“Why the future doesn’t need us” is an article authored by Bill Joy, co-founder and Chief Scientist at Sun Microsystems, co-chairman of the presidential commission on the future of IT research, and the co-author of The Java Language Specification. In this article, he discourses about his concerns relating to the dangers the new age technologies present. He categorizes these 21st-century technologies as GNR: Genetic engineering, Nanotechnology, and Robotics, which pose the greatest threats to humankind. He voices his dilemma in front of the readers in relation to these technologies. Being a person working in the scientific arena himself, he contemplates the extent to which humankind should hunt for knowledge. In his opinion, at the present rate of advancement, things could soon spin out of control and our quest for knowledge and truth might endanger our own species along with others.
At the outset of the article, the author reflects on his thoughts about the ethical aspects of scientific creation and tells the reader about the anxiety he experiences when he mulls over the perils the new age technologies might bring about. After having a discussion with others from the various relevant fields, he realizes that the far-fetched sci-fi ideas like downloading one’s consciousness into robots were essentially not very far away possibilities. He cannot refute these arguments as they come from quite credible sources and the logic behind these arguments also make some sense to him. This escalates his concerns.
He points out that we have become used to new scientific inventions and discoveries. As for the future, he says that two possibilities face humankind. Either machines would be allowed to take decisions autonomously or else some control would be retained. He counters the argument that humans would not allow complete machine independence by saying that after a point in time the degree of dependability on machines would increase to such an extent that human beings would not be capable of complex decision-making. (Joy, 1)
He cites examples from evolution history to establish the fact that it is the best species that always win the race of survival. As we go on developing new and more efficient technologies, he worries that it is almost perfect character might seduce us into relinquishing control to them. He singles out the most hazardous factor in new-age technologies like genetic engineering, nanotechnology, and robotic as self-replication. He refers to the attractive powers of each of these technologies: near-immortality promised by robotics, better and effective treatments offered by genetic engineering, and the capability of nano-medicine to address a wider range of hazards. Together they use of such technologies pledges to improve quality of living and average life span. On the other hand, the advances which bring us accretion of supremacy fetches great dangers in tandem.
He compares them to old 20th-century approaches, which he calls NBC: Nuclear, Biological, and Chemical technologies, which form the root of weapons of mass destruction (WMD). Where a bomb could strike disasters just once the 21st centuries technologies could increase its impact manifold by self-replicating. Further, WMDs required a lot of effort, practically inaccessible raw materials and information along carrying out large-scale activities. Threats from new technologies are even more perilous as knowledge alone can make their abuse possible. These knowledge-enabled mass destruction approaches do not require large and confidential facilities. These are being controlled by commercial organizations instead of national authorities due to their immense potential to exploit economic markets, which makes it even more deadly.
The author presents his completely scientific career right from his childhood to his present endeavors and brings out all his achievements in the field of science. He does this in order to prove to the reader that he is not against progress or seeking knowledge. Here, he cites the example of his nurse grandmother who was against the excessive use of antibiotics. He just tries to put out a word of caution to the society that the scientific world holds immense possibilities that can revolutionize the world we live in but at the same time, it might take very little time to end up in the wrong hands and demonstrate its ill effects.
Later in the article, the author extensively refers to the unavoidable causes and the devastating effects of the atomic and nuclear bombs on the history of humankind. He points out how the failure to relinquish the desire to create such powerful technology at the right time brought such harm to the human race. He strongly recommends taking a leaf out of that chapter and giving up the aggressiveness in seeking knowledge. He refers to his learning about utopian dreams. He states that it is perhaps time to modify our perception of utopia.
He understands that relinquishing and verifying the relinquishment of GNR technologies would prove to be complicated. However, in his view, it is not impossible. With some effort and cooperation of those working in the field, we might just overcome the dangers of extinction. He advocates that these dangers are not common knowledge and should be taken up seriously by society, and on a personal level is trying to do so. It is not yet decided that whether we would succumb to the threats we face today or will prevail over them and continue to survive, but according to the author, we should at least realize the dangers and proceed with caution.
Works Cited
Joy, Bill; Why the Future Doesn’t Need Us”; Wired; Issue 8.04; CondĂ©Net. Web.