Molecular nanotechnology (MNT) has potential benefits, but also dangers. Nanofactories could create weapons, harm the environment, and impact the economy. Regulatory and surveillance issues could arise, as well as the development of artificial intelligence and robotics. The Center for Responsible Nanotechnology is working to anticipate and develop safeguards for these potential dangers. Responsible nations must lead the way in setting guidelines and developing solutions.
If the potential benefits of molecular nanotechnology (MNT) sound too good to be true, there’s a caveat: the potential dangers of molecular nanotechnology. When nanofactories can organize atoms into structures — playing with the building blocks of life itself, or in this case nanoblocks — virtually anything the laws of physics allow can be created quickly and cheaply. Requirements include a few square meters for the nanofactory, software and an electrical outlet.
Criminals, terrorists, disturbed individuals, governments, and antisocial groups of all kinds would be incredibly empowered by such technology. Further potential dangers of molecular nanotechnology threaten the economy, the environment, human rights and world peace. The race to gain supremacy through nanoweapons could lead to a new arms race, while attempts to strangle the technology would likely lead to independent and covert development. Unilateral, open-source international cooperation is another risky option, and public sector oversight could lead to unfair benefits and an Orwellian society.
The probability factor of some potential dangers of molecular nanotechnology will be higher than others, but all are possible under circumstances which, without prevention through foresight and planning, could actually occur. Some dangers cannot be discounted even with such planning, while others can reasonably be assumed to be targets of recognized subversive elements.
Concerted efforts are underway to work out the best course of action by anticipating these dangers. The Center For Responsible Nanotechnology (CRN) works closely with industry experts including K. Eric Drexler, the definitive authority on MNT. In short, here is an example of some potential dangers of molecular nanotechnology:
NANO WEAPONS: THE NEWARMS RACE –
Nanofactories make it possible to manufacture many types of weapons with incredibly accurate computer systems. While previous technologies were both difficult and expensive, nanoweapons could be manufactured easily and quickly. Conventional-style weapons made more powerful, and new weapons like venom-carrying nanorobots could be manufactured by the billions almost for free and delivered remotely. Once inhaled, they could even be tailored to only kill people with specific genetic signatures, then used as a means of ethnic cleansing. An arms race could spark the reckless development and testing of new weapons with unpredictable results. Experts agree this is probably the No. 1 potential danger. 1 of molecular nanotechnology.
ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT AND EXISTENTIAL HAZARDS –
The use of nanofactories to make countless cheap and durable products could lead to “throwaway thinking” where products are created en masse and discarded in abundance, crushing recycling needs and the environment.
Poor nations could use biomass (carbon-rich trees) as fuel for nanofactories, leading to increased deforestation.
Experimentation in nano-enhancing plants and animals (e.g., to make them bigger, smaller, faster, stronger, etc.) could easily lead to uncontrolled consequences in nature (“green sticky” vs “grey goo”) which they could threaten the existence of plants and animals, affect the food chain and pose unforeseen threats to human life. This is a primary concern.
Ecophage (“grey goo”), while only a remote possibility due to the complexity of designing self-replicating nanorobots (replibots) capable of the task – and the thermal signature that the process would trigger that would alert on-site control systems – remains at least mentionable as not impossible.
ECONOMIC IMPACT –
Another major concern amid the potential dangers of molecular nanotechnology is that many predict that MNT will arrive suddenly and in full force. The sudden emergence of nanofactories producing clean, cheap and durable products would have a negative impact on most sectors of the labor market. Skilled labor, factory workers, and many distribution lines would no longer be needed as companies transitioned to nanotechnology or closed. Stocks would be severely affected and the likelihood of economic disruption would be high.
REGULATORY HAZARDS –
While MNT has the potential to be the great equalizer, making products, medicines and clean water available to the world, its ubiquity would depend on how it is regulated, by whom, and for what purpose. It is likely that many businesses are motivated by potential windfall profits. They can legally protect nanotechnology from overpricing, putting its benefits out of the reach of those who need them most, without passing the savings on to the general public.
Other regulatory fronts also frame the potential dangers of molecular nanotechnology. If development is too restrictive it creates a variety of problems (including the unintended encouragement of a completely unregulated black market); and if the restrictions are too loose, another set of problems arises (including possible damage to the environment and increased risk to the public).
OMNIQUITO SURVEILLANCE –
Once again one of the benefits of MNT becomes a source of potential danger. The miniaturization of computer technology will allow for unprecedented surreptitious surveillance of individuals. Spybots could be inhaled without even being aware of it. The increase in computing power would allow a government to keep real-time surveillance logs on every single citizen of a nation, regardless of population. The need to regulate the use of domestic nanofactories could conceivably be an excuse for such an invasion of privacy.
ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE (AI) AND ROBOTICS –
One of the more controversial dangers of molecular nanotechnology is that it will open the door to computers that think faster than the human brain, giving the machines a superior edge. As robotics and artificial intelligence combine to relieve humans of doing tasks that machines can do better, faster, and less, some believe we could pave the way for our own destruction. Will nations secretly create armies of AI-enhanced and nano-augmented (think bionic) supersoldiers to fight wars? Will politicians opt for AI improvements? Nano-augmentation? Who will it be available to, and us as a race headed towards total dependence on machinery to the extent that it becomes part of our biology? Will there be equity or will a new class division be created, similar to the one represented in Gattica? If we don’t embrace AI enhancement and nano-enhancement, will intelligent machines eventually decide we’re not needed?
Suddenly we’re not in Kansas anymore.
These suggested potential dangers represent a set of significant hurdles to overcome in the pre-dawn stages of this very powerful technology, but one thing is clear: the cat cannot be put back in the sack. If the responsible nations cease all development of the MNT, that would not prevent other nations from developing it. Experts believe the best course of action is for responsible nations to lead the way, not only to set a prudent course of development and international guidelines, but to anticipate and develop safeguards for a future that may require major solutions to problems microscopic with or even existential consequences.
Whether they are concerned about the potential pitfalls of this new age or its many promises, the coming decades are sure to be interesting.
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