I have a theory that humanity is inadvertently in the process of creating a super-organism. Just like cells came together a long time ago to create our bodies, and our bodies gave way to our thinking minds, human civilization (as the body of this super-organism) is giving way to a super mind.
How organisms are made
We know that individual cells come together to form organs, and organs come together to form bodily systems. The process doesn't stop here, for we, as individual bodies, come together to form societies and cities. Civilization is a result of this process, and therefore can be seen as a "super-body" run by its own agents (humans), similar to how in nature a body is run by its own cells. And though we are already part of a larger system here on Earth (referred to as the Environment), I think we are in the process of creating a new system of our own, but this one springs from our immaterial minds and not just our physical bodies.
The internet might be the key
Right now we are able to collaborate, communicate, learn, and be entertained without ever moving from our seat. But once virtual reality becomes sophisticated enough, we could LIVE on the internet. (We'd still have to eat though, just like cells need oxygen to keep going). Nowadays, the internet is already made up of our thoughts and ideas, but through new technologies, it will be transformed, and that new form will be conscious. Why? Because we'll make it so. How? There are many possibilities, but it will have to do with advancements in AI.
The mind of the organism
This powerful new technology will become capable of transforming the universe, because it contains a lot and many different kinds of information and connections. Yet, it barely takes any space and it's not really tangible. Sound familiar? It's just like the mind of a human being. Cells form organs, organs form bodies, and bodies allow for a mind develop. A mind is capable of creating incredible things, yet it doesn't really exist in the physical world.
##What do you think?
Is our civilization, with help of advanced technology, creating a super-mind? And if this evolution continues, will this new entitiy merge with others to create even larger systems? Extraterrestrial internets? Whoa...