There is a school of thought that we will ultimately need to become fully integrated with intelligent machines, or we are basically screwed.

The image that calls to mind for me is worrisome.

Today, I pay a telecom for the privilege of using this brain augmenting device I am holding in my hand. I use it to access all human knowledge, culture, and so forth, and it gives me an extra edge that I didn't have before. The moment I stop paying, it stops working. I can live without it, but it is something I have come to depend on. Not having a phone can be a real hassle.

So, what happens when nanobots in my brain are connecting me to my phone, essentially making me an internet node? Am still I paying T-Com for internet access, or is internet access a basic human right, at that point? If I suddenly find I cannot pay... it could be a serious life altering issue - debilitating, even, in a more technologically advanced culture.