Nanotechnology as global catastrophic risk

Abstract

This article discusses the manifold risks of nanotechnology, while also acknowledging its potential benefits. It posits that only nanoscale technologies that do not pose risks of a novel class or scope, such as materials and components for other products, ought to be considered nanotechnology. Molecular manufacturing (MM) presents novel global catastrophic risks, primarily stemming from the availability and misuse of the final products, and secondarily from unintentional release of constituent materials. Sophisticated weaponry, self-perpetuating replicators, radical human enhancement, and environmentally destructive planet-scale engineering are the main risks highlighted. However, MM offers benefits as well, such as stronger materials, more efficient mechanisms, rapid replacement of inefficient infrastructures, and the potential to alleviate poverty, resource constraints, and some other risks. The article concludes that responsible development of MM technology is warranted while also advocating for the study of its risks as an antidote to the threats it poses. – AI-generated abstract.