Russian entrepreneur outlines plan to turn humans into immortal robots

A Russian telecoms entrepreneur has outlined plans which he believes could hold the key to making human beings immortal, by transplanting living brains into robot bodies.

Dmitry Itskov claims that the first robot 'vessel' - he uses the term 'iBody' - could be ready to host a human consciousness within 'a few years'.

In a provocative essay entitled 'iPhone to iBody', Itskov argues that much of the technology to create a robotic 'avatar' capable of housing a living human brain is here today.

[Related content: Read 'iPhone to iBody']

Itskov already has a reported 30 scientists working on the project,and says he aims to build on existing research, including electronic hands made by prosthetics specialist Otto Bock and advanced robotic 'bodies' being researched by the Pentagon.

Itskov is open that the project will cost billions, but says that the price will be 'a small fraction' of Apple's current market capitalisation of $600 billion.

He has written to the Forbes magazine's Billionaires List to offer wealthy people including Bill Gates and Amazon's Jeff Bezos the chance of immortality, for an undisclosed fee.

Itskov's first stage would be a robot body remote controlled by a living human, moving on to transplanting a living human brain into the metallic body.

Itskov is open that the goal of the project is immortality.

'With proper funding, the first prototype of the iBody could be created within a few years, and a mass produced product may be made over the course of several decades,' says Itskov.

'This projection is not far-fetched since hundreds of scientists and researchers all over the world are currently carrying out and investing in developing iBody-like components.'

'This technology is currently being created. But will it be only be used for military purposes, or will be provided for all, to help all humanity?'

'To achieve the latter, we, as a species, need to take greater responsibility towards true technological progress. Let’s think beyond pretty mobile phones and war toys, and perfect the technology of the iBody, which gives the gift of life to all.'

DARPA, the Pentagon's hi-tech research arm, is spending $7million on its own Avatar project.

DARPA's 2013 budget says: 'The Avatar program will develop interfaces and algorithms to enable a soldier to effectively partner with a semi-autonomous bi-pedal machine and allow it to act as the soldier’s surrogate.'