The Avatar Project aims to transfer human consciousness to artificial technology through four stages. Stage one involves controlling android avatars through brain-computer interfaces to perform dangerous tasks. Stage two focuses on supporting vital brain functions through autonomous life support systems. Stage three seeks to upload human personality and consciousness to synthetic carriers. The final stage envisions a hologram-like avatar providing substance independence. Proponents believe this could achieve immortality, while critics argue the risks of enhanced AI and widening social inequality.

1. {
Technology will Save
our Minds and Bodies
(Medical)
The Avatar Project
Matthew Dubuc
Social Impact of Technology

2. Technology has come a long ways over the years
and will continue to develop in the coming years.
Much time and money has gone into medical
research and developing new technologies that
will help to heal and maintain a person’s mind or
body. A new technology in this field that has
recently come to light is the Avatar Project.
Introduction

3.  The Avatar Project was developed by Dmitry
Itskov through his company The 2025 Initiative
 The Avatar Project is the idea of transposing
human consciousness into artificial technology
 The project is looking for wealthy billionaires
and government support to help fund the
project.
Background

4.  It is their goal to save humanity from the inevitable
destruction of our world.
 The project will be broken down into four stages:
Avatar A: Anthropomorphic Robot Controlled Through a
Brain-Computer Interface
Avatar B: Support Systems for Vital Brain Functions
Avatar C: Synthetic Carriers of Personality and
Consciousness
Avatar D: A hologram-like avatar (no available link)
Background Continued

5. This is the first step of the Avatar Project. The
goal of this stage is to create widespread use of
android avatars controlled by a brain-computer
interface. These avatars will provide people with
the ability to work in dangerous environments,
perform rescue operations, travel in extreme
situations. In addition, some of the components
used in the avatars can be used to help people
with disabilities or lost limbs by giving them
prosthetic to help them regain some senses.
Stages of The Avatar Project
Avatar A

6. The next phase in project avatar is Avatar B. The
next evolution of the avatars will be an
autonomous life support system that allows
people with bodies that are worn out or
irreversibly damaged to transfer their brain into
an avatar to regain fully functioning bodily life
Stages of The Avatar Project
Avatar B

7. The next stage of avatars will include a computer
modelled brain and human consciousness. This
means that people will be able to upload their
consciousness onto an artificial being. This will
also help expand human capabilities, give people
the ability to restore or modify their brain, and
create technology assisted human immortality.
Stages of The Avatar Project
Avatar C

8. Avatar D is the final stage and is a hologram like
avatar. This gives people substance
independence allowing them to potentially shape
their body for their conscious.
Stages of The Avatar Project
Avatar D

9. Projected Timeline

10.  Check out the following videos for some more
information on The Avatar Project and The
2045 Initiative:
 www.youtube.com/watch?v=01hbkh4hXEk
 www.youtube.com/watch?v=FjQltzTL5bA
 www.youtube.com/watch?v=9wEZsSIpypg
Videos

11.  Disabilities, illness, and injury will disappear
 Artificial bodies can be controlled at a distance
would be able to extinguish the fires, deal
with accidents in conditions dangerous to
human life and health, can assist police, work
as peacekeepers, explore dangerous areas, and
decrease potential harm to people
Pros

12.  Artificial intelligence is added to human
consciousness to boost human intelligence
 Enhanced physical attributes
 Deep space travel becomes a feasible idea
 Immortality is obtainable
Pros Continued

13.  The potential that self aware robots could take
over the world. Many of the start up robots
will have human intelligence and will be
weaponized for war. It may seem like science
fiction but it is a genuine concern for many
people.
 If there is a soul, will it be transferred as well?
Cons and Concerns

14.  It will most likely be available for the rich
creating a bigger divide between the rich and
the poor.
 Because health insurance is setup to extend life
as long as possible, will insurance cover avatars
once they are mass produced?
 The lack of body produced chemicals could
have an effect on how the mind reacts
Cons and Concerns
Continued

15. This technology is something that will change our
planet and humankind as we know it. It has
direct medical implications on both the body and
mind. This has created a big division of
supporters and skeptics within the scientific
community. It is my opinion that this technology
will be a great benefit and will allow humans to
more than we could have ever dreamed of.
Conclusion

16.  2045 Initiative. (n.d.). 2045 Initiative. Retrieved April 9, 2014,
from http://2045.com/faq/
 2045 Initiative. (n.d.). 2045 Initiative. Retrieved April 9, 2014,
from http://2045.com/
 Borghino, D. (2012, July 25). "Avatar" project aims for human
immortality by 2045. "Avatar" project aims for human
immortality by 2045. Retrieved April 9, 2014, from
http://www.gizmag.com/avatar-project-2045/23454/
 Couts, A. (2013, March 28). How one Russian millionaire
wants to save the world ... with immortal cyborgs. Digital
Trends. Retrieved April 9, 2014, from
http://www.digitaltrends.com/cool-tech/dmitry-itskov-2045-
initiative/#!DqbEv
References

17.  Dillow, C. (2012, March 2). Will People Alive Today Have the
Opportunity to Upload Their Consciousness to a New Robotic
Body?. Popular Science. Retrieved April 9, 2014, from
http://www.popsci.com/technology/article/2012-03/achieving-
immortality-russian-mogul-wants-begin-putting-human-
brains-robots-and-soon
 Pros and Cons of Immortality. (2013, March 22). Ignite.
Retrieved April 9, 2014, from
http://ignitechannel.com/articles/consciousness/pros-and-
cons-of-immortality/
 Technology / 2045 Initiative. (n.d.). Technology / 2045
Initiative. Retrieved April 9, 2014, from http://2045.com/tech2/
References Continued