips.

“More than satisfied,” Tyler replied.

“That’s very good. I’m glad. We’re not done yet, but I’ll give you a chance to rest. You can sleep if you’d like. And when you wake up, we can do it again.”

“Really? I get to do this again?”

“The chamber is ours until morning. How we make use of that time is entirely up to you.”

“Wow,” said Tyler in disbelief. “Are you sure this is real?”

“Does it matter?”

Tyler thought about it for a moment, still holding this beautiful naked woman in his arms. It felt real. Everything they’d just done felt real. He was tempted to think deeper about what was going on, but opted not to.

“No. It doesn’t,” he said definitively.

Tyler kissed her and they snuggled closer. He was completely exhausted. All that sex took a lot out of him. So, he closed his eyes and let himself rest, looking forward to more intimate acts with this dream girl.

“Good night, Tyler,” Allie said to him. “And thank you for participating. The data you’re giving us for this experiment promises to be very useful.”

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Jack’s CreepyPastas: Earth’s Last Dominant Species

This is a video from my YouTube channel, Jack’s World.

This video is a CreepyPasta story about the secrets of the oldest rock formations on Earth that I wrote and narrated myself. Enjoy!

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Filed under CreepyPasta, horror, Jack's World, YouTube

How Much Are You Willing To Spend/Risk On Emerging Longevity/Anti-Aging Treatments?

We’re all born with youthful energy. As kids and young adults, this energy helps fuel us as with build lives for ourselves and our families, be they our close relatives or any children we might have. But over time, that energy fades. Our health, our looks, and our overall energy for living fades. It is an inescapable fact of life.

One of my old health teachers once summed it up with this endearing quote that I remember to this day.

“Once your body is done growing, it starts dying. The only part you can control is how rapidly that process unfolds.”

This has become more and more relevant for me, personally. I am no longer young by most measures. My teenage years and my early 20s feel like a lifetime ago. Who I was then is very different from who I am now. And while I have gotten much better at taking care of myself since I turned 30, I know that’s just slowing the aging process. It doesn’t stop it.

At some point, my body and mind will start to break down.

At some point, I’ll start succumbing to the many ailments often associated with age.

I am not looking forward to that. I prefer to delay that as much as possible. I’ve always been somewhat self-conscious about my looks and my health. I don’t deny that the prospect of aging is scary to me. That’s one of the reasons I often keep a close eye on advancements in biotechnology. And with each passing year, I also find myself paying more attention to advances in the fields of longevity.

I know there are many conflicting perspectives when it comes to body image, beauty standards, and the idea of aging gracefully. For everyone in human history, you didn’t really have a choice. You just had to accept that you were going to get older. Your looks, your energy, and your body was going to fade. But if this technology is able to mature, there might be other options in the future.

Whether or not I’ll live long enough to take advantage of those opportunities, it’s hard to say. It may already be too late for someone my age. Even if new treatments emerge, there’s a good chance they’ll be reserved for the rich and well-connected. Unless I win the lottery, I doubt I’ll be in a position to utilize them.

But that might not be the case for my nieces and nephews, who are still young children at the moment. It might not even be the case for those just graduating college at the moment. In the same way artificial intelligence has had a sudden surge of advancement, longevity might experience a similar surge, thanks in no small part to AI.

As I write this, science has uncovered so much about the mechanics of aging. We know considerably more today than we did 20 years ago. We’re sure to uncover more in the coming years. At some point, we may even develop effective treatments that don’t just slow aging. We might find a way to actually reverse it.

This sort of technology isn’t some far-off sci-fi fantasy on par with a warp drive. Reversing aging doesn’t break the laws of physics. It doesn’t even break the laws of biology, given how some animals never seem to age. It’s just a matter of developing the right tools, the right treatments, and the right approach. I have no idea what form that will take. I doubt it will be something as simple as a pill, an injection, or something you could buy at a pharmacy.

But if such a treatment were available, it’s worth asking how much you’d be willing to risk in order to take advantage of it. Because, like any emerging medicine, there is risk early on. When something is unproven in the long-term, you will be putting your mind and body at risk by embracing it so quickly. Even if it’s tested to a point where very major health organization gives it the thumbs-up, there’s always a chance something could go wrong. That’s just how medicine and biology works.

Some people might not be willing to take that risk.

For me personally, I totally would. Even if my health and appearance is generally good, I would definitely take a chance at a treatment that would help preserve both for a longer period. I would certainly expect side-effects. But if it delivers good results, I’ll endure those.

But there’s also the cost to consider. Even if a treatment is shown to be effective at keeping you feeling young, beautiful, and energetic, it doesn’t do you much good if it costs you every penny you have and then some. Sure, you’d have your youth and your looks, but you’d be broke and in debt. Is that worth it?

Personally, I wouldn’t be willing to spend everything or go that deep into debt, just to look young and remain healthy. Few good things ever come from indebting yourself to that extent.

But others might feel differently. Some might not want that kind of longevity, even if it were available. That’s perfectly fine. We should certainly respect anyone who makes such a choice. But we should also put real thought and effort into attacking aging the same way we attack any disease. Regardless of how we age or how we choose to approach it, we’re subject to the chaotic ravages of time.

Emerging technology will give us more options than we’ve ever had at any point in our existence as a species. How we choose to exercise those options remains to be seen. I might not get that choice. But I sincerely hope that some reading this do.

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Filed under biotechnology, CRISPR, technology