Course Description

Cinema has long explored the profound convergence of biology and biotechnology, from creating cyborgs of organic and inorganic parts, to cloning and genetic engineering, and to immortality through technology. But what once felt like pure science fiction is starting to feel strangely possible. Is this becoming a reality with artificial intelligence (AI) in human evolution, charting a transformative trajectory from our origins to the dawn of “Human 2.0.”?

This course takes you on an exciting journey into how technology and biology are coming together to change what it means to be human. We’ll start by looking at how life and intelligence have evolved over time, from early humans to the modern world. You’ll see how humans gained dominance, and how science and the internet have reshaped the way we live and think. Now with advances in biology and AI, we are entering an era where machines can think, learn, and maybe even help us upload our minds into computers.

We will explore how AI is not just changing science, but also the way society works, much like how the Industrial Revolution transformed the world. With these powerful technologies come big questions: Should we trust AI with critical decisions? Could we create forms of artificial life? And what happens to human agency as machines grow more capable? This course challenges you to reflect: are we becoming enhanced, almost “superhuman” or are we risking losing control to the very systems we create?

Throughout this course, you will tap into the class’s collective creativity through collaborative, forward-thinking projects. Expect dynamic, immersive learning from AI-powered platforms and gamified challenges to hands-on role-playing that put you at the centre of the future. You will tackle big questions: are we shaping AI, or is it shaping us? This is more than a science class, it is about envisioning the future and shaping the kind of world we want to build with the breakthroughs of today and tomorrow.

Course Learning Outcomes

On completing the course, students will be able to:

1. Evaluate human evolution and cognitive development.
2. Recognize how science and technology shaped human civilization.
3. Differentiate data, information, and scientific truth.
4. Conceptualize the circle of knowledge and AI.
5. Evaluate societal implications at the intersection of AI and artificial life.

Offer Semester and Day of Teaching

First semester (Wed)