You Want Immortality? You Can’t Handle Immortality.
Would you want to?
Some animals do not show signs of aging, such as the immortal jellyfish (Turritopsis dohrnii) and the hydra. Theoretically, these animals are immortal.
For example, the immortal jellyfish is a 4-millimeter medusa that can revert to a polyp stage when injured, sick, starving, or exposed to extreme temperatures, thanks to its ability to regrow its cells. The polyp can then produce new medusae that are genetically identical to the previous version of the immortal jellyfish.
This process, where mature cells transform back into stem cells or polyp cells—which can then regenerate an entirely new body—is called transdifferentiation. A fully formed, specialized adult cell can become another type of specialized adult cell. It can repeat this cycle indefinitely.
If you think it’s incredible that a giant barrel sponge can live over 1,000 years, this jellyfish can theoretically live forever (unless it gets eaten by a turtle). The point is that age is not the reason for death.
What About Humans?
Our bodies are certainly more complex than jellyfish (some more than others). Humans have always searched for immortality.
The concept of immortality dates back to ancient civilizations, with the Epic of Gilgamesh (circa 2100 BCE) being the earliest fiction that explores this theme.<sup>1</sup>
Ponce de Leon, the Spanish explorer who is said to have searched for the fountain of youth in St. Augustine, Florida, in the 1500s—(I’ve been to St. Augustine, and trust me, he never found it).
Today, scientists study genetic material such as telomeres, the protective caps on the ends of chromosomes. Each time a cell divides, telomeres gradually become shorter until they are so short that the cell can no longer divide. Shorter telomeres are associated with cellular aging, which is linked to human aging and age-related diseases. The idea is that by manipulating telomeres, we may be able to extend life expectancy.
Dmitry Itskov is a Russian billionaire known for founding the 2045 Initiative, which aims to achieve cybernetic immortality by transferring human consciousness to advanced artificial bodies.<sup>2</sup> I’m not saying that I think this is far-fetched, but let’s just say I haven’t picked out my avatar yet.
The Human Obsession with Time
But what if many of us get our way? Can you imagine becoming a much younger version of yourself?
In the United States, the average lifespan is about 77 years (74 for men, 81 for women). The longest-living person on record was 122. That hasn’t stopped us from yearning to stop the biological clock.
Despite being intelligent creatures at the top of the food chain, many of us humans never seem satisfied. We chase after more money, power, attention, leisure, attractiveness, fun, sex, subscribers, likes—and of course, time. Time is the crown jewel.
Even when we get work to stay young, we can’t stop. We spend billions of dollars on aging pills, creams, and other scams. We get so much Botox and plastic surgery that many of us start looking like, well, a jellyfish. Many risk their lives to get more of the adrenaline rush until, like many other things in excess… it kills you.
As the old 20th-century American proverb goes: “Pigs get fat, but hogs get slaughtered.” Greed eventually backfires.
Can AI Help Us Live Longer?
It might. Not by granting immortality, but by stretching the healthy years we already have.
AI is scanning billions of molecules to find new anti-aging drugs, repurposing old ones, and helping design therapies that clear out “zombie” cells. It can read your genome, track your sleep, spot cancer years early, and coach you toward better habits in real time.
Think of it as a longevity assistant: part detective, part coach, part guardian angel. By predicting disease before it strikes and personalizing health down to your DNA, AI could add two decades of healthy life. Not eternal youth, but a longer runway to figure out immortality.
The Problem with Immortality
Consider what would happen if humans gained immortality.
I know I would eventually run out of money in retirement, although my Nvidia stock might help with that. The world would likely face shortages of resources like water, food, and land as overpopulation becomes a significant problem.
It’s not for me. As I get older, I sometimes look at younger folks and shake my head. Not because they’re stupid, but because they haven’t learned or experienced all the wisdom that we older folks have accumulated. The worst part is that they are too inexperienced to realize that.
When I’m 604 years old, will I even be able to stand a teenager? Don’t get me wrong. I would love to be around when quantum computers become mainstream, and I no longer have to see that freaking hourglass on a frozen computer. However, that doesn’t make up for societal collapse.
We will not be so immortal when we’re fighting each other over a donut hole. I’d rather not endure hundreds of years of heartaches, and I definitely don’t want to be here when the sun burns out or when the nuclear sky lights up with ionized air turning it into plasma. I want to keep my plasma inside my veins, thank you.
Until Then…
I’ll take my years as they come—finite, fragile, and all the more precious because of it. Mortality isn’t a flaw; it’s the very thing that makes life worth living.
Besides this, I’m not sure the world is ready for 600 more years of me.
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References
Mark, Joshua J. “The Eternal Life of Gilgamesh.” World History Encyclopedia. Last modified April 10, 2018. https://www.worldhistory.org/article/192/the-eternal-life-of-gilgamesh/.
Belfiore, Michael. “Meet the Russian Man Who Would Build Your Avatar.” Popular Mechanics, March 14, 2013, 12:52 p.m. EDT.
We have longevity in my immediate family to the age of 82, I have now reached that but would be happy with more but satisfied with a great life.
Enjoyed your thoughts as always! We are going to continue being focused on the time we are blessed to have. We will leave immortality to the jellyfish!