Immortality-as-a-service - Is biohacking ethical?

Imagine a world where living beyond 100 is the norm, not the exception. Where health isn’t just about curing diseases but about enhancing your body and mind to perform better, longer, and stronger. Welcome to a world that feels pulled straight from the pages of Yuval Noah Harari’s Homo Deus.

In Homo Deus, Harari questions what humanity’s next big leap might look like. If survival is no longer our main issue, where do we focus our ambitions on? One answer is health optimisation: not just surviving, but thriving.

The key 3 predictions of the book are:

1. Humans will become Gods. Homo Sapiens (wise humans) are evolving into Homo Deus (god humans) with god-like mastery over our environment and the ability to create (and destroy) life.
2. Wellness and Wellbeing will Dominate. With problems of human survival solved, humans will increasingly focus on the god-like pursuits of chasing immortality (wellness) and enduring happiness (wellbeing).
3. The Rise of the “Useless Class”. The cost of upgrading the human condition will be expensive and reserved for a tiny elite. Meanwhile, the masses will see jobs disappear as they are replaced by ever more effective and ever more efficient technology (Hello, AI).

If you think this is not a real trend, tell me how many of your friends are taking ice baths over the weekend now compared to 10 years ago. My dad still laughs when I tell him that I pay for it.

And when was the last time that you ran without a watch giving you all the metrics of your latest performance and how does that compare to past runs?

The Aussie Angle: Startups Leading the Way

Although this is a global trend, Aussie companies are not behind. Companies are experimenting with everything from longevity-focused diets to biohacking wearable tech that tracks your body in real time. For example, Everlab ($3M raised - pre-seed, one of the largest pre-seed rounds in Australia) is leveraging the latest tech in diagnostics, AI and behavioural science to radically reduce prices and make it accessible for millions of people. "Premium, personalized health care has been reserved for the ultra-wealthy until now," said Marc Hermann, CEO and co-founder of Everlab.

Even pets aren’t left out of the equation. Canis Vitae, an Australian startup, is developing treatments to prolong the lifespan of dogs. Their research aims to reverse aging at the cellular level in man’s best friend, but their ambitions don’t stop there. The goal? To eventually apply these breakthroughs to humans.

Billionaires testing the limits of their health

Across the globe, individuals are volunteering as guinea pigs for experimental health technologies. From blood transfusions using younger donors’ plasma to gene-editing therapies like CRISPR (technology that allows precise editing of DNA), the possibilities are endless — and controversial.

Take Nick Bell, the Australian entrepreneur who’s known for his ventures in tech and is now diving into the health space. While he hasn’t publicly detailed a rigorous anti-aging routine, his investments in health tech show a keen interest in longevity and optimization.

Or look at Bryan Johnson, the American tech mogul who’s reportedly spending millions annually to turn back the clock on aging. His regimen includes strict diets, advanced medical treatments, and the latest biohacking innovations. Johnson’s goal? To have the body of an 18-year-old, regardless of his chronological age.

In this table created by Afterwork.VC, you can see the billionaires investing in the space.

Just because we can extend life, does it mean we should?

How Far Is Too Far?

In Homo Deus, Harari warns of a future where the quest for health and longevity could deepen societal inequalities. Will only the wealthy have access to these enhancements, creating a biological class divide? Will our obsession with living longer strip away the spontaneity and meaning of life itself?

Health is deeply personal, yet its implications ripple through society and produce massive changes. So, where should we draw the line between progress and vanity?

My two questions for you are:

1. Will these treatments remain highly expensive and specialised, creating even further wealth and health gaps between the elite and the regular people?
2. Or will the adoption of this tech become mainstream, therefore cheaper and more efficient? If that's the case, what problems would arise from this aging population and its effects on the current retirement age?