Biohacker Bryan Johnson targets immortality by 2039, citing AI-driven biology

Biohacker Bryan Johnson says he expects to achieve immortality by 2039, arguing that his biology already runs younger than his calendar age and that a new era of AI-driven research could finally unlock durable life extension. The 48-year-old, who has long claimed to be biologically younger than his chronological age, wrote on the social platform X that “with each year that passes, I remain the same biological age,” and that humanity has reached a moment where conscious beings can realistically pursue lifelong health and longevity. He has set a target of immortality at age 62, counting from his current age, while acknowledging that he does not yet know the exact mechanism to make it happen. He contends that artificial intelligence could be a pivotal factor, insisting that the challenge is not a physics problem like faster-than-light travel but a biological engineering problem that evolution has, in his view, already faced for other life forms.

Johnson argued that the 2039 horizon is credible because AI-driven innovation is accelerating the pace of discovery. “AI is morphing from assistant to scientist. It is powering current researchers with previously unimagined capabilities to enhance discovery and development,” he wrote. He described a closed-loop system of biomarker measurement and intervention that, in his view, should speed progress dramatically. The post reflects a broader theme in Johnson’s public narrative: leverage of AI to accelerate rejuvenation therapies and organ-level interventions, paired with aggressive biomarker tracking and therapeutic trials.

Johnson has become one of the most controversial figures in the aging field for his high-cost, high-risk regimen aimed at slowing aging. He has publicly described a program that costs about $2 million per year and has drawn criticism for some of its more sensational elements, including blood transfusions from his teenage son and nightly demonstrations of his sexual health metrics. He says his body now operates at what he calls elite 18-year-old levels in heart health, fertility and hormone balance, while his brain is “anatomically age 42,” and he acknowledges mild to moderate hearing loss in his left ear.

To support his immortality theory, Johnson has cited examples of organisms he says are effectively ageless or immortal by nature. He pointed to jellyfish such as Turritopsis dohrnii, which can revert its cells to a youthful state, and to the freshwater hydra, a creature known for regenerative capabilities. He also said he has lowered his biological age by measuring the biology of every organ and repeating the protocols with biomarker feedback, asserting that better measurement and therapies are globally on the rise and could accelerate progress even further. He hinted at large-scale experiments—“thousands of organ clones built in a dish” to test how drugs and other therapies affect aging—but offered few specifics on how this would be realized in practice.

“I think this is the coolest goal imaginable. I find it hard to believe that of all the people who’ve lived, it’s us who get the opportunity to have this moment,” he said, describing his pursuit as a moral and existential challenge. He has framed the 2039 target as a call to pursue life with purpose and defiance in the face of death, arguing that a willingness to invest in radical science can redefine what is possible for humanity.

Johnson’s quest sits within a broader public-health context. Lifespan research has long been debated in scientific and policy circles, and the topic has gained renewed attention as some researchers suggest that meaningful extensions are plausible within the coming decades. Stephen Austad, a biology of aging researcher at the University of Alabama at Birmingham, offered a cautious note earlier this month, saying that while advances are possible, the first person to reach age 150 is not a settled fact and could be someone alive today. His assessment underscores the difference between ambitious, AI-enabled longevity programs and proven, scalable interventions that can extend healthy years for the general population.

In the United States, life expectancy has shown volatility in recent years, with recent data indicating a modest rebound after historical declines. The latest CDC estimates place average life expectancy in the mid-70s, with a gender gap that typically results in women living a few years longer than men. Johnson’s emphasis on rapid, AI-fueled breakthroughs comes as researchers and policymakers weigh how far science can push the boundaries of aging, versus how society should prepare for longer lifespans in terms of healthcare, pensions, and social support systems.

As Johnson continues to chart his personal program and public narrative, experts urge careful scrutiny of the distinctions between aspirational goals and proven results. AI-driven biology holds promise for accelerated discovery, but there is broad agreement that immortality remains unproven and far from achievable for the average person. Johnson’s critics argue that the emphasis on extreme regimens and sensational claims risks obscuring the need for evidence-based aging science, rigorous trials, and ethical considerations around access, safety, and social impact. Supporters, meanwhile, say the work could unlock new therapies that improve quality of life and push the boundaries of medical knowledge.

Whether immortality will ever be achieved remains uncertain, but the conversation Johnson has helped catalyze highlights a shift in how technology, data, and AI intersect with aging research. The question now is whether AI-enabled biology can translate into durable, clinically meaningful extensions of healthy life, or if the pursuit of perpetual life will remain, for the foreseeable future, a bold hypothesis pursued by a few, not yet a widely available medical reality. The discussion continues to unfold at the intersection of technology, biology, and ethics, as researchers, investors, and policymakers seek to balance ambition with rigor in the quest to redefine human longevity.