[Sci.nanotech] Nanobot dangers - dismantling



One form of particular danger from nanobots might be the
inappropriate use of dismantler nanobots. If you are going to get
nanobots to dismantle something in the environment then you need
to ensure that the item is very clearly identified, and that you
have legal permission to do this, otherwise the owner could get
very unhappy. In fact you had better have some way of claiming
and verifying ownership of it before you start dismantling.

This is not even a matter of whether the dismantler nanobots can
self-replicate, just how they are used. Even if you think you
have got the design right so that they wont 'clean up' living
creatures, e.g. humans, due to being able to detect an active
metabolism, it is still very likely a bad idea having dismantler
nanobots without a highly specific target out in the environment.

You might argue that general purpose dismantler nanobots would be
a good idea in a highly restricted environment, e.g. inside a
'recycler box'. And that they just work on things placed in the
box, and only when the lid is closed. But, even if they are
designed to not operate outside that environment, you are going
to want to think about the problem very carefully.

One way of avoiding having general purpose dismantler nanobots
would be to have some way of analysing what you want to dispose
of, which might involve some exploratory nanobots, verifying the
target, and then building specific dismantler nanobots for that
specific target. Issues of the target changing over time would
have to be considered, and the risk that any flexibility to allow
for this change would mean mis-targetting.

In general building general purpose dismantler nanobots should be
at least a very highly restricted activity.


All-in-all an interesting problem!

And one where living with the consequences of it not being solved
correctly might be difficult!

--
Rory McLean
rory@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx


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