Meet the "ems" -- machines that emulate human brains and can think, feel and work just like the brains they're copied from. Futurist and social scientist Robin Hanson describes a possible future when ems take over the global economy, running on superfast computers and copying themselves to multitask, leaving humans with only one choice: to retire, forever. Glimpse a strange future as Hanson describes what could happen if robots ruled the earth.

Robin Hanson: What would happen if we upload our brains to computers?

What would happen if we upload our brains to computers?

Porting human brain software to machines could lead to 'ems', robots with human intellect, revolutionizing global economy.

Ems, running on superfast computers, could multitask by copying themselves, rendering human labor obsolete and forcing retirement.

Exploring brain emulation: a future where 'ems' replicate human intellect, potentially redefining existence and economics.