[ExI] Uploads are self

[Ben Zaiboc]

On 16/03/2026 19:34, Keith Henson wrote:
> On Mon, Mar 16, 2026 at 9:40 AM Ben Zaiboc via extropy-chat
> <extropy-chat at lists.extropy.org> wrote:
>> On 16/03/2026 10:35, Keith Henson wrote:
>>> When the technology supports uploading, it should be able to store
>>> bodies and reverse the process.  No matter if you settle in the meat
>>> or uploaded state, you should be able to freely move between them.
>>> Continuous memory, not even a loss of consciousness during moves.
>>>
>>> How many of you would buy a car without a test drive?
>> That can only work if the uploading process is non-destructive. I expect that destructive uploading will be achieved long before non-destructive.
> Given how fast things move, what do you consider "long before"?
> Weeks?  Years?  If you are upgrading your computer, would you be happy
> with having to destroy the old one and all contents to do it?


'Long before': I don't know, because I don't know how fast things will be moving at the time we begin doing uploading of human brains. Could be months, could be years. I doubt that it would be weeks or days, but who knows? All I know is that non-destructive scanning (which we can't currently do at all) is a much more complex and difficult problem than destructive scanning. At present.

I actually do, in effect, destroy my old computer when upgrading to a new one, because I build the new one then either move the drives or copy the data across, then the old machine either goes for scrap or gets recycled in some way (a home music server, for example). A new motherboard usually gets the max. specs it's capable of taking (memory, etc.)(provided I can afford it!), so there's not usually much 'upgrading' as such that's possible to do. Things like PSUs and cases get re-used if possible, keyboards, mice and monitors don't need replacing unless they die or the connection technology changes.

This is basically the general strategy that I'd like to see being possible with our bodies and brains. Uploading as Upgrading/Rebuilding. Gradually become a type of cyborg (hybrid biological/synthetic), and extend that process into the brain, until eventually all the biological parts are gone, or transformed into a technology that works better and is more controllable.

-- 
Ben