Whereas human tissues and organs are mostly soft, wet, and bioactive, machines are commonly hard, dry, and abiotic. Merging humans and machines is of imminent importance in addressing grand societal challenges in health, environment, sustainability, security, education, and happiness in life. However, merging humans and machines is extremely challenging due to their fundamentally contradictory properties. At MIT Zhao Lab, we invent, understand, and facilitate the translation of soft materials and systems to form long-term, robust, non-fibrotic, and high-efficacy interfaces between humans and machines. In this talk, I will discuss two examples of merging humans and machines by proposing two challenges in science and technology:

• Can we image the full-body deep organs of a human or animal continuously over days? 

• Can we develop long-term implants without inducing any foreign body reaction?

I will conclude the talk with a vision for future human-machine convergence – aided by and synergized with modern technologies such as artificial intelligence, synthetic biology, and precision medicine.