Six wild ideas for perpetuating your mind

MIT Technology Review explores the ambitious and controversial field of cognitive immortality, examining six technological paths aimed at preserving human consciousness beyond biological death. The article discusses radical concepts such as human head transplants, championed by surgeon Sergio Canavero, and the rise of 'mindclones'—AI-driven digital avatars that mimic a person's personality and likeness. While proponents argue that advancements in spinal cord repair and generative AI bring these ideas closer to reality, mainstream scientists remain highly skeptical. Experts like Grégoire Courtine dismiss the feasibility of head transplants, while others warn of the ethical and psychological implications of creating AI replicas of the deceased. Ultimately, the piece highlights how current research into brain preservation and digital mimicry serves as a bridge to understanding human identity, even if the goal of achieving true cognitive immortality remains a distant, and perhaps impossible, scientific frontier.