by transferring human consciousness in an artificial form to avatars (robotic bodies).
Itskov is the founder of Initiative 2045, a non-profit organization focused on creating an international research center where scientists will research and develop the technologies to make eternal life possible.
Last year, Itskov wrote a public letter to individuals on Forbes billionaires list asking them to invest in his project. While Itskov did not receive any public responses, he did accomplish his goal of getting word out about the project and he is continually in talks with wealthy individuals about his project, he said.
"The goal was to get the public's attention," Itskov said. "I do communicate with some of the richest people in the world, but I can't share who they are."
This summer, Itskov will make a pitch to not only to the world's most wealthy individuals, but the entire business community, to invest in his project as well as research and development in areas that help further his cause.
In June, Itskov's organization will be hosting the second annual Global Future 2045 World Congress, an event where leading scientists, technologists and entrepreneurs will gather to discuss and demonstrate new technologies that are paving the way for life expansion.
Itskov on SENS
Nextbigfuture asked Itskov if he would support SENS as a Plan B for life extension in case the robotic avatar path has difficulties. Itskov position was that civilization was already overstressing the environment and biological life extension would put further stresses on resources and on the biosphere.
However, this line of reasoning is flawed. There is the technological means toclean up the environmental problems that exist now via electrification of transportation, engines and processes with lower emissions, clean nuclear energy and other means. Complete biological immortaility would cause less than a 1% per year increase in the population.
Robotic whole brain emulation would be able to increase economic growth to levels that are not limited to human population growth It would be tougher to keep 20% or higher per year economic growth (even if was mostly virtual or robotic) cleaner than 3-5% per year economic growth.
Robin Hanson has extensively analyzed the effect and potential of robotics and whole brain emulation to radically boost economic growth.
If Itskov has success with whole brain emulation, robotics and uploading then there would be far more importance on decoupling growth from negative environmental impacts and from cleaning up existing pollution and emissions that are by products of economic activity.
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