Bryan Johnson, a tech entrepreneur turned high-profile biohacker, believes humanity could reach functional immortality by 2039, powered by artificial intelligence, advanced therapies, and aggressive self-experimentation. Johnson, known for spending millions annually to slow his biological aging, says AI will soon act as a “chief physician,” optimizing human health beyond current medical limits.
Johnson argues that the convergence of AI diagnostics, personalized medicine, and regenerative technologies could dramatically extend human lifespan. However, he openly acknowledges that the path toward immortality is still riddled with “bugs,” including elevated cancer risks and severe unintended side effects.
AI as the Core Driver of Radical Longevity
At the center of Johnson’s thesis is the belief that AI systems will soon outperform human doctors in diagnosing, predicting, and preventing disease. He envisions AI continuously monitoring biological data, testing treatment strategies, and updating interventions in real time to keep the human body in a near-optimal state.
Johnson has already put parts of this vision into practice. His routine includes constant biometric tracking, experimental drug regimens, and the use of AI tools to evaluate medical decisions. He has also conducted controversial experiments, including blood plasma exchanges and the use of lab-grown organ clones to test therapies before applying them to his own body.
According to Johnson, today’s medicine is reactive, while AI-powered healthcare will become predictive and preventative. That shift, he argues, is what makes radical life extension plausible within the next two decades.
Risks, Ethics, and the Limits of Biology
Despite his optimism, Johnson concedes that major biological and ethical hurdles remain. Accelerating cell regeneration and suppressing aging mechanisms could unintentionally increase the likelihood of cancer or other life-threatening conditions. He describes these dangers as unresolved engineering problems rather than insurmountable barriers.
Critics argue that Johnson’s approach reflects a broader Silicon Valley mindset that treats the human body like software – something to be debugged, optimized, and upgraded. Medical experts warn that aggressive experimentation, even with AI guidance, carries risks that are not fully understood and may not scale safely to the wider population.
There are also questions about access and inequality. Even if extreme longevity becomes possible, it may initially be available only to the ultra-wealthy, potentially widening global health disparities.
Still, Johnson insists that pushing boundaries is necessary. In his view, immortality is no longer science fiction but an engineering challenge – one that AI, biotechnology, and bold experimentation could solve sooner than many expect.
