Cognitive Economics
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Artificial intelligence and robotics will displace millions of workers across a wide range of industries in the near future. As these new technologies take hold, they will also create millions of high-paying, cognitively-demanding jobs. In today’s interconnected world, these new jobs will inevitably emerge in countries where the mental capacity of the workforce matches their demands. In short, we are entering an era of global cognitive economics.
Cognitive geopolitics
The new global economy is an innovation race which China is winning. The worldwide center for microelectronics has already migrated from San Francisco to Shenzhen, and software is next. Silicon Valley is microdosing to stay ahead. To thrive in this century of global competition, American business needs more innovation, more creative solutions, and more exceptional thinking.
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World-renowned Oxford scholar Nayef Al-Rodhan believes that harnessing cognitive enhancement technologies can help nations engineer more productive, focused and competent workforces; thus raising the overall output of their economies and projecting greater global power. (1)
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China is moving ahead aggressively in human genetic engineering and is now the world leader. Darryl Macer of the Eubios Ethics Institute predicts that China will be at the forefront of human genetic enhancement. Since Western countries have more conservative attitudes about synthetic biology, he argues that China is set to lead the world in genetic enhancement. (2) By upgrading the cognitive abilities of its population, China could become even more competitive on the world stage.
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Cognitive solutions
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Global cognitive economics is a high-stakes game which demands bold thinking and dynamic action, and China has already begun genetically engineering people. (3)
There is growing evidence that genetic cognitive enhancements can raise human creativity, energy, emotional balance, concentration, motivation, focus, and mental acuity. A domestically produced general-purpose cognitive enhancer for expanding human ability could help protect democratic free economies.
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Cognitive capital
The world today is shifting into a knowledge economy where cognitive capital is the prime currency. In the 21st Century, the ability to marshal this precious resource will determine the economic mobility of individuals and the wealth of nations.
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Cognitive enhancement represents a lucrative investment opportunity, but it is more than that. It is an economic imperative to safeguard free world economies and uphold the values and ideals we cherish.
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References:
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(1) Brain Gain: The Emerging Security and Ethical Challenges of Cognitive Enhancement, Georgetown University Journal of International Affairs, Nayef Al-Rodhan, July 2, 2015. Download
(2) Experts Predict China Will Develop Genetically-Enhanced Superhumans, UK Daily Mail, August 3, 2016. Download
(3) China Has Already Edited 86 people With CRISPR, Gizmodo, January 26, 2018. Download
