Readers Thoughts

Human beings have definitely played a large role in the destruction of the planet‚s natural balance and while there are efforts being put forth to remedy various environmental issues caused by human beings it is much like dealing with the cow after it has been released from the barn.  I also agree that the growing focus on artificial intelligence is alarming.  We walk into the grocery store to find automated cashiers that replace the human cashier.  Meanwhile, what happens to the people that need jobs?

We call the phone company for a telephone number and we get a computer that replaces the human operator that once answered the phone.  Despite the fact that these voice recognizing computers never give you the right telephone number you are looking for and the phone company charges you for the call anyway, it is just another instance where a machine is taking over where humans once fulfilled the task.

The question is: when does it stop?  What role will nanotechnology play in the replacement of more human beings in various working roles?  Will nanotechnologies actually serve to better the world or are we slowly, with little regard or recognition, generating our own extinction?  The notion of nanobots will intelligence and emotion is terrifying, and what happens if such intelligent creations begin to look at human beings as the imperfect beings that we are?  You pose some interesting and disturbing questions here.

DaynaW