Technology’s Threat to Society

        In Bill Joy’s article, “Why the Future Doesn’t Need Us” he addresses three main topics - GNR (genetics, nanotechnology, and robotics) which threaten our society today in their own individual, yet universal and violent way.  When all three are combined, it is quite terrifying to imagine the impact they can and will have on our society in just 15 years from now. “I think it is no exaggeration to say we are on the cusp of the further perfection of extreme evil”, says Joy. Detrimental effects will take place, who will stop it? Can it even be stopped? And how will we be able to react to our world and new way of life if these factors cannot be halted?

Joy commented that, “the new, deep understandings in genetics, enormous transformative power is being unleashed. These combinations open up the opportunity to completely redesign the world, for better or worse.” The technology used to improve health has, in just five years changed the quality of millions of lives.  This is an incredible blessing to each individual.  However, due to the vastly improving technology it is being used in ways that are being socially criticized, for good reason.  Creating a new living being without the natural man and woman is beginning to happen.  Have these scientists thought about the influence these new beings could have? In years to come our own extinction could be a result of genetically engineered beings.  The possibility is real, and difficult to imagine happening, which is probably why the research is still continuing.

Nanotechnology, Joy’s second concern, as defined in the dictionary is the branch of technology that deals with the manipulation of individual atoms and molecules. “Nanotechnology has clear military and terrorist uses…” (Joy).  The science of changing atoms and producing machines to complete very specific tasks is not given enough thought, in my opinion.  After reading Joy’s thoughts I gathered that the field in which nanotechnology could be used the most is in the military, in warfare.  The greatest risk is losing lives, not just a couple hundred, but if applied in the correct (or to be more accurate, incorrect) form it could destroy the entire biosphere, killing off all living things. 

His last concern, dealing with robotics, not only has valid points, but evidence from the past to support it.  The atomic bomb used to attack Hiroshima was the first real-world experience we (America, and the world) had with the impact we cold make on a single country through the use of technology, specifically robotics.  However, the power of this technology-making robots that can mass produce things, as well as military technology used in war is becoming a powerful force for evil, rather than good (which I believe was created for the benefit of mankind).  It is not a human per se causing so much detriment; it is the machine, right?  False, and this is the scary point, we blame our actions and power on machines which we create.  There is a lack of personal combat, and things of that nature.

Although the ideas Joy presents that could happen if GNR continues in the same way it is today are dramatic, I believe they are possible.  Life will not change overnight, but it will happen quickly and needs to be carefully monitored.