The Rise of Wetware: Innovative Idea or Haunting Horror
I was first exposed to the idea of wetware – bacterial/organic computers – when reading David Wong’s John Dies at the End (US, 2012), and only later did I realize my brain is a form of wetware. The novel is the definition of “New Weird” SF, exploring the depths of comedic-horror. The big bad villain of the story is Korrok (several images below), whom our heroes discover is an inter-dimensional organic computer created to maximize society’s efficiency.
Korrok is essentially the final step of wetware: an organic computer with sentience. He became so proficient at choosing the correct choice that all of the inhabitants relied on him to make every decision. This ego boast hailed Korrok a god, and he soon began to demand that the smartest brains across the multiverse be incorporated into his being, a living beast of the greatest intelligence, but also of the greatest hubris.
The strengths of wetware, as described by Korrok’s head-minion, is that the neural pathways and artificial intelligence grew on its own. The intelligence expanded beyond its artificial nature. One essential aspect that humans have over machines is the ability to be creative. However, this massive sentient wetware became so developed it had a perfect sense of creativity. Korrok could predict every action and its consequences, and soon used this power to conquer every parallel world.
This idea is frightening. The belief that an organic being, made not born, can develop aspects of humanity raises some genuine concern. Creativity and the ability to overcome are then no longer solely human traits. And if this being has sentience then the value of its life is no longer obviously lesser than our own. And like the humans of its world, how do we control such a being.
An application of developing wetware is the ability to incorporate mechanical components into our own human systems: creating a cyborg. This way memory may be easier to recall or even downloadable. Other than mental function, this may be a crucial step towards weaving our human tissue and nerves with mechanical body parts.
Further reading (linked below) expounds on this one writer’s visualization, as well as other developments of wetware. The first link is a journal article speculating on the development of wetware and cyborg capabilities, while the second is recent breakthrough in programmable organic compounds.
https://www.nature.com/articles/nmeth.4505