There is an approved treatment in the US where one can have one or both eyes removed and replaced with devices that restore vision to the quality of that of an average 30 year old.
There are many people who think that AGI is around the corner and will solve all of our problems. Here is one real world problem that challenges that view.
Why is it hard? The solution will involve connecting to or replacing the optic nerve. Retinal ganglion cells will be removed and the solution will involve attaching to the brain side of their axons or innervating the post synaptic neurons directly. The solution will need to recreate the neuronal activity of healthy ganglion cells. Brain signals controlling saccades and accomodation will need to be received from the brain and interpreted correctly.
A separate question has been created that has no requirement of there being a market. https://manifold.markets/capybara/will-replacement-eyes-be-available?r=Y2FweWJhcmE
Edits: I edited the wording to be less proscriptive on how the solution could be achieved.
Related questions
I realize the word “market” has connotations of “available” that can be met without an actual market. My original intent was “widely available”, but I personally prefer when questions stick to their wording, so I will clarify as follows.
If the eyes are widely available for free, then is question resolves YES. This will be viewed as on the market for $0.
If there is exclusive distribution that doesn’t allow people to trade for access, this resolves No. This includes a benevolent utilitarian AI choosing an order to distribute to the general population–and this order not allowing people to make offers to skip the queue.
Edit: I created a second question that removes any mention of market.
@RemNi Resloves NO if the output is not targeting the neurons which the retinal ganglion cells connect to. I will update the wording of the question slightly to allow for the optic nerve not needing to remain.
@MaxHarms Keeping to the wording, if the US ceases to exist then this resolves NO.
A gradual replacement of the eye counts as long as there is the option for all parts to be replaced. The intent is to allow a wide variety of diseases to be treated. For example: resolves NO if the vitreous is not replaceable.