The Center for Responsible Nanotechnology today announced its first series of new research papers in which industry experts predict profound impacts of nanotechnology on society. Eleven original essays by members of CRN’s Global Task Force appear in the latest issue of the journal Nanotechnology Perceptions. From military and security issues to human enhancement, artificial intelligence, and more, these papers give readers a peek under the lid of Pandora’s box to see what the future might hold.
making far more powerful weapons and tools of surveillance. Thus, it represents not only wonderful benefits for humanity, but also grave risks.
“Progress toward developing the technical requirements for desktop molecular manufacturing is advancing rapidly,” said Chris Phoenix, CRN’s director of research. “These new essays examine many of the radical changes that molecular manufacturing will bring to society. We hope our readers will decide to get involved in the vital work of raising awareness and finding effective solutions to the challenges presented to the world by advanced nanotechnology.”
The CRN Task Force essays also will be posted online at KurzweilAI.net and Wise-Nano.org. A second collection of essays exploring additional concerns will form the next issue of Nanotechnology Perceptions. Both series are available for publishing or reprint under Gnu Free Documentation License (GFDL). The first group of essays are:
1. “Nanotechnology Dangers and Defenses” - Ray Kurzweil
2. “Molecular Manufacturing: Too Dangerous to Allow?” - Robert A. Freitas Jr.*
3. “Nano-Guns, Nano-Germs, and Nano-Steel” - Mike Treder
4. “Molecular Manufacturing and 21st Century Policing” - Tom Cowper
5. “The Need For Limits” - Chris Phoenix
6. “Globalization and Open Source Nano Economy” - Giulio Prisco
7. “Cultural Dominants and Differential MNT Uptake” - Damien Broderick
8. “Nanoethics and Human Enhancement” - Patrick Lin & Fritz Allhoff
9. “Strategic Sustainable Brain” - Natasha Vita-More
10. “Is AI Near a Takeoff Point?” - J. Storrs Hall
11. “Singularities and Nightmares: The Range of Our Futures” - David Brin
The Center for Responsible Nanotechnology (http://CRNano.org), a non-profit think tank concerned with the major societal and environmental implications of advanced nanotechnology, is headquartered in New York. CRN is an affiliate of World Care, an international, non-profit, 501(c)(3) organization. The opinions expressed in the essays described in this press release are those of the individual authors and do not necessarily represent the opinions of the Center for Responsible Nanotechnology, nor of its parent organization, World Care.
