The human body is comprised of approximately 37.2 trillion cells, and these cells are responsible for processing an astounding number of biological functions. Each of them contains DNA that governs not only basic functions but also responds to what you like, and what you don’t. They are essentially supercomputers, constantly evolving, driving changes in human longevity and wellbeing. Now, AI is accelerating this evolution, but its unequal access and high cost are contributing to a growing disparity, especially in regions like Africa.
The commoditization of ageing isn’t new. From basic access to resources thousands of years ago to the ability to use nanobots to fundamentally change the structure of your DNA today, access to the tools and services that slow ageing and improve health has always been tied to wealth. A fact that has never been more prevalent than today, with wellness clubs that cost upwards of $10,000 a month for hyper-personalized services powered by data and AI. Imagine leveraging data and AI to create a digital twin of yourself to predict how your body will perform under different conditions, enabling you to optimize your health, reverse aging, and push your physical limits.
“There are two arms to this discussion,” says Per Ostberg, Futurist and Foresight Practitioner, to FORBES AFRICA.
“At the moment, biohacking is more about people experimenting with their health in a less scientific way, while body hacking is where you go in and start enhancing bodily functions. This is the realm of gene editing and epigenetics.”
It is a realm that Dr Divya Chander has discussed at length, more recently at Singularity University in South Africa. She highlighted how the cost of genome sequencing has dramatically dropped from $100 million in 2002 to $1,000 today, and that this is potentially introducing an entirely new dynamic and possibilities in biological innovation, and in fighting off the effects of aging.
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In healthcare, AI is in use for drug discovery and development, fundamentally speeding up analysis and insights and accelerating the discovery of drugs. But now that concept can be taken even deeper into the use of nanobots to deliver drugs to distant parts of the body, revolutionizing treatment delivery.
Imagine how cancer treatments could be revolutionized if a nanobot could inject drugs directly into the tumors. This is already happening– research has shown that tumors have a lower pH than healthy tissues so nanobots can be programmed to become sensitive to PH and deliver drugs accurately. Then there’s the applications of these technologies in the war against age.
Imagine, says Ostberg, if it becomes possible to simply switch off the aging gene? “If we can control this switch, we’ve effectively solved the ageing problem. AI is allowing for the discovery of all the variables and mutations that could occur as we experiment with genetics and ageing. A digital twin can be used to see how your body will react to any changes made to your genetic structure so there’s no risk to your health.”
Of course, there’s the Frankenstein dilemma—what happens if tweaking one gene triggers unexpected changes elsewhere? However, on the other hand, AI, data, and digital twins could be used to personalize treatments, such as pain management and drug interactions based on an individual’s size, age, and weight. People are already embracing this vision: they want to be younger, faster, fitter. Age has come to be seen as a burden, and the pursuit of longevity remains one of humanity’s greatest priorities. “Humans have been around for 300,000 years and initially had an average life expectancy of 25 years, by the 1800s it was 40 years, and from 1880 to today, this has doubled,” Paul Pagnato, Co-Founder and Executive Chairman of Humanaut Health told attendants at Singularity University South Africa. “Today, the number of centenarians is around 40,000 people living quality lives, and over the next 20-30 years, this is expected to quadruple. And most people would be like to be one of those who live these long, healthy lives.”
A Danish study found that only about 20% of a person’s longevity is determined by genes, while the remaining is influenced by lifestyle and environment. This aligns with the principles of the Blue Zones approach to longevity which include: incorporating movement into daily life, reducing stress significantly, having a clear sense of purpose, maintaining a healthy diet, and fostering strong human connections.
These steps represent the surface level of control that human beings can exert over their lives to live longer, healthier lives. However, it’s important to recognize that not all countries and populations can benefit equally from these practices. While they may seem simple to achieve in wealthier nations, many countries with fragile economies lack the resources to even begin addressing these foundational aspects. Take Somalia, for example, which currently has one of the lowest life expectancies in the world. As a fragile state plagued by conflict, its people have limited access to healthcare and essential resources. Achieving peace, stable governance, and functional infrastructure are the first crucial steps Africa must take before it can fully explore advancements like biohacking.
As Alexandra Miszewski, Founder and Managing Director of Novita Biotechnology, tells FORBES AFRICA: “The impact is determined by accessibility and affordability, and this is particularly relevant in the African context as the continent is often left behind. This is also one of my biggest concerns – will Africa get left behind?” Miszewski points out that, unlike Moore’s Law, which suggests that as time passes technology gets faster, cheaper and more efficient, the opposite is true in the case of biotechnology.
“We have Eroom’s Law, which basically is Moore’s Law spelled backwards–drug discovery and biotech innovation are becoming more expensive over time and the impact this will have on humanity is astronomical. The average cost of getting a drug to market these days is one to two billion dollars, which means companies need to see a return on their investment.”
This, in turn, means investing in solutions that generate profit. However, there is the positive side of the AI story, which is that the technology has the potential to democratize longevity because it can reduce the costs of drug discovery and testing. It can also be used to manage the regulatory process and ensure drugs are rapidly designed, tested and approved, which will make them more cost-effective to produce while increasing the availability of life-saving treatments.
For now, however, the art of longevity remains largely in the hands of the wealthy.
Biohacking has become an expensive pursuit, especially for those who want to go beyond simple tools like wearable devices and a good night’s sleep. This raises an important question: will aging become the new determinant of poverty?
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