1999 February 3

It is our destiny to become extinct. Extinction of all species eventually occurs because evolutionary improvements are inevitable. Mutations lead to obsolescence.

In our rapid rate of techno-evolution we are not removed from this process. In fact, for us, extreme jumps in capabilities are commonplace. Our biological makeup as of yet has largely remained the same, but we grow new and more useful appendages all the time in the form of our tools.

As of yet our tools have been superfluous to our biological form – we improve, but the species remains unchanged (contrary to improvements via classic evolution). There is an inherent trend that will occur with any tool bearing society: As improvements in tools are required and implemented, each successive "generation" of tool must be more autonomous than the ones before.

Autonomous because the purpose of a tool is to exert more external effort with each generation while requiring the same internal (human) effort throughout. In other words, the internal effort is limited by human biological capabilities. Capabilities which do not change nearly as rapidly as our demand for output increases. This trend can and will persist until our tools reach a point of autonomy where they require no operators. By definition these tools must demonstrate greater (more varied and efficient) capabilities than those of humans. Their autonomy then leads to the evolutionary (techno-evolutionary, that is) obsolescence and eventual extinction of the human race.

There is another path we may take to avoid our own obsolescence – the improvement of our species at a rate that rivals that of improvements in tools to the point where the autonomy of our tools cannot outstrip our own. Technology may allow for these improvements in time. Genetic modifications can increase our capabilities thereby increasing our input to our tools, rendering them a smaller magnitude of improvement. This runs into a vicious cycle of us keeping up with our creations.

The axe still eventually falls for Homo Sapiens; at some point in this cycle of improvement we evolve ourselves past our current level and can no longer be classified as Sapiens. Eventually not even as Humans. Our current level of evolution – our cultures and civilizations – will soon be held in the same regard as we today hold primates.

The only question that remains: Who or what will regard us as primitive – our creations, or our descendants?

Is the answer ultimately relevant to us primates?

No. Let evolution take its course.