Molecular machine takes control

Mark Brown, Portland, OR — Mon, 10 Mar 2008 21:54:34 GMT

Very exciting breakthrough for medicine and computing; however, I predict medicinal uses will show up first, with the army of Boomers paying out the nose to stay healthy and "young"!

It does seem to be the answer to developing true AI, just hope I live long enough to see how it plays out.

Molecular machine takes control

Ernie Genss, Las Vegas, NV — Mon, 10 Mar 2008 22:58:22 GMT

Maybe less is more, like the central unit could be a queen of social insects which could create workers that could feed back info from enviromental factors.

Molecular machine takes control

Dr. R. Douglas — Mon, 10 Mar 2008 23:01:21 GMT

One of the great joys of my intellectual life has been to be an early reader of science fiction (Heinlien, Bradbury, Asimov - not 'scifi' or horror or 'starwars') That is fiction in which real scientist-turned authors predicted the changes to society that scientific advances would generate.
The thrill comes when some bit of those predictions comes true. Generally speaking those great early authors were way too conservative! Nanomachines whose potential we can now only vaguely glimpse are to me one of the most exciting developments. Brain surgery is only one of perhaps thousands of applications that will soon be possible. The true defeat of metabolic and autoimmune diseases lays before us. New materials such as the super strong fibre that makes orbital elevators possible, Clothing that cleans and presses itself and every serious and frivelous think that can be imagined will eventually be possible. Of all the things that will transform our society this may be the biggest one of all.

Molecular machine takes control

Joseph Basile, Worcester MA — Tue, 11 Mar 2008 01:09:58 GMT

This type of technological progress can certainly be very dangerous, but it is just as inevitable as biological evolution.

The real focus should be to ensure that we as a species are responsible with our creations, especially when they have the potential to exceed our intellegence and power. We must never forget that it is we who are in control, or we will surely loose control.

Molecular machine takes control

Jeff Byrne, Grand Rapids, MI — Tue, 11 Mar 2008 03:02:16 GMT

This is so pivotal to where we're going as a human species. If we could unlock this potential, all the worries about global warming and the energy crisis would look ridiculous, and perhaps insignificant compared to what's to come.

Molecular machine takes control

Paul, Rapid City, SD — Tue, 11 Mar 2008 04:00:31 GMT

Wow, I should have invested into these companies when they first started this work... Cant wait until I am old enough to enjoy the benefits of this progress. AMAZING!!!

Molecular machine takes control

Mark A. Baker Volcano CA. — Tue, 11 Mar 2008 05:12:13 GMT

Would be nice to have the world run by machines and govern us all.
Perhaps then we as a whole species may actually survive. Only reason many people fear the "Mechanogovernance Theory" is the simple fact that the machines may decide Humanity is not worth saving once it realises how retarded Humanity is. It is not beyond my own comprehension to conclude this. If I were a constant in exhistance, what todays human amounts to is of no consequnce.

"In strange Eons Death May Die" - H.P Lovecraft.

On the upside it is technogies like this, that can and would make humans immortal, unto the question arises, would we really be human after that, and what would a single one of us be capable of doing in such a future?

Lot's of neat stuff to think about.

Molecular machine takes control

Tim Johnson, Dallas, TX — Tue, 11 Mar 2008 05:18:04 GMT

What about "Cyborg grass"? We'll have a lawn with a nano-bot grass cutter that is parked in the root system of each blade of grass. Then, once a week, the nano-bot comes out of stand-by mode and crawles up the blade of grass and cuts of the top of it... just don't fall asleep in the yard.

Molecular machine takes control

Tim, Providence, RI — Tue, 11 Mar 2008 05:36:10 GMT

Kurzweil talks about the inevitable integration of technology into our brains, thus making our brains more efficient. So all the problems that scientists can't solve today with their "primitive" brains will seem trivial once we are 10x smarter. And once we're 10x smarter, it will be easier to make ourselves 100x smarter, then 1000x smarter, and so on. THAT is the Singularity!

Molecular machine takes control

Andrew, Norman, OK — Tue, 11 Mar 2008 07:42:50 GMT

Ever heard of Thomas Malthus, peak oil or anything else realistic.. nano-technology is great but our society is certainly not mature enough for it..

Molecular machine takes control

Ray Swan, Corydon, Indiana — Tue, 11 Mar 2008 12:29:00 GMT

successful nano-tech points to global rule by a few, or one. Current governments will not be able to control that which they cannot see. The power will switch to those who perfect the technology first. It's like a Global gold rush...for control of the planet. Or worse yet, micro assemblers run amok in unplanned ways upsetting our current ecosystem and planet so quickly that we become endangered or extinct. "Danger Will Robinson, Danger"

Molecular machine takes control

Kevat, Grenada — Tue, 11 Mar 2008 13:29:18 GMT

I agree with a lot thats been said, specially the part where nanotechnologies will be implanted into our brains, much like combining us with computers. Thats the reason why machines can never take over, we'll always be one step ahead of them, slowly becoming machines ourselves. The question is, with these implanted computers, will we have an "internet" which goes with it? If we do, men will start acting more as a group than an individual more than ever. It would lead to new levels of superorganisms made of men (just as we are superorganisms made of cells), and seem much more like the cyborgs from Star-Trek. Granted, these things are atleast 4000-5000 years in advance, but are interesting from the point of veiw of evolution.

Molecular machine takes control

Wayne, Alamogordo, NM — Tue, 11 Mar 2008 13:51:52 GMT

There should be no reason to fear nanotechnology. If we are created beings, then we are meant to find, develop and use this technology. If we're here by accident, then pursuit of new technology is all we have to look forward to during our short time here. I'm personally looking forward to the day when nanobots can be injected into my body to help repair damaged parts or to stop the spread of cancer and hopefully eliminate it. Whether by design, or not, we as human beings have an innate desire to survive. Nanotechnology can be used to solve a great number of today's woes. Let's embrace the technology and see where it leads. The future belongs to the dreamers.

Molecular machine takes control

Jan Michael Vincent — Tue, 11 Mar 2008 14:03:14 GMT

Nano is another step towards Skynet or the "grey goo." let's hope we can keep it under control. Very slick stuff.

Molecular machine takes control

Sean, Troy MI — Tue, 11 Mar 2008 14:08:02 GMT

this has the potential to be the most profound and far reaching advancement in technology that i can even imagine. think of what current computers can do with what amounts to a single-instruction-at-a-time paradigm. In this model the actual computation can be thought of as occurring at a 'point' in geometric terms. If you think of what starts to happen as you extend these 'points' out to 'lines', and then to 'planes' and then to 3D structures - with each new dimension causing an exponential jump in connections from the last – with each connection providing some basic instruction set – and all of these connection working in concert to create something greater than the sum of parts - it's truly astounding. The computing potential for this type of model adds up to nearly incalculable numbers almost immediately, thanks to the wonder of exponentiation.

Once this technology comes to fruition it seems that we would have virtually unlimited computational power, but the trick still becomes how to actually use all of that potential. That is the part that could and will take centuries to sort out.

Once you start to integrate this power with chemistry, biology, physics, etc – all of which provide their own unique set of behaviors and vast sets of applications – the potential literally boggles the mind and holds the potential to change the planet, life as we know it, etc, etc, etc.

Molecular machine takes control

Iron Butterfield, Somerville, New Jersey — Tue, 11 Mar 2008 14:10:28 GMT

Hey Dr. Douglas and others who actualy read books and dig on the nano-stuff, check out Neal Stephenson's "The Diamond Age" - you won't be dissapointed. The future's gonna be crazy, man!

Molecular machine takes control

Branden Gemzer — Tue, 11 Mar 2008 14:33:10 GMT

I like the spectrum of opinion, Mr. Kurzweil believes that technology will usher in a new evolution, where as the terminator series seems to indicate technology will be our destruction. I think its a little one sided to take a serious researcher and scholar to support the optimist approach and a work of fiction to support the pessimist. It seems like a last minute jab using a weak man argument. There are other, better critics of technologies messsianic potential. Postman is a good example who is more balanced. While I would like to see this technology in our lifetime, I also think that we should be careful and deliberate in its implementation, rushing to the finish line could be a recipe for disaster, maybe not in the apocalyptic sense, but definitely in the philosophic displacement of what it means to be a person.

Molecular machine takes control

Somdatta Bhattacharya Kolkata, West Bengal — Tue, 11 Mar 2008 15:52:01 GMT

This is great. It definitely is path-breaking. As to why it literally means all the world's info at your fingertips, please visit
http://thetoeprint.blogspot.com

Molecular machine takes control

Brett, HCMC, VN — Tue, 11 Mar 2008 15:56:07 GMT

I wonder how it will go under temperature stress, hopefully a lot better than silicon. Maybe it could go to the Sun or Mercury or just in space with less heat shielding and cooling requirements.

Molecular machine takes control

S.B. Stein E.B. NJ — Tue, 11 Mar 2008 17:09:42 GMT

These advances are happening. Can you imagine that we could program these little machines to detect and eleminate a certain type of cell. That could cut away tumors only if the amount of cells it cuts are limited or controlled by the outside. Is there a way to control the construction and operation a little more? I guessing since the creation of these machines is still small I don't think that we have to worry about Wesley Crusher's experiment going wrong and having all the nanites eating the computers of the world.

Molecular machine takes control

Pete, KC, Mo — Tue, 11 Mar 2008 17:14:18 GMT

It's unfortunate Mr. Boyle bought into the hyperbole presented by the researchers in crafting this article. A four way logic gate in itself isn't particularly interesting, although the small scale is. If only four way logic were the key to parallel computation easy! Also, work with the most simple neural network simulations shows that the magic isn't in the hardware (wetware?) but in the interactions between 'cells'. So, it's quiet a leap to go from this innovation to the nanotech utopia some would envision. I will, along with you all, watch this area with interest.

Molecular machine takes control

HoosierJim500 MIshawaka Indiana — Tue, 11 Mar 2008 17:15:18 GMT

Yada, Yada, Yada, it will be given to the wealthy only, as usual.

Molecular machine takes control

flashgordon — Tue, 11 Mar 2008 18:26:47 GMT

I would like to say that CRN(center for responsible nanotechnology) has been working(probably more in secret these days!) on dealing with nanotechnologies and a.i. I for one like the lifeboat organization more; but, anyways; i do like CRN's 'system of three ethics' which I cannot explain in the space constraints; i think you should study for a few months these guys work before going crazy on judgements. As for me, I may have to reconsider my views on the possibilities on a.i. with this article!

Molecular machine takes control

guy s l newell — Tue, 11 Mar 2008 18:45:12 GMT

I want an interface implant now. I want to be able to google any time I want without anyone knowing what I'm doing.

Molecular machine takes control

David, Houston, TX — Tue, 11 Mar 2008 18:46:26 GMT

The cascading nano-machines paradigm is quite mind-bending when you think it through - the reconfiguration of one central molecule causing the simultaneous reconfiguration of its slaves, each which in turn simultaneously reconfigures their next layer of slaves, on and on, to any depth desired by the machine designer, to acheive a particular state governed by the master - binary logic will be looked back upon fondly as a necessary primitive evolutionary step.

Funny thing... even the glorious nanotech revolution and parallel logic will one day look primitive as well. What will nature (via its creative human mind and, later, its nearly unfathomable nano-mind) think of next? For certain, evolution marches on.

Molecular machine takes control

G. Phillip — Tue, 11 Mar 2008 19:31:51 GMT

Watching bemused as this world inches ever closer to its final whimper.

Molecular machine takes control

Dave, Malvern, PA — Tue, 11 Mar 2008 19:55:44 GMT

If molecular machinery does go bad, it's not going to be like Terminator - it'll be far, far worse. No deadly but reassuringly-smushable cyborgs...instead, imagine a "dirty bomb" but not just passively dangerous in that if you happen to absorb some material, it may damage your DNA and probably kill you - instead, each individual speck of material hates you and wants you (quite possibly *you* specifically) to die, and knows a few straightforward ways of achieving that goal.

The fun part is that the above example doesn't require a runaway inimical AI. Barring stunning advances in education/psychology that outpace technological innovation, it seems inevitable that some industrious but run-of-the-mill humans will try something very like this (and/or a myriad of other joyful gifts) at some point.

Despite my pessimism, I'm vaguely hopeful we'll find some way of guarding against things like that. It's one of those wonderful gambles humanity is engaging in - it can go *seriously* south, but if it doesn't, the payout is huge.

Molecular machine takes control

Ryan Keeler, Sierra Vista AZ — Tue, 11 Mar 2008 20:41:42 GMT

Go Japan! Hope we are keeping up... otherwise these nanobots will have the smallest "made in japan" labels on any device i've ever seen... HA. If they do advance this for medical use... I hope it's affordable for those who are less fortunate. I'm about to pay 4 grand for an optometrist to shoot lasers in my eyes... can't imagine how much it would cost to send nanobots into the brain.

Molecular machine takes control

Frank Vee, Indiana — Tue, 11 Mar 2008 20:59:03 GMT

At what point does so called progress become retrogress (reverse progress)? We keep thinking that we can continue to make things better but just make things worse. When do we say enough is enough? Nuclear power, genetic engineering, pharmaceuticals pesticides herbicides in our water supplies, etc. were meant to help but now we have Nuclear waste that nobody wants, and loose genes and hormones and other toxins affecting our food supply and possibly destroying us in the not so far off future. The underlying thought is "Oh we can fix that" but it never turns out that way. Every invention is never thought through to the final outcome or possible long term effects. Maybe I'm a Xenophobe but at least I'm an alive Xenophobe, for now anyway. We already have chemical, bacterial, and nuclear pollutants that we can't deal with and so now we add nano pollutants to the mix and don't even know how they could possibly hurt us or the environment. Great idea geniuses. I use to love technology but the more I learn about what is going on in the world, the more it scares the bejeebers out of me. It reminds me of Jurassic park when it was said " Yes you learned that you could do it, but no one ever looked at whether you should do it." Right now all I see is a bunch of the smartest dumb people I know becoming dumber by the day but at the same time proclaiming how smart they are. Who wants to live forever in a world like this where I or my family have no choice of the outcome based upon the choices of the few? I certainly don't. It seems that humans think that if it doesn't currently affect them then it isn't a problem or at least not their problem. Eventually this "great idea" could affect everyone and then maybe some will say "Bad idea" but then it comes back to the "Oops" factor. That never fixes the problem though. Being "smarter" isn't all it's cracked up to be by the way. "Ignorance is bliss" is a huge understatement. Wish I didn't know now what I do know now. Our minds have already become assimilated by our wallets. Scary stuff.

Molecular machine takes control

Frank Glover Rochester, NY — Tue, 11 Mar 2008 21:52:18 GMT

"Yada, Yada, Yada, it will be given to the wealthy only, as usual."

You mean like microprocessors, world wide computer networks or high resolution, flat TV...?

There's no money in limiting your market one bit more than you have to. Nor can secrets and patents lasforever.

Molecular machine takes control

Chuggs , Chicago — Tue, 11 Mar 2008 22:25:52 GMT

Maybe now I can finally get those super powers I have always wanted....

Molecular machine takes control

Paul, Schertz, Texas — Wed, 12 Mar 2008 02:05:44 GMT

Many of the previous posts make me thing of 'That Hideous Strength' by C.S. Lewis. It's definitely worth reading ...

Molecular machine takes control

Amara D. Angelica, Boulder Creek, CA — Wed, 12 Mar 2008 10:38:37 GMT

Great article. One correction: Ray Kurzweil forecasts the Singularity as 2045, not 2029 (which is the date he forecasts that a machine will pass the Turing Test).

Molecular machine takes control

JohnC — Wed, 12 Mar 2008 14:28:57 GMT

I'm a "show me" type of person. I see nanotech as being more relevant in the IT arena. There may some day be an application of limited scope for treating medical disorders. Not any time soon. In no way will the life span of humans be extended or without disease. This type of thinking has long existed and we are farther away now than we have ever been in the history of man. Disease increases faster than our inventions to fight it. And it always will. Stack up all the sci-fi predictions of the past and very few shake out as beneficial let alone came to fruition. Exciting? Yeah. But, lets get real.

Molecular machine takes control

michael rudolf — Wed, 12 Mar 2008 15:11:33 GMT

Progress is inevitable and should not be feared..........To paraphrase "The Graduate" quote:
"one word........Diversity".................that is our ultimate protection for future endeavous....

Clearly scentists are getting closer to pattern recognizing who and what we are, and the embracing and development of those ideas by many will provide us with a more certain, if fantastic future.

Molecular machine takes control

Kurt Schoedel, Portland, Oregon — Wed, 12 Mar 2008 16:18:23 GMT

This is less significant than it appears. Their system can only work at temperatures near absolute zero, limiting its potential applications. All of the experiments and breakthroughs in this kind of mechanical nanotechnology have been done near absolute zero. This is because thermal noise (aka brownian motion) becomes a significant issue in molecular reactions above absolute zero. This is the reason biology (that squishy stuff that we're made out of) does not operate as a mechanical nanotechnology system, but is based on solution-phase chemistry involving complex folding patterns of large molecules.

It is therefor likely to assume that our future nanotechnology will also be "biology-like" (think "Blade Runner" rather than "Terminator" as a Hollywood portrayal) rather than "nano-mechanical-like". The future is wet and squishy, not dry and hard. Get used to it.

As with all of the other so-called breakthroughs in nanotechnology, I will be much more impressed if they can make their system operate at room temperature.

Molecular machine takes control

Frank Glover Rochester, NY — Thu, 13 Mar 2008 22:26:04 GMT

"These advances are happening. Can you imagine that we could program these little machines to detect and eleminate a certain type of cell. That could cut away tumors only if the amount of cells it cuts are limited or controlled by the outside. Is there a way to control the construction and operation a little more? I guessing since the creation of these machines is still small I don't think that we have to worry about Wesley Crusher's experiment going wrong and having all the nanites eating the computers of the world."

Anctually, that concept's been around innanotech circles for a while, and has a name: 'Cell Repair Machines'

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nanomedicine#Cell_repair_machines

http://www.foresight.org/Nanomedicine/Gallery/Species/HistorGeneral.html

http://www.alcor.org/Library/html/cellrepairmachines.html

Molecular machine takes control

Daniel Morgan, Los Angeles, CA — Mon, 17 Mar 2008 03:42:37 GMT

I feel like you're baiting your readers with provocative questions like "And could that in turn set the stage for a real-life replay of "Terminator 3: Rise of the Machines"?" --- If you want intelligent responses, steer clear of the 'utopia/dystopia' dichotomies and ask meaningful questions.
It's going to be a strange and unpredictable future, but it's not productive to anticipate a Crichton novel.

Molecular machine takes control

x-ray fluorescence — Fri, 27 Feb 2009 05:11:10 GMT

Hi,
Good informative post.This type of technological progress can certainly be very dangerous, but it is just as inevitable as biological evolution.
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Molecular machine takes control

G kumar — Mon, 30 Mar 2009 05:08:51 GMT

Hi,
its very nice post.but the progress of technology is quite danger...