[gfodor]

I question the assumption the trend is towards consolidation. We have more people, pursuing more interests, inhabiting more space than before. If we become able to mold intelligence itself, it seems equally likely to me that each human will become many intellects than all of us become one.

Not to mention that the version of the future the author projects is one where a person will choose to yield their mental independence to another. This runs right up against the entire history of humanity — humanity’s best systems are those which leverage individual self interests to collective good. Systems which assume individuals will not pursue self interest and self preservation seem to be unstable and prone to failure.