What Is the Most Dangerous Technology?
The Nobel to the CRISPR pioneers got me thinking: what technology poses the greatest risk to the well-being of people and the planet? Set aside benefits for a moment and consider which technology
- Has the greatest potential for abuse
- Would do the most damage if abused
- Is most difficult to control
Some possibilities:
- Thermonuclear weapons
- Genetic engineering
- AI
- Surveillance
- For-profit social networking, in particular Facebook
Are there others that should be on the list?
Advertising, as it provides a funding model for surveillance (as you need surveillance for good ad targeting, which then can be misused for other things) as well as misaligned incentives when it comes to social/communication networks (the operator is incentivized to increase engagement even if it means degrading the communications experience, spreading lies or intentionally pitting people against each other as the resulting outrage and anger generates engagement).
genetic engineering capable of making a 'gene drive dominant' deadly toxic addition to,(Ricin, and mushroom toxins) food crops that are wind pollinated, like corn.
1 molecule of ricin destroys 1500-2000 ribosomes per minute and is not damaged. Mushroom toxins are similar.
Once your ribosomes stop working you die from lack of protein synthesis. The body makes its own ribosomes - if there is a shortage, however, the broken ribosomes register as functional, even when broken, so no new ones are made from the ribosomal DNA.
SPread by the wind, this gene driven plague would inexorably infect all corn = toxic.
There are other ways that gene mongery can harm others. Gene drive block all read heads, in a few hundred years = gone.
All this said, we need to establish ways to monitor these risks. Once found, a counter gene can be created,
Algorithms that make decisions with no option for humans to object or appeal.
Considering the damage done by its use, the press that prints money. We used to work 3 or 4 months a year, and now a week off sick can be devastating.