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Chapter 10
DOI: 10.4018/978-1-5225-8431-5.ch010
ABSTRACT
The relationship between humans and machines has been a controversial topic throughout history. In
the past, technology was viewed as a mere change in people’s living conditions while today it is evident
that it afects the nature of humanity itself. This very change can range from microscale structures, such
as human DNA, to bigger structures, such as limbs. We have been aware that it is just the beginning for
this change. According to the theory of transhumanism, further changes on the human body are expected
with the rapid developments in technology. These changes will naturally not be limited to the human body.
The increasing amount of interaction between humans and machines will result in the execution of more
complicated and difcult tasks by machines instead of humans, which is the focus of the present study.
There are many points where the humans and machines meet with technological developments, one of
which is the thinking function of humans and its possible transfer to machines. The thinking capacity of
machines is known as artifcial intelligence.
INTRODUCTION
What was the inventor of the wheel thinking?
It is hard to answer that question as humans’ needs and their way of thinking have evolved continu-
ously throughout history, which also affected the attitudes towards technology from time to time. Since
the beginning of our existence on Earth, human beings have always struggled to alter and transform
the nature, environment and their bodies to improve the living conditions in order to attain more with
less energy. The challenges presented by nature have forced humans with relatively limited physical
power to transform their environments and produce the essential stuff for survival. As well as food
and clothing, humans have built structures for accommodation to protect from the climatic conditions
Artifcial Intelligence in
the Era of Transhumanism
Smart Phones
Okan Aksu
Trakya University, Turkey