Original scientific paper

https://doi.org/10.7906/indecs.24.1.5

Attitudes of Croatian Citizens toward AI-Based Body Augmentation: Generational Responses to Transhumanist Worldviews

Ivana Brstilo Lovrić orcid.org/0000-0003-0969-7409 ; Catholic University of Croatia, Zagreb, Croatia
Odilon-Gbenoukpo Singbo orcid.org/0000-0002-2154-8935 ; Catholic University of Croatia, Zagreb, Croatia
Paula Zujić orcid.org/0000-0001-5638-1832 ; Catholic University of Croatia, Zagreb, Croatia *

* Corresponding author.

Abstract

Artificial intelligence (AI) represents a key enabling force of transhumanism in contemporary visions of Homo sapiens technologicus, aimed at overcoming biological limitations of the human body. Young people, socialized in technologically saturated environments shaped by rapid technoscientific change, constitute a sociologically relevant group for examining transformations in perceptions of the body and human agency. This study empirically examines attitudes of citizens of the Republic of Croatia toward willingness to engage in AI-supported body augmentation across functional, health-related, physical-performance, and existential dimensions, with particular emphasis on generational differences. The findings show that most respondents express resistance to technological body enhancement, especially regarding cognitive control, contactless everyday functionalities, and cryonics. At the same time, a considerable proportion of respondents across all dimensions express ambivalent or undecided attitudes. Statistically significant generational differences in views on neural device control, health-preservation technologies, and physical augmentation indicate that younger generations are more inclined to perceive the body as open to technological intervention, while older generations adhere more strongly to notions of biological authenticity. The pronounced indecision among younger respondents suggests that transhumanist ideas, once confined to science fiction imaginaries, are increasingly entering everyday social consciousness without achieving full normative stabilization. By empirically identifying indecision as a distinctive generational feature, this study contributes to a sociological and interdisciplinary understanding of transhumanism as an ideological movement intertwined with AI and points to early stages of sociocultural adaptation toward transhumanist worldviews.

Keywords

artificial intelligence; body augmentation; transhumanism; youth; Croatia

Hrčak ID:

344903

URI

https://hrcak.srce.hr/344903

Publication date:

26.2.2026.

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