Dmitry Itskov

Dmitry Itskov, a Russian multimillionaire and former media mogul, is the founder of the 2045 Initiative. The project, looking toward the “spiritual transformation of humanity,” seeks “a gradual transition from our biological bodies to an increasingly advanced artificial carrier of the human self,” an aim, Itskov has said, that is “leading down the road to immortality.” To the question “Are you insane?” posed to him by the New York Times, Itskov replied, “I hear that often. There are quotes from people like Arthur C. Clarke and Gandhi saying that when people come up with new ideas they’re called ‘nuts.’ Then everybody starts believing in the idea and nobody can remember a time when it seemed strange.”