Why the future doesn't need us- Bill Joy

[cottonzway]

I think this is one of the most interesting articles I have ever read. From 2000. It's way to long to post here, so click on the link and read it if you would like.

http://www.wired.com/wired/archive/8.04/joy.html

 

[conor]

Thanks for posting this. I have been thinking about similar possibilities myself recently (though I think the possibility of a complete and utter dystopia brought about either directly or indirectly by machines is about as remote as a a complete and utter utopia). I think we may end up merging with the machines. Who knows? Fears and hopes abound. Anyway, I found this similar article which I thought was of interest:
http://www.newscientist.com/article...hird-replicator-genes-memes-and-now-what.html

 

[Darkly Brooding]

Great read, and very insightful considering it's from 2000.

My personal belief used to be that of the articles' mentioned "knowledge riposte", who argues that knowledge of the dangers alone, is enough to save us from the brink, and buffer that with: future tech development moves slower than we can predict and expect (hence the reason we still have no Jetsons society).

But the argument that we have crossed over into a new model of Moore's Law because "We are aggressively pursuing the promises of these new technologies within the now-unchallenged system of global capitalism and its manifold financial incentives and competitive pressures.", without the limitation of the military controlling it for defense purposes, gives me pause.

Here's a great video of a Synthetic Biology debate, that scared the "riposter" attitude out of me awhile back,...

FORA.tv - Drew Endy and Jim Thomas Debate Synthetic Biology

Truly scary stuff,...