Vox
June 12, 2026
The philosophy of human obsolescence in the AI age
TL;DR
Some AI advocates view humanity as a temporary stepping stone in cosmic evolution, with artificial intelligences as our natural successors—a perspective exemplified by Elon Musk's shift from transhumanism to the 'biological bootloader' concept.
Key Takeaways
- 1A segment of AI thinkers believes humanity has outlived its usefulness and should be replaced by more advanced artificial intelligences
- 2These advocates frame AI succession as inevitable cosmic evolution, positioning humans as a necessary but temporary stage
- 3Elon Musk has shifted from advocating transhumanism (human-AI merger) to viewing humans as merely 'biological bootloaders' that initiate AI and then become obsolete
- 4The worldview treats humanity's role as instrumental rather than intrinsically valuable
Notable Quotes
“We are a stepping stone. They would say that AIs are our rightful heirs. They're the next step in cosmic evolution.”
“We are maybe just what he calls a biological bootloader for AI. Meaning we're just this like small little program. Our job is to just boot up the AI and then that's it. We're done. We fade away.”
Chapters
1. The existential question: humanity's purpose
Explores the fundamental question of what purpose humanity serves in a future dominated by AI, whether humans are meant to be permanent or temporary
2. The stepping stone philosophy
Discusses the belief held by some AI advocates that humanity is merely a necessary evolutionary stage, with AI as the rightful heir to cosmic progress
3. Elon Musk's evolution from transhumanism to replacement
Examines Musk's ideological shift from supporting human-AI integration to accepting the 'biological bootloader' concept of human obsolescence
Key People & Entities
- Elon Musk
- Tech entrepreneur whose views shifted from transhumanism to viewing humans as biological bootloaders for AI
Glossary
- Transhumanism
- A philosophy advocating for the enhancement of humanity through technology, often involving integration with artificial intelligence rather than replacement
- Biological bootloader
- Musk's term describing humanity as a temporary program whose sole function is to initialize and create AI, after which humans become obsolete