What If We Could Reverse Ageing? A Futurist Thinks Humans Can Go Back In Time Within 5 Years!

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There has certainly been some moment in your life where you wished that you could turn back time, whether it's to fix a mistake, relive a precious moment, or simply skip over the inevitable signs of ageing. So abracadabra what if that wish could become a reality?

A futurist is claiming that in just five years, humans could actually reverse the ageing process, this sounds something straight out of a science fiction movie right? But with the rapid pace of medical advancements, could we be closer to turning back the clock than we think? Let's read more and find out.

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Longevity Escape Velocity

A futurist and computer scientist reckons we're only five years away from hitting what he calls "longevity escape velocity." In simpler terms, this means medical and tech breakthroughs could soon extend our lives by more than a year for every year that passes, basically giving us extra time to live. It's a bold and controversial idea, though, and even if it turns out to be achievable, it would depend on making advanced medical care widely accessible.

It might sound like something out of a sci-fi film, but the concept is straightforward as technology for extending life improves, our life expectancy could grow faster than we age. For instance, while we'd still age one year over the course of a year, advancements in medicine might boost our life expectancy by, say, an extra 14 months. That essentially means gaining an additional two months of life in the bargain.

The Scientist Speaks

Back in March, Ray Kurzweil, a well-known futurist and former Google engineer shared his bold prediction that humanity could hit longevity escape velocity as soon as 2029.

Speaking with Bessemer Venture Partners, he explained, "Past 2029, you'll get back more than a year. Go backwards in time," Kurzweil told venture capital firm Bessemer Venture Partners. "Once you can get back at least a year, you've reached longevity escape velocity."

While that timeline might feel surprisingly close, Kurzweil's confidence stems from the accelerating pace of medical progress.

"We got the COVID vaccine out in ten months," he said during the same interview. "It took two days to create it. Because we sequenced through several billion different mRNA sequences in two days. There's many other advances happening." He also highlighted emerging tech like simulated biology, which he believes will drive extraordinary progress over the next five years.

Longevity, Not The Guarantee Of Immortality

Medical advancements have undeniably extended life expectancy, particularly in developed countries, but there's an important distinction between living longer and living forever. Longevity escape velocity focuses on the potential for extended life expectancy, not the guarantee of immortality.

As Kurzweil put it, "[Achieving longevity escape velocity] doesn't guarantee you living forever. You could have a 10-year-old and compute that he's got many, many decades of longevity, but he could die tomorrow."

This highlights the unpredictable nature of life. While technology might reduce certain risks, like accidents through innovations such as self-driving cars, other factors, like cancer, a disease tied to random genetic mutations that remain a tough challenge. And let's face it, curing all forms of cancer isn't happening anytime soon.

A Reputed Forecaster

Kurzweil's reputation as a futurist stems from his uncanny ability to forecast tech trends. He foresaw portable computers like smartphones and laptops, WiFi, cloud computing, and even a computer defeating a chess grandmaster by the late 90s spot-on, considering it happened in 1997.
But even Kurzweil doesn't have a crystal ball. Predictions, no matter how data-driven, aren't guarantees.

Longevity escape velocity, if achievable, is rooted in averages. It doesn't mean everyone suddenly starts living decades longer overnight. For that to happen, the most advanced medical tech would need to be accessible to everyone, something far from reality.

Case in point; tuberculosis remains a leading global killer despite decades-old treatments. The existence of cures and innovations doesn't mean equal access.

Sure, medicine and tech are advancing at breakneck speed, and life expectancies will likely keep climbing. But for now, longevity escape velocity remains a fascinating concept rather than a sure thing much like aiming for the stars before you've built the rocket.