augmentés

Augmentés is the French term formed from augmenter, used both as an adjective meaning “enhanced” and as a noun referring to people who have undergone such enhancement. It appears primarily in debates about technology-enabled modification of human abilities and in science fiction. It is not a formal technical category but a social and philosophical label that varies by context.

In practice, augmentations may include medical implants, neural interfaces, prosthetic devices, augmented sensory systems, or gene-editing outcomes, as well as pharmacological or cognitive aids. The concept covers improvements to health, mobility, perception, memory, or decision-making, achieved through hardware, biology, or software.

Ethical and social issues are central to the discourse. Proponents cite benefits such as increased autonomy and quality of life, while critics warn of safety risks, privacy concerns, consent, and widening social inequality between augmented and non-augmented people. Regulatory, legal, and governance questions are actively discussed in policy and professional circles.

Culturally, the term is common in science fiction and in French discussions of transhumanism and artificial enhancement. In French-language writing, augmentés is often juxtaposed with “amélioration humaine” as a way to talk about future possibilities and their implications. There is no single agreed definition, and usage adapts to disciplinary and cultural perspectives.