Multiple Identities (Polydentity)

The concept of Multiple Identities (Polydentity) is at the forefront of emerging research and technological innovation, exploring a future where individuals can consciously and seamlessly adopt multiple selves, each with a distinct face, name, characteristics, roles, and functions. Polydentity envisions a world where personal identity becomes fluid and adaptable, enabled by advanced technologies such as face-changing masks (Paramasks), AI assistants, and other smart devices. This research, led by the BLAUSTEIN Foundation, delves deeply into the technical, legal, medical, ethical, and societal implications of this transformative concept.

Definition and Core Concept

Polydentity refers to a state in which a person deliberately manages and embodies multiple sub-personalities, each designed to fit distinct aspects of their life. Unlike traditional concepts of identity, which are largely fixed and rooted in birth or early development, Polydentity allows for conscious, context-driven shifts in identity. Individuals could maintain one core identity while adopting various sub-identities tailored for work, family, leisure, social engagements, and cultural or religious activities.

Each sub-identity is meticulously crafted with its own name, face, gender, race, ethnicity, character, and other defining traits. The technology underpinning this practice includes hyper-realistic, 3D-printed silicone masks known as Paramasks, which are integrated with AI and smart devices that support these transitions.

Sub-identity Characteristics

Sub-identities in the Polydentity model are more than superficial changes in appearance. They encompass a comprehensive set of characteristics, including:

• Name and Face: Distinct designations and facial appearances.
• Gender, Race, Ethnicity, and Culture: Adaptable identity traits to fit specific environments or communities.
• Religion and Sexuality: Customizable aspects based on situational needs.
• Class and Abilities: Social positioning and skill sets suited to particular scenarios.
• Age and Memories: Flexible temporal markers and curated pasts for each sub-identity.
• Behavioral Repertoire and Roles: Personalized behavioral patterns and affiliations for professional, social, political, and civic engagements.

Motivations for Adopting Polydentity

The motivations for engaging in Polydentity range from psychological benefits to pragmatic social adaptation. Key drivers include:

• Enhanced Confidence: Adopting an identity better suited for challenging environments.
• Stress Reduction: Creating identities that help alleviate social anxiety and isolation.
• Creativity and Inspiration: Utilizing different personas to unlock novel perspectives and ideas.
• Age and Appearance Management: Designing identities that convey youthfulness or desired aesthetics.
• Social and Professional Adaptation: Tailoring identities for optimal integration within diverse societal or organizational contexts.
• Combatting Prejudices: Using identities to counteract racism, sexism, religious discrimination, and bullying.

Enabling Technologies

The successful practice of Polydentity relies on several interconnected technologies:

• Paramask: A highly realistic, silicone-based mask that allows individuals to alter their appearance instantly. These masks are 3D-printed at home and integrated with sensory inputs.
• Brainprompter AI Assistant: An AI-driven system that stores, manages, and prompts identity-specific information, ensuring seamless transitions between personas.
• Smart Devices: Tools like AR contact lenses, Brainjection controllers, and AI voice changers that assist in maintaining identity coherence and adapting to context.

Areas of Research and Implementation

The BLAUSTEIN Foundation’s research covers an extensive range of considerations to ensure Polydentity is explored thoroughly, responsibly, and innovatively:

1. Phenomenon Study and Simulations: Simulating various scenarios to understand the practical implications and challenges of living with multiple identities.
2. Legal Entity Status: Investigating whether sub-identities could be legally recognized as independent entities with their own rights and obligations.
3. Legislative Framework: Developing and amending laws to regulate Polydentity, including the registration of sub-identities and the issuance of identity documents.
4. Face Licensing and Ownership: Exploring issues related to intellectual property rights over facial designs and the licensing of these designs (Facelicense).
5. Identity Verification Alternatives: Proposing new biometric systems that can operate in a world where a person’s face is no longer a fixed identifier.
6. Paramask Standards and Licensing: Establishing industry standards and regulatory frameworks for producing and using Paramasks and related technologies.
7. Ethical and Medical Considerations: Addressing the mental health implications, ethical dilemmas, and possible restrictions on who may practice Polydentity.
8. Governmental Roles and Oversight: Defining the role of governments in regulating and supporting Polydentity practices, including managing the risks associated with malicious or criminal uses.
9. Societal Acceptance and Integration: Researching how Polydentity would be received in different societal sectors – families, workplaces, educational institutions, and broader communities.
10. Potential Dangers and Psychological Support: Identifying and mitigating risks, including identity destabilization, exploitation, and the psychological toll on practitioners.
11. Distinctions with Dissociative Identity Disorder (DID): Differentiating conscious Polydentity from unconscious identity fragmentation seen in DID, ensuring that this new practice is understood as a controlled and intentional phenomenon.

Broader Implications and Challenges

Registration (patenting) of ownership rights over a face and issuance of licenses for the use of a face (Facelicense):
This research area focuses on the legal and commercial aspects of owning and controlling the rights to specific facial designs. As individuals can customize their appearance using Paramasks, questions arise regarding intellectual property rights. The study explores the possibility of registering and patenting unique facial configurations, granting individuals exclusive ownership. It also examines the issuance of licenses (Facelicense) that would allow others to use these faces under regulated terms, preventing unauthorized use and maintaining integrity in personal identity creation.

Problems of false representation and counterfeiting of faces of famous people:
With the technology to adopt any face, including that of celebrities or public figures, there are significant concerns regarding identity fraud, false representation, and counterfeiting. This research investigates the legal and ethical challenges of using famous or recognizable faces without consent. It also considers the potential for identity theft, the spread of misinformation, and the social consequences of unauthorized impersonation. The study aims to create mechanisms and regulatory measures to address these issues, ensuring that the rights of individuals, especially public figures, are protected.

Prohibition of practicing the Polydentity for all or certain categories of people:
This area examines whether certain individuals or groups should be restricted from practicing Polydentity due to potential risks or societal concerns. For instance, regulations might be necessary to prevent the use of Polydentity by those in positions of power, minors, or individuals with specific mental health conditions. The study considers the criteria for such prohibitions, the ethical implications of denying access to this technology, and how to balance freedom of expression with public safety and order. It also explores potential scenarios where limitations could be justified, such as in criminal activities or situations that could destabilize social cohesion.

Polydentity introduces profound questions about the nature of identity, privacy, and human interaction in an increasingly digital world. It redefines traditional concepts of personhood and challenges societal norms around authenticity, representation, and individual rights. The BLAUSTEIN Foundation‘s research aims to navigate these uncharted waters, offering a balanced exploration that identifies both the transformative potential and the ethical complexities of this emerging paradigm.

This exploration of Multiple Identities (Polydentity) positions itself as a key study in understanding the future of personal identity in a rapidly evolving technological landscape, where the boundaries between self, society, and machine continue to blur.