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Ian PearsonBTexact Technologies
Ethical implications of new technologies
Technology racing ahead faster than our understanding
Capability
1M BC 1960 2025
Science
Technology
Cause of death• Traffic accident 1 in 100
• Murder 1 in 300
• Electrocution 1 in 5000
• Air crash 1 in 20,000
• Asteroid strike 1 in 20,000
• Flood 1 in 30,000
Source: New Scientist, 3 Mar 01
The technology downside - are we building a Karmic debt?
No. of ways of killing ourselves
1M BC 1960 2025
Dangerous technologiesAre the benefits worth the risks?
Nanotechnology
Artificial Intelligence & Robotics
Genetic Manipulation
30% chance of extinction within a century, Bill Joy, Sun Microsystems
Of course, this might be an underestimate since he didn’t consider all the threats!
Nanotechnology• Manipulate matter at molecular levels• Self replicating devices• Atomically precise materials• Lightning fast computation & massive storage• Convert mud, air and water into roast beefBut...• Could we accidentally convert people into grey goo by
dismantling them. Probably not, but we may do some very serious harm. It is much easier to destroy than to build!
AI Progress
Calculations
Data analysisChess
MusicNovels
Invention
PersonalityArt
Humour
Human
Machine
Computer v human performance
computer
human brain
Information processing (FLOPS) &storage (bits)
-100M -1M 1940 1990 2040
time10
3
106
109
1012
1015
1018
1021
OB1 - first generation optical brain
1 trillion neural processors in gelFree-space optical connectionsNeuron weighting by spectral sensitivity enables optical hormonesEmbedded processors driven on digital/analog thresholdUse of Pauli Switches clocked by Heisenberg resonatorsBathed in data field from other processors
Optical ‘hormone’
Gel
Computer crime
• Evolution techniques work just as well for criminal software
• Can make use of distributed computing platform, with or without permission
• Emergence encoded software• Fraud engines using ecosystem adaptation• Blackmail engines, using surveillance
Kill Poor Performers
Test in Limited Environment
Select Fittest
Replicate with Errors
Social stresses
• Many traditional jobs will be eradicated Most people will have to retrain
• This will be a regular occurrence
• Genders will not be equally affected
• Many young men may feel unwanted
• An anti-technology backlash is possible
Deep thought
• Smart machines may demand and enforce rights
• We won’t understand the systems around us
• Terminator is technologically feasible
No longer alone, 2010-2015
homo habilis
homo erectus
homo sapiensneanderthalensis
- 1.5M years - 125,000 years
homo sapiens
- 750,000 years - 40,000 years
Today50 years
homo
sapiens
robotus primus
Religious Implications
• Can Robotus Primus truly be conscious and self aware? Is OB1 feasible?
• What is its perceived purpose in life?
• What should its rights (and responsibilities) be?
• Will God adopt it if it is capable of free will?
• Could it recognise good and evil or just follow our lead?
Genetic Modification
• Potential greening of Africa, cure starvation, improve nutrition
• Better foods, better animals
• Disease prevention and cures
• Customised pets, e.g. mix dog and cat attrributes
• Customised people
• We could improve on DNA, add new bases, and redesign humans from scratch
Major Risks
• Accidental or deliberate creation of harmful organisms, either directly or by unforeseen interaction with ecosystem
• Possible virus crossover from computers to people• Environmental destruction could occur before we
find a solution• What limits should we place on tweaking the
organic world?
Foetal customisation?
Woman + machine = ?
Demon Seed
DNA Optimisation
+
Smarter-than-man machines
=
Trouble
Implications of homo hybridus
• Hybrid custom designed humanoid life form - partly organic, partly electronic
• Most of the mind runs in cyberspace so death is a reduced problem.
• Body is rapidly becoming a liability• Freedom from the body is in sight• How far should we go?
Shared virtual environments
Some real potential to improve our lives and reduce loneliness
Social problem - escapism
Increases in rates of murder, rape and sexual assault as some people carry cyber-behaviours into real world
Finding someone
• Text chat rooms today, VR & avatars tomorrow
• Can try out different behaviours and appearances without risk
• Diversity implications
• Personality disorders arising
• Some people get hurt!
Finding partners - Ego badge
Intelligent personal information exchange between badges
Information: NamesBusiness cardsHobbies & interestsSexual preferencesAvailability etc
Technology:Radio;Ultrasound;Infrared
Business:Making useful contactsConference networkingFinding someone at an airportSocial:Night Clubs and partiesMaking new friends
Active contact lens -improving the visual experience
• Immersive environments
• Information overlay
• Full 3D, lifelike quality
• Image customisation
• Image substitution
• Visual recording
• Fantasy exploration
Beauty is in the eye of the beholder
Gettingtogether
Multisensory environments
People can be accepted for their minds without their appearance putting people off
May produce stronger relationships
IT progress
Environments can include total realismDirect link to septal area and avoid the messOrgasmatron and pleasure sticksExperiments show you can even generate loveSensory customisation - arbitrary responsesDe-humanises sexual process
Machines and sex
Ultimately, an end to sex?
Body, mind, personality, cyberspace appearance will all be totally arbitrary
Psycho-physical/social/emotional activity mapping will also become arbitrary
We can have any experience at all from any activity at all, any time at all
Relationship mechanisms will change
Sex could lose its social and physical relevance and be replaced by things that are more fun
Today - Chips under the skinChip monitors blood chemistry& nerve activity
Communication with
clinic computers &positioning systems
e.g. Digital angel from Applied Digital Systems
Allows supervision of patients after leaving hospital
Can monitor condition over a long period
Can be used with location & identification services
Permanent layerMid-term layerTransfer layer
Detachable layerWearable layer
e.g. ID, medical monitoringe.g. temporary ID, regime spece.g. drug filters, haptics, sensorse.g. drug dispensers, interfacese.g. displays, pagers, phones
Tomorrow - Active skin system overview
SkinEpidermis
Dermis
Drug delivery via smart membrane
Open conduit array
Smart m
embr
ane
Skin
Drug Flow
Smart m
embr
ane
Open pores
Smart m
embr
ane
Closed pores
Side view, open
Side view, closed
Top view, open
Top view, closed
Pore detail
Dispen
sing u
nit
control unit
Nerve fibre
Nerve connection for sensory monitoring and stimulation
Nerve fibre
Thin Wire
Transfer layer device Signals on nerve fibre can be intercepted, analysed, transmitted to devices at upper layer, recorded,
reproduced and re-injected into nerve fibre
Nerve connection
Signal to & from nerve
Signal to & from removable device
Processing electronics
Transfer layer device
Side views
Skin
Removable layer device
Processing electronics
Continued Bio-infotech progress
Personality modificationTelepathic linking via bionic implantsShared consciousness, communal mindShared responsibilityFuzzy boundaries between peopleShared bodiesUse someone else’s body via mind swappingMind & personality exchange
The Medium, 2040 - 2050
Medium
• Virtual brain extension
• Full understanding of all knowledge
• Shared consciousness & awareness
• Shared & modified personalities?
• Humans and machines
• Potential to dominate
• Potential to learn and develop
• Free will & responsibility
Human-machine Convergence
homo habilis
homo erectus
homo sapiensneanderthalensis
- 1.5M years - 125,000 years
homo sapiens
- 750,000 years - 40,000 years
Today
homo optimus
50 years100 years
homocyberneticus
homo sapiens ludditus
homo hybridus
robotusprimus
150 years
200 years
robotusmultitudinus
homo
machinus
Death -Under 30s may live forever
• Networked back-up
• Endless replicas of self
• Communication via emulators
• Upload into androids
Technology interpretation
• Communal mind - good or bad?
• Karma by multiplication and diversification?
• Free will in a telepathic world?
• Implications of immortality
• Creation of superhuman beings
• Machine rights?
Ubiquitous surveillance
Country A
Country B
Country C
Cybercountry X
Cybercountry Y
Cybercountry Z
Real World Cyberspace
Non-geographic communities
Pressure groups
Tribalism
Cyberwars
Smart e-mail, distributed to 4Bn people in under 5 minutes
Dear friend, the USA is destroying your environment through its reckless energy policy.
To support pressurising the US government to reduce emissions, just hit the YES button. Your e-commerce preferences will automatically block purchases from the USA for a period of one month
Yes No
Direct actionDeveloped world is immensely
vulnerable to cyber attack
E-bombs
Evolving viruses, trojans, worms etc
Embedded switches
Information waves
Correlated traffic
Emergent behaviours
Net based coordination
Leaderless communities
Automated action
Smart mail
Hinged solar panel
Education terminal 2003
Bi-stable display
Cost approx $20Symbiotic networking(free calls)Solar powered(free energy)2MB memory10MHz 32bit chipfree net-based education content
Aerial
Softwareconfigured LCD keypad
Speaker Mic
