Re: Leading nanotech experts put 'grey goo' in perspective

From: Kent Feiler (zzzz_at_zzzz.com)
Date: 06/11/04 

Date: 11 Jun 2004 15:12:24 GMT

On 9 Jun 2004 14:20:05 GMT, iph1954@msn.com (Mike Treder) wrote:
>A paper published today in the journal Nanotechnology warns that fear
>of runaway self-replicating machines diverts attention away from other
>more serious risks of molecular manufacturing. The paper, "Safe
>Exponential Manufacturing", published by the Institute of Physics, was
>written by Chris Phoenix, Director of Research at the Center for
>Responsible Nanotechnology (CRN), and Dr. K. Eric Drexler, a
>pioneering nanotechnology theorist and founder of the Foresight
>Institute.
>
>Drexler had cautioned against self-replicating machines in his 1986
>book Engines of Creation. The idea became known as 'grey goo' and
>inspired a generation of science fiction authors. In this article,
>Phoenix and Drexler show that nanotechnology-based fabrication can be
>completely safe from out-of-control replication. However, they warn
>that for other reasons misuse of molecular manufacturing remains a
>significant danger.
>
>"So-called grey goo could only be the product of a deliberate and
>difficult engineering process, not an accident," said Phoenix. "Far
>more serious is the possibility that a large-scale and convenient
>manufacturing capacity could be used to make incredibly powerful
>non-replicating weapons in unprecedented quantity. This could lead to
>an unstable arms race and a devastating war. Policy investigation into
>the effects of advanced nanotechnology should consider this as a
>primary concern, and runaway replication as a more distant issue."
>
>Contrary to previous understanding, self-replication is unnecessary
>for building an efficient and effective molecular manufacturing
>system. Instead of building lots of tiny, complex, free-floating
>robots to manufacture products, it will be more practical to use
>simple robot arms inside desktop-size factories. A robot arm removed
>from such a factory would be as inert as a light bulb pulled from its
>socket. The factory as a whole would be no more mobile than a desktop
>printer and would require a supply of purified raw materials to build
>anything.
>
>"An obsession with obsolete science-fiction images of swarms of
>replicating nanobugs has diverted attention from the real issues
>raised by the coming revolution in molecular nanotechnologies," said
>Drexler. "We need to focus on the issues that matter how to deal
>with these powerful new capabilities in a competitive world."
>
>Mike Treder, Executive Director of CRN, said, "We hope that this
>article will advance the discussion of the actual implications of
>molecular manufacturing. There is no need for panic, but there are
>urgent concerns that must be addressed before the technology arrives."
>
>The Center for Responsible Nanotechnology is headquartered in New
>York. CRN is an affiliate of World Care, an international, non-profit,
>501(c)(3) organization. For more information on CRN, see
>http://CRNano.org/.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

So...as far as I can see, what was said here is that "grey goo" isn't
a problem so long as the development process is completely under
control and a bunch of crazy psychopaths don't get a hold of it.
Which, of course, means that it's a BIG problem.

Regards,
Kent Feiler
www.KentFeiler.com

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