u.s. public opinion and interest on human enhancements … · 2020-06-02 · aarp’s policy,...

U.S. Public Opinion & Interest onHuman Enhancements Technology

JANUARY 2018

Debra Whitman, Ph.D.

AARP Chief Public Policy Officer

Jeff Love, Ph.D.

G. Rainville, Ph.D.

Laura Skufca, M.A.

DOI: https://doi.org/10.26419/res.00192.001

AARP is the nation’s largest nonprofit, nonpartisan

organization dedicated to empowering Americans 50 and older

to choose how they live as they age. With nearly 38 million members

and offices in every state, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, and the

U.S. Virgin Islands, AARP works to strengthen communities and advocate for what

matters most to families with a focus on health security, financial stability and personal fulfillment.

AARP also works for individuals in the marketplace by sparking new solutions and allowing

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for news and information, AARP produces the world’s largest circulation publications, AARP The

Magazine and AARP Bulletin.To learn more, visit www.aarp.org

or follow @AARP and @AARPResearch on social media.

The views expressed herein are for information, debate, and discussion, and do

not necessarily represent official policies of AARP.

ABOUT

http://www.aarp.org

3

AARP’s Policy, Research, and International group conducted this work to inform the World Economic Forum, Global Future Council

(GFC) on Human Enhancement. Special thanks to GFC members and the Dubai Future Foundation who provided essential input and

review. NORC at the University of Chicago collected the data for AARP using its nationally representative online panel, AmeriSpeak.

This report was prepared by Jeff Love, Laura Skufca, G. Rainville, and Laura Mehegan in AARP Research.

We would like to extend a

special thanks to members of the

Global Future Council on Human

Enhancement for their contributions.

Jessica Bland

Alvaro Fernandez

Linda Fried

Ted Friedmann

Marina Krommenacker

AARP RESEARCH | AARP.ORG/RESEARCH | © 2018 AARP. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED

Jennette Leung

Corinna Lathan

Noah Radford

Simone Schurle

OBJECTIVES

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To examine public

acceptance towards

various human

enhancements

technologies (i.e., vision,

mobility, cognition,

& gene-editing) as well

as their interest and

concerns about these

enhancements.

To understand

characteristics of people

who support human

enhancements as well

as characteristics of

people who oppose it.

To gauge interest in

three new product

concepts conceptualized

by the Dubai Future

Foundation (i.e.,

Endorphomatic, Auto

Lingua, & NewKnees).


The Global Future Council on Human Enhancement’s mandate calls for an exploration of how development in human

enhancement could impact industry, governments, and society.

We believe part of this exploration is an adequate understanding of how the public regards

human enhancement generally and particular enhancements specifically.

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WHY ARE HUMAN ENHANCEMENTS IMPORTANT TO AARP?

Our approach to assessing public opinion about human enhancement differs from previous efforts

in that they only looked at enhancements that are well beyond what we normally see in society.

We began with an assessment of technologies that seek to correct health deficiencies, and then moved to

capture pubic opinion of how these technologies could be used to enhance normal human abilities.

We believe questions about therapeutic use of technologies sets a needed context for the average person

to adequately assess how these technologies could be used to augment human abilities.


METHODOLOGY

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SURVEY DATA ERROR PERCENTAGES

An online survey fielded August 23, 2017-

September 6, 2017 among a nationally

representative sample of 2,025 Americans age

18+ using NORC’s AmeriSpeak panel.

The data were weighted by age,

gender, race, ethnicity, employment status and

income to be representative of the

entire U.S. population.

POPULATION

All estimates are for the general 18+ US

population unless otherwise noted.

The margin of error for the national sample of 2,025 adults age 18+ is

+/- 2.8 percentage points. The margin of error will be higher

among subgroups (e.g., age cohorts, gender,

etc.).

Percentages may not equal 100% due to

rounding.


OF TECHNOLOGY AND AWARENESSGENERAL PERCEPTIONS

OF HUMAN ENHANCEMENT TECHNOLOGIES

TECHNOLOGY EFFECTS ON SOCIETY

Most Americans believe technology has had a positive effect on society, but more than

one-third acknowledge a downside as well.

8AARP RESEARCH | AARP.ORG/RESEARCH | © 2018 AARP. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED

HUMAN ENHANCEMENT TECHNOLOGIES

Most Americans have not heard very much about human enhancement technologies,

as defined by the World Economic Forum Global Future Council on Human Enhancement.

Less than one in ten say they have used them.


WHO SHOULD MAKE DECISIONS?


ABOUT HUMAN ENHANCEMENT TECHNOLOGIES

Adults believe many

entities should be involved

in decisions related to

human enhancements,

with ethics professionals

and University researchers

at the top of the list.

Lesser percentages see

a role for companies or

religious groups or

leaders.

HUMAN ENHANCEMENTTECHNOLOGIES

TYPES OF HUMAN ENHANCEMENTS

There were five types of

human enhancements

explored in this study.


SUPPORT CONTINUUM

To ease respondents into the concept of human enhancements, support was assessed along a continuum ranging from

therapeutic use (restoring ability when decline has taken place) to enhancing abilities greatly beyond normal human level.

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Note: Gene-editing was not assessed with this progressive approach due to the nature of gene-editing.


VISION ENHANCEMENTS

There is near universal

agreement that vision

enhancements are

appropriate as a therapeutic

intervention or prevention

when a known risk is evident.

Support drops considerably

when these enhancements

become elective or go beyond

normal human capabilities.

14

It is appropriate to use ….

AARP RESEARCH | © 2018 AARP. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED

Percent who agree with the

use of vision enhancements

that go beyond normal, by

demographic group.

15AARP RESEARCH | © 2018 AARP. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED

VISION ENHANCEMENTS

ATTITUDES TOWARDS ENHANCEMENTS

Attitudes towards the

use of human

enhancements falls

into one of three

categories.

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These enhancements will

increase the degree to which

individuals are monitored by

the government or marketers

(68% agree).

Those who get the

enhancement will have more

power and take advantage

of those who do not have the

enhancement (60% agree).

There will be a problem

where those who get the

enhancement will separate

themselves from those who

do not get it (59% agree).


have unforeseen personal

health consequences

(73% agree).


allow people to live

healthier, longer lives

(57% agree).


make people feel more

confident and better about

themselves (28% agree).

Individuals with these

enhancements should be

monitored in order to detect

any health side effects

(89% agree).

The general use of these

enhancements should be

determined by a panel of

medical experts

(79% agree).

These enhancements

should be available to

everyone who wants them

(59% agree).


USE OF VISION ENHANCEMENT BY ATTITUDE & BELIEF

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Percent who agree with the

use of vision enhancements

that go beyond normal, by

attitude & belief.


JOINT REPLACEMENTS

Similar findings are seen

with joint replacements

yet less support

enhancements when

a risk is evident. Lesser

percentages support

enhancements when no

need is evident.

18

It is appropriate to use ….


COGNITIVE ENHANCEMENT

There is agreement that

medications for cognitive

decline due to aging are

appropriate as a therapeutic

intervention. Support drops

considerably when these

enhancements become

elective. Lesser percentages

support an implanted device

for cognitive abilities

compared to medications.


It is appropriate to use medications/implanted devices to…

Word cloud of open-ended statements of those in favor of human enhancements.


Select comments from our respondents on why they support human enhancements.


Word cloud of open-ended statements of those who oppose human enhancements.


Select comments from our respondents about their concerns on human enhancements.


IMPROVEMENT OF ONE’S OWN ABILITIES

A minority of Americans are personally

interested in human enhancement

technologies to improve their own abilities

beyond what they would normally have

even when their abilities are normal.

The most interest is seen with

medications to improve one’s

cognitive abilities. Those expressing

relative interest in these medications are

age 18-49, those having more than a

college education, and are familiar with

and/or have used enhancements.


SAFETY & ENHANCEMENTS OF HUMAN ENHANCEMENTS


Most would not change their

personal level of interest if

informed about the safety

and effectiveness of these

enhancements.

HUMAN ENHANCEMENT INTEREST - DEMO GROUP


Percent personally interested in the Human Enhancements that go beyond normal, by demographic group.

HUMAN ENHANCEMENT INTEREST - ATTITUDES & BELIEFS


Percent personally interested in the Human Enhancements that go beyond normal, by attitudes & beliefs.

EFFECTS ON SOCIETY

About half of Americans are

worried human enhancements

that go beyond normal negatively

affecting society. Worry is highest

with cognitive enhancements

via implanted devices.


QUALITY OF LIFE

While many oppose using

human enhancements to

improve abilities to a level

beyond what one would normally

have, most agree these

enhancements would improve

the individual’s quality of life.


GENE-EDITINGTECHNOLOGIES

GENE EDITING

There is considerable support

for gene editing to cure

disease, improve

muscle/joint/organ function,

and to even prevent

aging. Most oppose gene

editing to determine human

characteristics such as eye

color or intelligence or to make

people stronger.


Word cloud of open-ended statements of those who oppose gene editing.


GENE EDITING TECHNOLOGIES

Two-thirds of Americans are worried about gene-editing negatively affecting society;

however most feel it probably would improve the quality of life for the people who undergo it.


CHARACTERISTICSOF PEOPLE GENERALLY SUPPORTING & GENERALLY

OPPOSING HUMAN ENHANCEMENTS

Characteristics of those who generally support advanced human enhancements.


Characteristics of those who generally oppose advanced human enhancements.


NEW CONCEPTTESTING

Interest was assessed for hypothetical devices to improve mood, translate language, and improve physical performance.

ENDORPHOMATIC Personal mood and

energy control device applied to the forehead.

Takes control of the body’s hormonal cycles to improve mood and

enable relaxation.

AUTOLINGUA Brain implant that

allows user to access instant translation of

five common languages through a

brain interface.

NEWKNEES Knee replacement joints that enable the user to

run at superhuman speeds, jump over five

meters, and lift staggering amounts of

weight.

SOURCE: Fall 2035 Augmentation Upgrades: A Field Guide to the Future; Dubai Future Foundation.

AARP RESEARCH | AARP.ORG/RESEARCH | © 2018 AARP. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED 38


HYPOTHETICAL DEVICES

Two-thirds (67%) expressed

interest in the Endorphomatic

to improve mood swings, low

energy, and insomnia and over

half (57%) were interested in to

improve focus. Interest was

lower for the two devices that

would require altering the

body via more intrusive

measures.

DUBAI FUTURE FOUNDATION PRODUCTS - DEMO GROUP


Percent personally interested in the Dubai Future Foundation Products, by demographic group.

DUBAI FUTURE FOUNDATION PRODUCTS - ATTITUDES & BELIEFS


Percent personally interested in the Dubai Future Foundation Products, by attitudes & beliefs.

CONCERNS

Unforeseen complications

and side effects (86%)

Product would take over

my brain or be addictive

(80%)



Loss of privacy and too

much monitoring (72%)



Unforeseen negative

societal impacts (62%)

NEWKNEES

(TOTAL CONCERNED)

AUTOLINGUA

(TOTAL CONCERNED)

ENDORPHOMATIC

(TOTAL CONCERNED)

The top concern for all three products is unforeseen complications and side effects.


CONCLUSIONS

AWARENESS TRENDS OPPOSITION

Awareness of human enhancement technology is

minimal. About one in ten adults say they are currently using what they would consider

human enhancement technologies.

The general trend is for the public to decrease

support for interventions when

they move from therapeutic to enhancement.

SURVEY

Across the survey, concern increases with

more invasive interventions. This is

clearly seen when comparing

enhancements that involve surgery or

implants.

While there is some receptivity among sub-

groups such as non-believers and males,

opposition to interventions that enhance

abilities is primarily motivated by health and societal concerns as well

as religion.


CONCLUSIONS

HEALTH PERCENTAGES ENDORPHOMATIC

There was no correlation between respondent health

status or family history of disease and support or

opposition for these enhancements. However, health status and family history is indicative of support if and only if

respondents have low societal and health concerns.

Significant percentages of those who oppose human enhancement

technologies still believe interventions

could improve the quality of life of

recipients.

SAFETY

Interestingly, most respondents say

knowing more about the safety or

effectiveness of an enhancement does not increase their interest

in enhancements.

Interest in the three potential human

enhancement products suggested by the Dubai

Future Foundation is highest for the

Endorphomatic. Nearly eight in ten expressed

concern about side effects and complications of these

products.


RECOMMENDATIONS

Provide information and education on the benefits of human enhancements, how their use will be

monitored, as well as the safety and effectiveness of these technologies. Specifically:


u.s. public opinion and interest on human enhancements … · 2020-06-02 · aarp’s policy,...

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