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]]>Una historia que muchos de nosotros hemos visto en las noticias es cómo Bryan Johnson, un ex emprendedor tecnológico, supuestamente gastó más de dos millones de dólares al año. en un protocolo de longevidad. Y ciertamente parece más joven de lo que indica su edad biológica. Ha realizado un enorme cantidad de pruebas que demuestran que su cuerpo está actuando como alguien mucho más joven.
Personalmente, he estado interesado en la longevidad durante mucho tiempo y creo que la mayoría de las personas pueden obtener el 80% del beneficio del protocolo de Bryan Johson sin tener que gastar millones de dólares. Por eso quiero compartir mi propio protocolo de longevidad.
Hay que tener en cuenta que nada de esto ayudará a vivir hasta los 150 años. Para eso vamos a necesitar biotecnología avanzada, aprender más sobre los mecanismos del envejecimiento y desarrollar nuevas terapias. Pero un protocolo como este podría marcar la diferencia entre vivir hasta los 80 y estar en un asilo de ancianos, o llegar a los 100 años y vivir un estilo de vida independiente.
Mi protocolo de longevidad y el núcleo de un estilo de vida saludable se basa en tres pilares: buen sueño, ejercicio regular, y una nutrición adecuada. Cada uno de estos aspectos es crucial y complementario a los demás. Éstos no son negociables y existe evidencia irrefutable de que son esenciales para la buena salud y la longevidad.
En mis primeros años, yo, como muchos otros, subestimaba la importancia de dormir bien. Pero un poco de investigación y la experiencia personal me permitieron darme cuenta de que dormir no es sólo una actividad pasiva. Es un momento en el que nuestro cuerpo se rejuvenece, equilibra los niveles hormonales y solidifica la memoria.
Ahora trato de dormir entre 7 y 9 horas todas las noches. Implementar un horario de sueño regular, crear un ambiente propicio para el sueño, y reducir la exposición a las pantallas antes de acostarse son pasos clave en este proceso.
Una buena referencia sobre el sueño es [Por qué dormimos, de Matthew Walker] (https://www.amazon.com/Why-We-Sleep-Unlocking-Dreams/dp/1501144316).
El ejercicio es una de las pocas cuestiones en las que la literatura médica coincide. El ejercicio regular tiene un impacto positivo en todos los aspectos de la salud. El tipo y la duración del ejercicio probablemente no tengan tanto impacto como su regularidad. Incluso hay artículos que sugieren que unos minutos al día pueden ser casi tan beneficioso como un par de horas.
Mi rutina de ejercicios semanal ahora incluye una combinación de ejercicios cardiovasculares y entrenamiento con pesas. Descubrí que esto no sólo me mantiene en buena forma física sino que también mejora mi salud mental y mi bienestar. Recuerde, el objetivo no es sólo vivir más pero vivir bien.
El entrenamiento de resistencia o con peasas es crucial a medida que envejecemos. Ayuda a mantener la masa muscular, la fuerza y las capacidades funcionales. combatir los efectos de la sarcopenia, la pérdida de masa muscular relacionada con la edad. La pérdida de movilidad a medida que envejecemos crea una cascada de efectos nocivos.
Una buena nutrición es la columna vertebral de una vida sana y un factor clave para una vida larga. No se trata sólo de perder peso o verse bien, sino de nutrir el cuerpo con lo que necesita para funcionar de manera óptima.
Después de mucha investigación y experimentación, descubrí que una dieta basada en plantas me sirve mejor. Parece haber bastante literatura científica que sugiere que una dieta vegana basada en plantas es más saludable que la mayoría de las otras dietas.
Sin embargo, también soy un entusiasta de la comida y creo que disfrutar de la vida, incluida la buena comida, es una parte integral de la longevidad. Sigo una regla 80/20. El 80% de mi dieta, mientras estoy en casa, es vegana y está repleta de alimentos nutritivos de origen vegetal. Y mientras viajo, el otro 20% como prácticamente cualquier cosa. Por ejemplo me gustan los menús de degustación. Por supuesto, siempre evito la comida rápida.
Este equilibrio me permite mantener una salud óptima sin dejar de disfrutar de los placeres de una cocina variada y deliciosa. No se trata de reglas estrictas, sino de hábitos sostenibles y agradables que contribuyan a una vida más larga y saludable.
Una buena referencia sobre nutrición es [Cómo no morir de Michael Greger] (https://www.amazon.com/How-Not-Die-Discover-Scientifically/dp/1250066115).
Creo que los tres elementos anteriores probablemente aportan el 90% del beneficio de todo el protocolo y son esenciales. Pero a veces es difícil ser consistente o implementar los 3 de manera óptima. Así que además también complemento mi nutrición con ciertos alimentos para los cuales hay fuerte evidencia de que son beneficiosos para la salud.
Los suplementos pueden ser un complemento importante a un protocolo de salud, pero no sustituirán una dieta equilibrada. Para mí, estos suplementos son la guinda del pastel de una dieta que por lo demás es saludable.
Por supuesto, es esencial recordar que las respuestas individuales a diferentes tipos de alimentos pueden variar, y lo que me funciona para mi puede que no funcione para todos.
Los antioxidantes son útiles para neutralizar los radicales libres dañinos en nuestro cuerpo, reduciendo así el estrés oxidativo, uno de los principales contribuyentes al envejecimiento. Dos de mis fuentes favoritas son los arándanos y el acai, ambos famosos por su alto contenido de antioxidantes. Los arándanos son deliciosos complementos para batidos, avena o incluso como refrigerio solos.
Amla, también conocida como grosella espinosa india, tiene reputación en la medicina ayurvédica. Esta pequeña fruta verde es una excelente fuente de vitamina C y repleta de una variedad de polifenoles, conocidos por sus propiedades antioxidantes. Consumo amla en polvo varias veces a la semana y la mezclo en batidos.
La piperlongumina, un compuesto derivado de la pimienta larga, se ha estudiado por sus posibles propiedades antienvejecimiento y antiinflamatorias. Si bien es una adición menos común a las dietas occidentales, yo la agrego en forma de polvo a los batidos.
La espermidina, un compuesto que se encuentra en varios alimentos, ha llamado la atención en los últimos años por sus posibles propiedades para prolongar la vida útil. De hecho hay estudios en animales en los que se probó que alarga la vida. Si la dieta lo permite, el queso añejo resulta ser una de las fuentes ricas en espermidina y es mucho más agradable que tomarlo como suplemento.
La creatina, popular entre los atletas por sus propiedades para mejorar el rendimiento, también puede tener beneficios para la longevidad. Algunas investigaciones sugieren que puede ayudar a mantener la masa muscular y la función cognitiva a medida que envejecemos. Agrego monohidrato de creatina a mis batidos.
El betahidroxibutirato (BHB) es un tipo de cuerpo cetónico que nuestro cuerpo produce durante el ayuno o las dietas bajas en carbohidratos. Los estudios han sugerido que el BHB puede tener efectos neuroprotectores, lo que podría retardar el envejecimiento cerebral. Al incluir suplementos de BHB en mi rutina, pretendo aprovechar algunos de los beneficios potenciales del ayuno. sin tener que alterar drásticamente mis patrones de alimentación.
La taurina se ha vuelto bastante popular últimamente. Hay investigaciones recientes que sugieren que disminuye con la edad y la suplementación en ratones contribuye a prolongar la vida útil. De hecho uno de los estudios más recientes en ratones sugiere que puede alargar la vida de manera significativa.
La vitamina D es probablemente el suplemento más importante. Muchas personas, especialmente en el mundo occidental, tienen deficiencia de vitamina D. Por eso tomo un suplemento diario de vitamina D de 5000 UI. Los niveles adecuados de vitamina D son cruciales para mantener la salud ósea, la función inmune y más. En particular, la vitamina D puede ayudar a mejorar el sistema inmune contra enfermedades infecciosas y hubo bastante investigación sobre su efecto protector, en los últimos años.
A menudo se recomienda el aceite de pescado por su contenido de Omega-3; yo opto por un aceite derivado de algas. Ofrece beneficios similares pero en un paquete apto para veganos. Los ácidos grasos omega-3 son esenciales para la salud y el funcionamiento del cerebro. Sin embargo, probablemente no tiene ningún impacto en la salud cardiovascular, que es lo que tradicionalmente la gente lo tomaría.
El ginseng, en particular el Panax ginseng coreano, se ha utilizado en la medicina tradicional durante siglos. Las investigaciones sugieren que puede tener varios beneficios para la salud, incluida la mejora de la función cognitiva.
La urolitina A se ha vuelto bastante popular últimamente. Es un compuesto que influye en la salud mitocondrial, fundamental para nuestra energía y salud metabólica. A medida que envejecemos, nuestra función mitocondrial disminuye (ésta es en realidad una de las características clave del envejecimiento). Por eso tomo un suplemento de urolitina A para contrarrestar potencialmente este aspecto del envejecimiento.
Tomo té de hibisco con regularidad, al menos una vez a la semana. El hibisco es conocido por su potencial para reducir la presión arterial. La presión puede causar todo tipo de complicaciones a medida que envejecemos. El hibisco es una forma eficaz, natural y científicamente probada, de reducir la presión arterial.
El pterostilbeno, un compuesto relacionado con el resveratrol, fue una de las cosas que probé. A pesar de sus posibles beneficios antienvejecimiento, Tuve que suspenderlo porque aumentaba significativamente mis niveles de colesterol, lo que resulta ser un efecto secundario conocido.
También probé la berberina, un compuesto que se encuentra en varias plantas y que a menudo se usa para regular los niveles de azúcar en sangre. creo que hay investigaciones que sugieren que puede ser muy eficaz en el tratamiento de síntomas prediabéticos o diabéticos.
En mi caso sospecho que limitó excesivamente mi absorción de azúcar, coincidiendo con un episodio de palpitaciones. Aunque esto podría haber estado relacionado con el estrés, decidí ir a lo seguro y descontinué su uso.
Además de los compuestos mencionados anteriormente, existen un par de intervenciones para las que hay evidencia científica que alargan la vida (al menos en animales).
Las células senescentes son esencialmente células “zombis”. Una vez activas y en funcionamiento, estas células han entrado en un estado de actividad de detención del ciclo celular. Ya no dividen ni apoyan la función del tejido, pero también resisten la llamada a la apoptosis, o muerte celular programada.
Con el tiempo, la acumulación de estas células senescentes puede contribuir al envejecimiento y diversas enfermedades relacionadas con la edad, ya que emiten sustancias nocivas que causan inflamación y daño a las células sanas circundantes.
Los senolíticos son compuestos diseñados para atacar y eliminar estas células senescentes. Al eliminar las células senescentes, los senolíticos podrían potencialmente ralentizar el proceso de envejecimiento e incluso revertir la disfunción tisular relacionada con la edad. mejorando así la esperanza de vida y posiblemente extendiendo la esperanza de vida.
La importancia de los senolíticos en el campo de la longevidad fue subrayada por un estudio innovador realizado por la famosa Clínica Mayo. Los investigadores descubrieron que la inyección de fármacos senolíticos en ratones ancianos eliminaba eficazmente las células senescentes. En particular, los ratones tratados con estos medicamentos mostraron mejoras significativas en la salud y una mayor esperanza de vida en comparación con los ratones no tratados. Este estudio histórico ha alimentado el entusiasmo por el potencial de los senolíticos para promover vidas más sanas y largas.
Una vez al mes, sigo un régimen de compuestos similares a los senolíticos, que incluyen cúrcuma, quercetina y fisetina. Tomo el doble de la dosis diaria durante dos días a principios de mes. Desafortunadamente, algunos de los probablemente mejores senolíticos (dasatinib) requieren prescripción médica.
El ayuno intermitente, la práctica de alternar periodos de comida y ayuno, es una de las estrategias más probadas para promover la salud y la longevidad. Este protocolo dietético ha sido estudiado en una variedad de especies, desde levaduras hasta ratones y monos, y consistentemente ha demostrado efectos que prolongan la vida útil, a veces de manera bastante dramática.
Se cree que los mecanismos subyacentes involucran una variedad de procesos biológicos, incluida la mejora de la eficiencia metabólica, una mejorada reparación celular y reducción de la inflamación. Sin embargo, a pesar de sus convincentes beneficios, la implementación de programas intermitentes de ayuno en seres humanos presenta un desafío considerable.
Esto se debe principalmente a nuestras normas sociales y culturales profundamente arraigadas en torno a los horarios de las comidas, así como a la dificultad para muchos enfrentan las personas al pasar largos períodos sin comer.
Practico ayuno 16/8 de forma habitual (como durante un periodo de 8 horas, desde el mediodía hasta las 20h más o menos), y de vez en cuando hago periodos de ayuno de 24 horas donde solo tomo líquidos sin calorías (agua, café, etc.).
Actualmente no estoy tomando rapamicina, pero creo que cualquier protocolo de longevidad debería considerarla. Hay pruebas sustanciales de que La rapamicina aumenta la longevidad en una variedad de especies. En animales más pequeños el aumento es dramático. En mamíferos más grandes como los humanos el potencial de prolongación de la vida útil es probablemente de sólo unos pocos años (especialmente si se suma a un régimen saludable de sueño, nutrición y ejercicio). Investigaciones recientes sugieren que también se tolera bien cuando se toma durante un período prolongado y tiene pocos efectos secundarios. Aunque actualmente no la estoy tomando, estoy considerando hacerlo en un futuro próximo.
Todo lo que mencioné anteriormente debería tener un efecto más o menos sistémico en todo el cuerpo. Pero un buen efecto de ser biológicamente más joven es parece más joven. Ciertamente, verse más joven no es tan importante como mantener una buena salud: las arrugas nunca mataron a nadie. Pero en la sociedad en la que vivimos es un buen beneficio. Existen varios tratamientos que son útiles para mantener la piel joven y saludable.
Usar protector solar con regularidad es lo más importante que podemos hacer para mantener la piel en buen estado. Los rayos UVA y UVB pueden provocar envejecimiento prematuro, incluidas arrugas e hiperpigmentación, y aumentar el riesgo de cáncer de piel. Me aplico un protector solar SPF 47 todas las mañanas, independientemente del clima.
Una parte clave de mi rutina diaria incluye una crema de ojos antienvejecimiento específica para reducir la apariencia de las líneas finas y mantener hidratada la delicada piel alrededor de mis ojos. Además, todas las noches me aplico una crema hidratante. Recientemente, he estado explorando la crema OneSkin, un producto tópico que afirma tener propiedades senolíticas. Contiene un péptido que se dirige a las células senescentes de la piel, mejorando potencialmente la salud y la apariencia de la piel. Hay un pequeño estudio científico que sugiere que puede mejorar la apariencia de la piel.
Cada trimestre, trato mi piel con una sesión facial o de microdermoabrasión. Estos tratamientos ayudan a eliminar las células muertas de la piel, revelando una piel más fresca y de aspecto más joven debajo. Y dos veces al año me someto a tratamientos de microagujas. Este proceso implica el uso de un dispositivo con pequeñas agujas para crear microlesiones en la superficie de la piel. Esta técnica estimula la producción de colágeno, la proteína que aporta estructura y elasticidad a nuestra piel, y favorece la regeneración cutánea.
Este es un artículo bastante largo, pero el nivel de esfuerzo involucrado en implementar estas prácticas es realmente muy bajo. Una buena higiene del sueño se convierte en un hábito. Una o dos horas de ejercicio a la semana no es un compromiso de mucho tiempo. Cocinar alimentos saludables lleva el mismo tiempo o menos que cocinar alimentos poco saludables. Tomo la mayoría de mis suplementos en un batido una vez al día, que preparo en menos de 5 minutos.
Además, creo que es importante que el nivel de esfuerzo no sea muy elevado. A muchos de nosotros nos gusta viajar, por ejemplo, y es difícil mantener estos hábitos mientras viajamos. Pero uno o dos días sin ejercicio no es gran problema. Existe un equilibrio entre mantener un estricto estilo de vida saludable y disfrutar de algunos vicios aquí y allá. No se trata sólo de añadir años a la vida, sino vida a los años.
]]>One story that many of us have seen in the news is how Bryan Johnson a former tech entrepreneur supposedly spent over two million dollars a year in a longevity protocol. And he certainly looks younger than his biological age indicates. He has done a whole bunch of tests that show that his body is performing like someone much younger too.
I’ve been interested in longevity for a long time, and I believe most people can get 80% of the benefit without having to spend millions of dollars. So I wanted to share my own longevity protocol.
To be clear, none of this is going to help anyone to live to 150 years old. We are going to need advanced biotechnology for that, to learn more about the mechanisms of aging and to develop brand new therapies. But a protocol like this could make a difference between living to 80 and being in a nursing home or reaching 100 and living an independent lifestyle.
My longevity protocol and the core of a healthy lifestyle is built around three pillars: good sleep, regular exercise, and proper nutrition. Each of these aspects is crucial and complementary to the others. These are non-negotiable and there is substantial irrefutable evidence that they are essential for good health and longevity.
In my early years, I, like many others, underestimated the importance of good sleep. It took a bit of research and personal experience for me to realize that sleep is not just a passive activity. It’s a time when our body rejuvenates itself, balances hormone levels, and solidifies memory.
I now try to get 7-9 hours of quality sleep every night. Implementing a regular sleep schedule, creating a sleep-friendly environment, and reducing exposure to screens before bedtime are key steps in this process.
A good reference for sleep is Why we sleep by Matthew Walker.
Exercise is one of the few things where medical literature agrees. Regular exercise has a positive impact across the board in all aspects of health. The type and length of exercise probably doesn’t have as much impact as how regular it is. There are even papers that suggest that a few minutes a day could be almost as beneficial as a couple of hours.
My weekly exercise routine now includes a combination of cardiovascular workouts and resistance training. I found that this not only keeps me physically fit but also boosts my mental health and well-being. Remember, the aim is not just to live longer but to live well.
Resistance training is crucial as we age. It helps maintain muscle mass, strength, and functional abilities, combating the effects of sarcopenia - the age-related loss of muscle. Loss of mobility as we age creates a cascade of noxious effects.
Good nutrition is the backbone of a healthy life and a key player in the longevity game. It’s not just about losing weight or looking good, but about nourishing your body with what it needs to function optimally.
After much research and experimentation, I found that a plant-based diet served me the best. There seems to be quite a bit of scientific literature suggesting that a plant based vegan diet is healthier than most other diets.
However, I am also a food enthusiast and believe that enjoying life, including good food, is an integral part of longevity. I follow an 80/20 rule. 80% of my diet, while I’m at home, is vegan, packed with nutritious plant-based foods. And while I’m traveling, for the other 20% I eat pretty much anything, typically nice meals at fancy restaurants. Of course I always avoid fast food.
This balance allows me to maintain optimal health while still enjoying the pleasures of varied and delicious cuisine. It’s not about strict rules, but about sustainable, enjoyable habits that contribute to a longer, healthier life.
A good reference on nutrition is How not to Die by Michael Greger.
I think the three items above probably bring 90% of the benefit of the entire protocol and are essential. But sometimes it’s hard to be consistent or implement all 3 optimally. So in addition I also complement my nutrition with certain foods for which there is some indication that may be beneficial.
Supplements can be an important addition to a health protocol, they will not replace a balanced diet. For me, these supplements are the icing on the cake of an otherwise healthy diet.
Of course, it’s essential to remember that individual responses to different types of food can vary, and what works for me might not work for everyone.
Antioxidants are useful in neutralizing harmful free radicals in our body, thereby reducing oxidative stress – a major contributor to aging. Two of my favorite sources are blueberries and acai, both renowned for their high antioxidant content. Blueberries make for delicious additions to smoothies, oatmeal, or even as a snack on their own.
Amla, also known as Indian Gooseberry, has a reputation in Ayurvedic medicine. This small green fruit is an excellent source of Vitamin C and packed with a variety of polyphenols, which are known for their antioxidant properties. I consume amla in powdered form several times a week, mixing it into smoothies.
Piperlongumine, a compound derived from the long pepper, has been studied for its potential anti-aging and anti-inflammatory properties. While it’s a less common addition to Western diets, I add it in powder form in smoothies.
Spermidine, a compound found in various foods, has gained attention in recent years for its potential lifespan-extending properties. Aged cheese happens to be one of the rich sources of spermidine and is much more enjoyable than taking it as a supplement.
Creatine, popular among athletes for its performance-enhancing properties, may also have longevity benefits. Some research suggests that it can help maintain muscle mass and cognitive function as we age. I add creatine monohydrate to my smoothies.
Beta-hydroxybutyrate (BHB) is a type of ketone body that our bodies produce during fasting or low-carb diets. Studies have suggested that BHB can have neuroprotective effects, which might slow brain aging. By including BHB supplements in my routine, I aim to harness some of the potential benefits of fasting, without having to drastically alter my eating patterns.
Taurine has become quite popular lately. There is recent research that suggests that it declines with age, and supplementation in mice contributes to extend lifespan.
Vitamin D is probably the single most important supplement. Many people, particularly in the western world, have vitamin D deficiency. That’s why I take a daily vitamin D supplement of 5000 IU. Adequate vitamin D levels are crucial for maintaining bone health, immune function, and more. In particular Vitamin D can help enhance the immune system against infectious diseases and there was quite a bit of research of the protective effects of Vitamin D over the past few years.
Fish oil is often recommended for its Omega-3 content, I opt for an algae-derived oil. It offers similar benefits but in a vegan-friendly package. Omega-3 fatty acids are essential for brain health and function. It probably has no impact on cardiovascular health though, which is what traditionally people would take it for.
Ginseng, particularly Korean Panax ginseng, has been used in traditional medicine for centuries. Research suggests it may have various health benefits, including improving cognitive function.
Urolithin A has become quite popular lately. It is a compound that influences mitochondrial health, which is fundamental to our energy levels and metabolic health. As we age, our mitochondrial function declines (this is actually one of the key hallmarks of aging). So I take a Urolithin A supplement to potentially counteract this aspect of aging.
I regularly have hibiscus tea, at least once a week. Hibiscus is known for its potential to lower blood pressure. Increasing blood pressure can cause all sorts of complications as we age. Hibiscus is a natural and scientifically proven effective way to lower blood pressure.
Pterostilbene, a compound related to resveratrol, was one of the things I tried. Despite its potential anti-aging benefits, I had to stop it as it significantly increased my cholesterol levels, which happens to be a known side effect.
I also tried berberine, a compound found in several plants and often used to regulate blood sugar levels. I think there is research that suggests that it can be very effective in the treatment of prediabetic or diabetic symptoms. In my case, I suspect it limited my sugar absorption excessively, coinciding with an episode of palpitations. Although this could have been stress-related, I decided to play it safe and discontinued its use.
In addition to the compounds above there are a couple of interventions with substantial research behind them.
Senescent cells are essentially “zombie” cells. Once active and functioning, these cells have entered a state of permanent cell cycle arrest. They no longer divide or support tissue function, but they also resist the call to apoptosis, or programmed cell death.
Over time, the accumulation of these senescent cells can contribute to aging and various age-related diseases, as they emit harmful substances that cause inflammation and damage to surrounding healthy cells.
Senolytics, are compounds designed to target and eliminate these senescent cells. By clearing out the senescent cells, senolytics could potentially slow down the aging process and even reverse age-related tissue dysfunction, thus improving healthspan and possibly extending lifespan.
The significance of senolytics in the field of longevity was underscored by a groundbreaking study conducted by the Mayo Clinic. The researchers found that injecting senolytic drugs into elderly mice effectively eliminated senescent cells. Notably, the mice treated with these drugs showed significant improvements in health and extended lifespan, compared to the untreated mice. This landmark study has fueled enthusiasm for the potential of senolytics in promoting healthier, longer lives.
Once a month, I follow a regimen of senolytic-like compounds, including turmeric, quercetin, and fisetin. I take twice the daily dosage for two days at the beginning of the month. Unfortunately some of the probably best senolytics (dasatinib) require prescription.
Intermittent fasting, the practice of cycling between periods of eating and fasting, is one of the most proven strategies for promoting health and longevity. This dietary protocol has been studied in a variety of species, from yeast to mice to monkeys, and has consistently demonstrated lifespan-extending effects, sometimes quite dramatically.
The underlying mechanisms are believed to involve a range of biological processes, including improved metabolic efficiency, enhanced cellular repair, and reduced inflammation. However, despite its compelling benefits, implementing intermittent fasting in humans presents a considerable challenge.
This is primarily due to our deep-rooted social and cultural norms surrounding meal times, as well as the difficulty many people face in adhering to extended periods without food.
I practice 16/8 fasting on a regular basis (I eat during a period of 8 hours, from noon to 8pm more or less). And I ocassionally do 24 hour fasting periods where I only take liquids with no calories (water, coffee, etc.).
I am currently not taking rapamycin, but I think any longevity protocol should consider it. There is substantial evidence that rapamycin increases longevity in a variety of species. In smaller animals the increase is dramatic. In larger mammals like humans the potential for lifespan extension is probably just a few years (especially on top of an otherwise healthy regime of sleep, nutrition and exercise). Recent research suggests that it’s also well tolerated when taken for a long period of time, and has few side effects. Even though I’m currently not taking it, I’m consdiering it for the near future.
Everything I mentioned above should have a more or less systemic effect in the entire body. But a nice effect of being biologically younger is looking younger. Looking younger is certainly not as important as maintaining good health - wrinkles never killed anyone. But in the society that we live in it’s a nice benefit.
There are several treatments that are useful to keep the skin young and healthy.
Using sunscreen regularly is the single most important thing that we can do to keep the skin looking good. UVA and UVB rays can lead to premature aging, including wrinkles and hyperpigmentation, and increase the risk of skin cancer. I apply an SPF 47 sunscreen every morning, regardless of the weather.
A key part of my daily routine involves a targeted anti-aging eye cream to reduce the appearance of fine lines and keep the delicate skin around my eyes hydrated. Also, every night I apply a moisturizer.
Recently, I’ve been exploring the OneSkin cream, a topical product that claims to have senolytic properties. It contains a peptide that targets senescent cells in the skin, potentially improving skin health and appearance. There is a small scientific study that suggests it may improve skin appearance.
Every quarter, I treat my skin to a facial or microdermabrasion session. These treatments help remove dead skin cells, revealing fresher, younger-looking skin beneath.
And twice a year, I undergo microneedling treatments. This process involves using a device with tiny needles to create micro-injuries on the skin surface. This technique stimulates the production of collagen, the protein that provides structure and elasticity to our skin, and promotes skin regeneration.
This is a fairly long article but the level of effort involved in implementing these practices is actually very low. Good sleep hygiene becomes a habit. An hour or two of exercise a week is not a big time commitment. Cooking healthy food takes the same time or less as cooking unhealthy food. I take most of my supplements in a shake once a day, which I prepare in less than 5 minutes.
Also, I think it’s important keeping things reasonable. Many of us like to travel, for example, and it’s hard to keep these habits while on the road. But a day or two without exercise is not a big deal. There is a balance between keeping a strict healthy lifestyle and enjoying a few vices here and there.
It’s not just about adding years to life, but life to years.
]]>An example of the first is asking Google Bard to search across a million papers and answer questions about them. There’s no way a human can or will ever be able to read a million scientific papers to answer a question.
An example of the second is image generation. Using an image generation model is like having a team of photographers, graphic designers, and 3d artists on demand ready to create anything you can imagine.
Image generation models are especially good at generating image types that are somehow present in their training set. If an artist anywhere in the world has ever thought of something, or if you have ever seen a work of art before - no matter how original you thought it was at that time - the models can probably recreate it.
The variety of images that are being generated is astonishing. Here are some of my favorite prompts.
Here is Anya:
And here she is in a variety of action scenes. Keep in mind that even when using an image as part of the prompt the character may not look exactly the same.
We can also get multiple shots from different angles in the same image.
And we can change the seed while keeping the prompt. To see the effect of changing words or the word order. Keep in mind that even with the same seed and very similar prompts the images may vary substantially. The images below were all generated from the same seed changing only one word (the color of the hair).
Generative AI models are very good creating pictures of people. Maybe because training datasets include so many people. And this is one of the most significant use cases. Getting professional quality photos of people can be expensive.
One interesting use case (which seems to be very popular in social media) is style transfer applied to photos.
For example putting the same character in a painting:
Apart from people we can use these models for all sorts of other things. But they will tend to work best for things that someone, somewhere, has already imagined before.
For example macro photos:
Or drawings
Or very refined illustrations. For example in the style of Alphonse Mucha (one of my favorite artists)
One category with a lot of interesting potential is architecture.
And also interior design.
And in particular furniture. The training datasets must contain tons of photos of furniture catalogs.
An unexplored category (at least compared with Instagram) is food
Also calligraphy
These models are specially useful in the initial ideation stages for videogames or other media products. They are probably not ready yet to be used for production assets, but they are very quick to come up with a wide variety of ideas.
One of the main problems with these models is that it’s still very hard to control the composition of the scenes. In general they are good following directions about style and lightning, but it’s hard to insert a specific character into a scene.
Finally, something to be worried about. With the quality becoming so good it’s increasingly difficult to distinguish real photos from AI generated images. Of course this will have wide implications for society, and what we can trust. Even when there is supposedly “visual evidence”.
]]>In 2020 we had to deal with the massive (overreaching?) response to the Covid-19 pandemic. This caused inflation not seen in our generation, and in an effort to combat inflation and stabilize the economy, the Federal Reserve started raising interest rates at the fastest speed ever. This seemingly necessary move, however, led to a sharp drop in the stock market, leaving investors reeling and questioning the decision. The rate hike coupled with a massive commodity supply chain disruption caused by the Russian sanctions not only affected the stock market but also sent shockwaves throughout the global economy, causing instability and uncertainty.
Following the stock market’s plunge, the world witnessed a massive decline in the valuations of cryptocurrencies. The Crypto apocalypse saw billions of dollars wiped out from the market in just a matter of weeks. This in turn raised questions about the long-term viability of cryptocurrencies and the stability of the digital asset market. Right at the worst time, when central banks are starting to explore national digital currencies.
The tech sector, which many of us considered immune to economic downturns, has not been spared from the recent turmoil. Most big tech companies announced significant layoffs. This decision has not only impacted employees but has also sent a wave of concern throughout the entire tech industry. Tech has been the most important engine pushing economic growth over the last decade.
A recent development is the decrease in usage of the US dollar for international trade. For the past 70 years the US dollar has been the reserve currency and main trade currency around the world. But a series of recent agreements are threatening to put that in jeopardy. Of course part of the problem is self-inflicted. US established sanctions are a reason for these deals. But it’s concerning for US-based companies and investors. We can probably expect continued persistent commodity inflation for the next few years.
Finally, a sudden but logical consequence was the failure of SVB. The Silicon Valley Bank run, fueled by rumors on Twitter, led to a rapid collapse; leaving investors and customers scrambling for answers. This has raised concerns about the stability of the banking system as a whole. Given how rising interest rates and office occupancy rates are moving it’s likely that commercial loans will start defaulting in the next few years and will bring a whole swath of regional banks down with them.
It is becoming increasingly obvious that there are cracks are popping up in the global economy. While the current situation is not as dire as the 2008 financial crisis (yet?), I have a growing sense of unease that this may be the calm before the storm.
The road ahead is uncertain. Personally, I am spending a bit of time planning what steps to prepare. For example, consdiering what are likely second order consequences of the end of this economic cycle and how to better avoid substantial losses.
]]>Back then, there were no computers that could model molecular shapes and calculate the movement and physical properties of these molecules. Several decades later, the first realistic simulations of materials and biomolecules could be built in mainframes, using tools like molecular dynamics (MD) simulations. In MD, quantum particles are approximated as classical particles subject to force fields.
The calculations necessary to derive molecular behavior from fundamental physical laws, like the Schrödinger equation, are complex and impractical for very large numbers of particles. Becasue of this, methods which rely on physical laws (also called ab initio) are hard to scale and constrained by the availability of computing capacity. This is the case for biological systems, which have very large and complex structures interacting with each other. For example, in the case of proteins, the fundamental structural and functional building blocks of cells, which can have thousands of amino acids and tens of thousands of atoms.
In 2020, AlphaFold marked a drastic advance in molecular simulation. AlphaFold is a deep learning system which approximates protein shapes. It leverages a large library of structures discovered experimentally over the course of several decades, which are available at the Protein Data Bank. The Alphafold team computed the structure of essentially every protein in humans and multiple other species.
Previously, protein structures were discovered experimentally using X-Ray crystallography, nuclear magnetic resonance or electron microscopy. A process that requires months or years of work. This new method effectively helped the scientific community save decades of effort.
The application of AI to protein folding was lauded as the 2021 scientific breakthrough of the year by Science magazine. However, the most significant contribution of AlphaFold in the long term may not be the protein structures themselves, but bringing to the forefront of scientific process the ideas of approximate physics. At its core AlphaFold has no knowledge of Schrödinger equations, classical mechanics, physics or biology. It simply extracts insights from a library of geometric shapes and applies that insight to new shapes. It only understands statistical regularity, just like other machine learning systems.
The methods of approximate physics are such a radical departure from traditional scientific thought that it’s worth looking at an example in more detail. Imagine an experiment in which we drop a solid ball from a particular height, and we want to predict when it will touch the ground. One approach to answer this question would be to use the law of gravity to predict the acceleration on the ball, and given the height from which it’s dropped, calculate the time it would take to reach the ground.
Another approach would be to throw several thousands balls of similar shapes, weights and material composition, and then build a statistical model which takes the features of the original ball into account and gives an approximate answer. This solution could be even more precise than the first one, because it takes into account air friction and other physical realities that our simplistic ab initio model may have overlooked.
On a practical basis the second model could be strictly better. It could be faster to calculate, and is probably more accurate for the use cases that we care about. But here is the key difference, it gives no insight at all about the reason why the phenomena is the way it is. It has no knowledge of gravity, friction, pressure, air turbulence, or any other physical feature of the experiment. In a way, the second method finds a shortcut through physical knowledge and computational models to give us an answer, which can be very precise, but is based on statistical data, rather than theoretical knowledge.
Of course, everything in the natural sciences is approximate. Physical laws are approximations to material reality. The equations that we use to describe these laws often include approximations in their deduction. Then, these equations are typically approximated numerically, and the computers that we use for those numerical calculations make approximations as well given their limited precission. But there is an overarching attempt to stay as true to reality as possible (often with provable error bands). Not here. Here we are throwing that out of the window and saying that, if it ends up close enough to the end result that we want, we don’t care where it came from.
A few important questions come up: are there cases in which the statistical approach breaks down? When can we be reasonably certain that our answer is close to the reality indicated by experiments? When is it too far to be of practical use? When can we use statistical methods to derive theoretical truths? We don’t know yet.
Despite of the lack of guarantees, the power of this method is so significant that there has been a cambrian explosion of research using it. To a point that tasks which seemed impossible within structural biology just a couple of years ago can now be achieved easily. And this has spawned a tremendous amount of research extending these methods across structural biology. A golden age.
A few highlights:
Approximate physics doesn’t give us any insight about the underlying laws of nature. But it enables us to do things that were very hard before. Because of this, it’s easy to underestimate how transformational it can be. It reminds me of the radical reduction in the cost of gene sequencing, from hundreds of millions to hundreds of dollars.
To conclude, a bit of speculation. How will this research evolve in the next few years? Here are my predictions:
Do you agree? Disagree? Did you write a paper I should have cited? If you are interested in large scale simulation for structural biology reach out to me on Twitter or LinkedIn.
]]>The last few decades have brought many scientific discoveries that have opened the doors to the internal mechanisms of living things, and human biology. One important milestone was the discovery of the structure of DNA molecules by James Watson and Francis Crick. Not just because of the central role of this specific molecule in biology, but because of the paradigm shift in biology and medicine, the development of molecular biology and the understanding of the molecular basis of disease.
Today we know much about the structure of tissues, the shapes and functions of cells in those tissues, and the molecules that compose those cells. And how these molecules interact with each other following the rules of chemistry and quantum physics. And even though our knowledge is still very incomplete, and our ability to manipulate these systems is lacking, there is a general understanding that “this is all there is”. There’s no magic behind it. Life has been reduced to quantum chemistry. For sure, this is an incredibly complex system with billions of cells, each with billions of molecules. But we now understand the rules of this system.
Which means we are starting to understand the molecular mechanisms of aging. One of the most interesting ideas put forward is that a big part of (perhaps all of) aging is caused by damage to cells of a few different types (these are called the hallmarks of aging). For example, mutations in DNA molecules. Or the shortening of the telomeres at the end of chromosomes. In a way aging is moving from a syndrome to a disease, where we start to understand the deterministic process behind it.
And here is the exciting part, we have been able to manipulate some of these mechanisms in order to reduce the damage to cells, and the overall aging of organisms. For example, there have been numerous experiments in mice, in which we were able to extend the lifespan of mice by 10%, 20% or more. For example, by manipulating some of the nutrient sensing pathways in cells, or removing senescent cells. We were able to take perfectly normal mice, give them certain drugs and have them live longer, healthier lives.
Obviously it will be harder to get these results in humans, and there hasn’t been enough research yet. But many experts in the field are starting to believe that extending human lifespan is within our reach.
Even adding an extra year or two of lifespan to an adult would be a great success. But one of the keys of lifespan extension is that it’s not necessary to solve the problem all at once. Here’s why: therapies for lifespan extension may be combined, and will give us more time to develop other therapies. A treatment to reduce extracellular matrix stiffening may add a couple of years on average, and another treatment to lengthen telomeres may add another couple of years on average, and the combination of both may add 4 or more years.
And science of course doesn’t pause during this time. There may be yet another treatment discovered or developed during those 4 years. Up until recently we have seen 100 years of continued progress, scientific discoveries and medical therapies which enabled us to add 1 to 2 years of lifespan every decade. In some countries, like Japan, the average lifespan is already 84 years. If we just maintain the same rate of discovery we may push that to 100 years on average by the end of this century. If we find just one new longevity therapy every decade capable of adding another 2 years, that would push the average lifespan to 116. That would mean many of us born in the 1980s would see the twenty second century.
The real kicker is that not only are we continuously making scientific discoveries, but that our rate of discovery is also increasing. Finding a therapy within this decade which can consistently increase human healthy lifespan by 2 years would be a massive development. But by the 2100s our understanding of biology and medical technology may be so advanced that we may be able to develop several of these. There may be a point in which we develop technology faster than we age. And at that point we would have achieved the equivalent of aging escape velocity. Most of us tend to overestimate what can be accomplished in a few years and underestimate what can be done in decades. Aging research is a multi decade project.
Even today, there are already several potential candidate therapies, such as removing senescent cells (with dasatinib and quercetin), intermittent fasting mimetics and other nutrient sensing pathway therapies via mTOR or sirtuins, removal of extracellular detritus such as arterial plaque, mitochondrial transplantation, partial induced pluripotency, stem cell treatments, CAR cell therapies to cure different types of cancer and many others.
To give an example familiar to many of us, think of saving for retirement. If you have a pool of savings, and get a return on your savings of 5% per year (after accounting for all inflation and taxes), and you spend 7% of your savings per year, the money will eventually run out. If you get a return of 7% per year and you spend only 5% per year, then those savings will last you for all your life (no matter how long). What makes this magic work is the compound net rate of return on your savings. And if that rate is positive you achieve escape velocity.
There are several reasonable but uncertain assumptions here: first, that scientific discoveries are accelerating, second, that we would be able to apply these therapies in an independent manner, and that their results can be combined, and third, that as we gain extra years of lifespan by solving the easier problems we will develop new technologies to solve harder life extension problems. But if these assumptions are right, and many in the biogerontology field believe they are, then we may see dramatic progress within the next few decades, which will benefit many of us alive today.
I hope I have given you enough justification for how we can do this, so now let me tell you why we must.
The most obvious argument is that longer, healthier lives are better for everyone. Imagine that 150 years ago we were having a discussion about whether it’s a good thing to create antibiotics that prevent infections by germs. Some people would argue that the natural order of things is to live up to 35 to 40 years old on average, and only those gifted with exceptional health may survive to 80, which is an “unnatural advanced age”. What difference is there in that argument if we add 40 years to these numbers? Maybe we are now accustomed to living 80 years or longer, but the thought of living 120 or more seems unnatural.
Second, longer lives would lead to higher standards of living for most. In modern societies most of us have to work in order to generate wealth to sustain ourselves, and then we retire and consume that wealth. There is a clear definite period of wealth generation characterized by healthy and productive adults. Simple economics tells us that the longer the work period, the more wealth is generated, all other things being equal. Moreover, an increase in health in the later years of life would probably lead to less anxiety regarding retirement, better structured social safety net programs, and more balanced lifestyles in which adults work to a level that makes them comfortable without worrying about saving until a retirement that may come many decades later.
Social safety nets in particular are in tremendous peril because of the way they are structured. They were intially set up to help those who couldn’t work any more after an age of around 65, back when most folks would live around 65 or 70. But now we live regularly until 80 or 85, and the much longer retirement benefit period imposes a heavier financial load on the trust funds. A longer healthspan will enable restructuring these programs to make them viable in the long term. Increasing retirement ages to account for longer work periods without difficulty, as healthier adults can continue working without health problems.
Even more, it’s also well accepted that the longer the work experience, the more productive a person becomes. It’s unfortunate that many folks have to retire due to health or other problems related to age, precisely at the point in which they are the most productive, experienced, well connected and able to generate wealth. How that wealth is distributed is a big question by itself, but all other things being equal, dividing a bigger pie is better than dividing a smaller one. And a world with more healthy productive people is wealthier than one with less.
Some argue that longer lives would lead to overpopulation, and exploitation of the environment. That would not necessarily be the case. Aging is the largest, but certainly not the only cause of death. Other illnesses and accidents will persist for many years. And the birth rate has been steadily declining in most developed countries, and even developing countries as they raise their standard of living. A decrease in birth rate would compensate for the increase in the maximum healthspan, and Earth’s population will eventually stabilize. Even with dramatic life extension we would be far from reaching out the limits for population size that the Earth can sustain.
A unique argument for lifespan extension is the development of stronger personal responsibility over the future of the planet. Most of us, and most of our organizations, suffer from short term thinking. The next paycheck, the next earnings quarter, the next election cycle, the next few decades of our lives. This way of thinking cascades in decisions which may be good for the next short time period but don’t take into account many decades or centuries, or the future of humanity as a whole. For example, many of us don’t really care about the climate change crisis, presumably because it doesn’t affect us directly today. We may say that we do, but very few of us have stopped everyday activities that impact climate change, such as driving cars, eating meat, running the air conditioning, or traveling internationally. That may change if we all knew that we would live on this planet for the next several hundred years. As a thought experiment, consider what would happen if, instead of relegating these problems to the next generation or the following, we had to think about our own future just a few decades from now. Today some of the biggest challenges that humanity faces are merely “someone else’s problem”. Many people alive today would not have to suffer from climate change, water scarcity or antibiotic resistance. That would change drastically with significant lifespan extension.
One last argument is that most of us alive today will simply need more time in order to experience scientific and technological achievements which seem within our grasp, but are not quite there yet. Achievements such as artificial general intelligence, traveling to Mars and across the entire solar system, virtual reality simulations which are indistinguishable from the real world, high throughput brain computer interfaces, realistic humanoid robots, or discovering the mystery of consciousness. All these will take at least several decades if not centuries. The only way any of us alive today will see them become reality is if we discover how to extend our own lifespan.
The vast majority of us, when thinking objectively, would agree that longer healthier lives are better than shorter ones. And we demonstrate that belief every day we keep ourselves alive. That is the ultimate justification for the moral obligation to do as much as we can to make human lifespan extension possible. For ourselves, our loved ones and as many other people as possible. A moral imperative to extend human healthspan.
]]>This was part of a series of events called Matrix, with a long list of very distinguished speakers.
Please watch the talk in YouTube.
]]>In my role as Technical Director at Google Cloud I have conversations with companies and governments from around the world on AI and how to use it to achieve high impact results. These are just my personal opinions. But I’d like to share some insights on AI regulation and how to make it useful for everybody.
The White House recently released guidelines for the use and regulation of AI by government agencies. The document is available here, and I have included a few excerpts below. In general, this is a good initial step to incentivize and structure the regulation of AI, but there are several areas where it falls short.
Although Federal agencies currently use AI in many ways to perform their missions, government use of AI is outside the scope of this Memorandum
This is the first problem. Even though the introduction to the memorandum indicates how important it is to “[protect] American technology, economic and national security, privacy, civil liberties, and other American values”, this note complete ignores the fact that privacy and civil liberties are many times attacked by the governments’ own use of technology. A more comprehensive policy would have included suggestions on how agencies and governments at different levels should think about their own use of AI.
To that end, Federal agencies must avoid regulatory or non-regulatory actions that needlessly hamper AI innovation and growth
This is also a good starting point. When discussing AI applications we should be mindful of the potential risks and benefits, same as with any other technology. From that point of view this policy does a good job indicating that agencies should not be overreaching, but it fails to mention what kind of positive encouragement can be used to foster AI innovation. In short, it helps with what they shouldn’t do, but it does not help with what they should do. For instance, it could emphasize the development of regulations that promote technology that could lead to competitive advantages.
Agencies should provide ample opportunities for the public to provide information and participate in all stages of the rulemaking process
This is sensible, and will improve trust in AI, but fails to take into account the fact that AI is a relatively advanced technology in which there are few experts, compared with the overall population. We certainly don’t expect the average citizen to give their opinions on federal aviation rules, or nuclear policy. It’s naive to assume that they can provide a well researched opinion on AI policy.
Agencies should, when consistent with law, carefully consider the full societal costs, benefits, and distributional effects before considering regulations related to the development and deployment of AI applications. Such consideration will include the potential benefits and costs of employing AI, when compared to the systems AI has been designed to complement or replace
In general this is a very solid advice. And it’s reasonable to expect AI systems that replace other systems to behave in a very different way, with a different risk profile and potential benefits. For example, self-driving car technology may help save tens of thousands of lives, but cause accidents that simply do not happen today. But it doesn’t go far enough. In some cases it may not be enough to limit new legislation. In order to foster truly innovative and beneficial change it may be necessary to alter or eliminate current rules to open the door for these new technologies.
What constitutes appropriate disclosure and transparency is context-specific, depending on assessments of potential harms, the magnitude of those harms, the technical state of the art, and the potential benefits of the AI application
As AI systems become more ingrained in our lives it’s going to be critical that we develop the technology and tools to make sure they are easy to understand. We wouldn’t take advice from a doctor who can’t explain why they recommend a certain drug. And we wouldn’t accept a bank declining a loan simply based on the intuition of the loan officer. AI systems are no different. AI explainability is critical and it should be an area of focus for regulation.
Agencies should provide clarity where a lack of regulatory clarity may impede innovation. This may also include work done in collaboration with industry, such as development of playbooks and voluntary incentive frameworks
The memorandum suggests a few potential opportunities to collaborate with industry or research communities on AI, but these seem very limited. A solid framework of collaboration would include topics such as grants or financial incentives, other non financial support, access to experts or even the creation of public-private partnerships or steering committees.
The US government, across its many agencies is one of the largest consumers of information technology in the world. And because of that it has a tremendous impact in the industry. An encouragement to buy technology that incorporates advanced AI, or that will lead to the development of AI would be very significant. Unfortunately, the policy doesn’t include any reference to US purchases of technology, and how to use those to foster innovation.
What do you think? Is this policy enough? Or is it missing important elements to foster AI innovation in the USA?
]]>Some of us talk about AI on a daily basis, read the latest research advances or work with customers on the implementation of AI systems for their business. And it’s very easy to get lost in the details and lose the big picture. I want to take a step back and talk about a few areas in which AI may help make society better.
From the economic perspective, AI brings benefits to a variety of industries. By enabling businesses to be more efficient, they can bring cheaper products to market. Lowering prices for consumers. Automated security or fraud detection systems prevent crime, which in turn makes our society safer. AI systems in entertainment and marketing help consumers find better products and make better entertainment experiences available. And as a result we can all watch better shows.
We are also starting to scratch the surface of benefits in industries that traditionally innovate a little bit slower. For example personalized medicine. In our current medical system (at least in the United States) it’s very expensive to get medical advice that is completely tailored to our genes and history. The implementation of AI systems that analyze our genomic patterns, activity, nutrition, treatment and drug interaction data may make healthcare cheaper and safer for everybody.
Looking at the medium term future, there are many ways in which AI will help tackle global issues like the climate change crisis. And it may help us solve problems that are beyond the current abilities of technology. AI applied to manufacturing can make processes more efficient, and thus lower toxic emissions. AI applied to transportation and self driving cars can make routes shorter and faster, and reduce the number of vehicles on the road, and the environmental impact.
The most immediate benefits of AI today will be for businesses. In particular, these benefits can be categorized in two sets: new capabilities, and cost savings.
On the capability side, AI will allow businesses to do things that were impossible to do before. For example, analyze data from millions of customers to discover hidden patterns, like changes in customer demand. A single person, or even a team of experts would never have been able to analyze for example every single purchase for a large retailer. An obvious example is fraud detection in banking services. When a credit card transaction comes in, the system may need to analyze information in a matter of milliseconds, leveraging information that is known about the customer and past transaction history. No human could do that as fast as the payment network requires.
On the cost savings side, AI allows businesses to do things cheaper by automating individual tasks that are typically done by humans. Tasks that rely on humans doing repetitive work can be replaced (or could be replaced in the near future) with AI systems. For example, processing a form which was written manually and entering the data into a computer. We have optical recognition and natural language processing systems that enable us to process these forms automatically.
Another example is inspecting a part in an assembly line in a factory. It’s a task that can be done by a manual operator, but at a cost much higher than an automated system. These tasks don’t comprise the entirety of a person’s job, but individual tasks as part of a person’s role in a business. A possible consequence is that future jobs will be more meaningful, because the repetitive mindless tasks will be done by computers.
One very interesting potential application of AI is to improve education at all levels. AI can enable completely personalized curriculums. Not everybody learns the same way. An AI system can automatically adapt materials to repeat topics that may be less understood, to ensure comprehension. And it can skip topics that seem to be well understood, to prevent boredom. This can make education more engaging. These are tasks that good teachers can do today, but it’s much more expensive to have a human teacher perform them than an automated AI system, and as a result they are not available to the majority of society.
As technology becomes more and more advanced, the strain that is imposed in the educational system increases. In order to be successful students across the world need to develop more advanced skills. For example, to learn to code. AI can make this easier, and make quality education available to larger segments of society across the world.
Just like any other technology, AI has benefits and disadvantages. Among the top benefits are the reduction in cost for common business processes, making products and services cheaper. This will improve the quality of living for everybody. And it will also enable mass customization across a variety of industries such as medicine and education. Which in turn will bring us all higher quality products.
AI will enable machines to do the repetitive, tedious tasks that we don’t want humans to do in the first place, at a lower cost and with less mistakes.
There are some potential disadvantages. AI may have some impact on jobs. Businesses may find that, as they become more efficient, they need less people for a specific amount of production. This is a challenge that society as a whole must tackle. We need to collaboratively find out how to prevent severe job displacement. Education programs for example are critical to enable our society and economy to continue growing, and bringing more opportunities to everybody.
Do you think there are other applications of AI that will have a big impact in society? Send me a message on LinkedIn or Twitter.
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