The Optimised Self: Patient autonomy in the artificial intelligence and genomics era

Abstract

The advent of artificial intelligence (AI), genomics, and biotechnology promises to revolutionize healthcare and usher in an era of unprecedented health, and therefore life, optimisation. However, this powerful trajectory towards optimsation, particularly when viewed through the lens of absolute informed consent, presents a profound ethical paradox. While seemingly enhancing individual autonomy by providing comprehensive information, the very nature of this technologically driven optimization may inadvertently degrade fundamental aspects of the human experience, most notably the capacity for genuine self-determination. This article will explore this critical tension, examining the philosophical underpinnings of autonomy and the potential consequences of a technologically optimized existence on what it means to be human.