Are you tempted? Multimillionaire Bryan Johnson believes he has found a way to defeat ageing and help humanity survive in a world ruled by artificial intelligence.
The man who wants you to live for ever
Are you tempted? Multimillionaire Bryan Johnson believes he has found a way to defeat ageing and help humanity survive in a world ruled by artificial intelligence.
Discouraging ageing
Beep-beep-beep! Bryan Johnson's alarm wakes him at 4.30am as usual. "I'm thirsty," he thinks. "I need a glass of water." But then he remembers - it can't be any old water. First he has to add 125 micrograms of liquid iodineA mineral found in some foods.. Then there are the eight drops of manganeseA hard, brittle metallic element. We need it in our bodies in small amounts. , and a teaspoon of cinnamon... and... and...
This is part of the routine Johnson has worked out with a team of 30 medical experts. Everything he consumes during the day has been approved by them.
Two thirds of his meals are exactly the same: boiled cauliflower, broccoli, mushrooms, ginger, lentils and garlic followed by a pudding of macadamia nuts, berries and chia seeds.
He has supper at 11am and does not eat again until 7am the next morning. He drinks nothing after 4pm and goes to bed at 8.30pm.
He claims that at 46 he has the body of an 18-year-old - and believes he can live for ever.
Johnson was born in UtahA mountainous state in the west of the USA. More than half its inhabitants are Mormons, who founded its capital, Salt Lake City. and brought up as a MormonMembers of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints. Mormonism was founded in the US by Joseph Smith, who Mormons believe to be a prophet. . At 19 he spent two years working as a missionaryA person who travels to spread a religion. in EcuadorA country in South America..
After university he started a tech company which PayPal bought for £500m. Yet he suffered from depressionLow mood that affects someone's daily life, and can last for weeks or months..
He gave up his religion and spent 10 years binge eating. But finally he decided to take control of his life again.
He hopes others will follow his example. To encourage them he has started a movement called Don't Die.
Johnson believes that the world will end up being dominated by superintelligent AIA computer programme that has been designed to think. . He argues that in order to survive, humanity must focus on not dying.
Johnson has also started a company called Kernel, which aims to link the human brain to a computer. By doing this, he believes, we could come up with answers to our most pressing problems, such as climate change.
"Our species evolved before and we can do it again," he says,1 "but we can't wait a million years; we must accelerate this evolution."
Are you tempted?
Yes: Our world pays too little attention to healthy living; this is a brilliant approach. If we can stop ageing we will live to see much better medical care and new solutions to humanity's problems.
No: There is no point in living for ever if you are not having any fun - and Johnson's routine sounds deadly dull. It also leaves very little time for doing something useful with your life.
Or... Johnson's Kernel project sounds much more attractive. If you could fuse your brain to a computer you would not only become incredibly clever but very possibly achieve a form of immortality.
Keywords
Iodine - A mineral found in some foods.
Manganese - A hard, brittle metallic element. We need it in our bodies in small amounts.
Utah - A mountainous state in the west of the USA. More than half its inhabitants are Mormons, who founded its capital, Salt Lake City.
Mormon - Members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints. Mormonism was founded in the US by Joseph Smith, who Mormons believe to be a prophet.
Missionary - A person who travels to spread a religion.
Ecuador - A country in South America.
Depression - Low mood that affects someone's daily life, and can last for weeks or months.
AI - A computer programme that has been designed to think.
The man who wants you to live for ever
Glossary
Iodine - A mineral found in some foods.
Manganese - A hard, brittle metallic element. We need it in our bodies in small amounts.
Utah - A mountainous state in the west of the USA. More than half its inhabitants are Mormons, who founded its capital, Salt Lake City.
Mormon - Members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints. Mormonism was founded in the US by Joseph Smith, who Mormons believe to be a prophet.
Missionary - A person who travels to spread a religion.
Ecuador - A country in South America.
Depression - Low mood that affects someone's daily life, and can last for weeks or months.
AI - A computer programme that has been designed to think.