Part 12 (1/2)
MOLLY 2004: Okay, but the virus writers will be improving their craft as well. Okay, but the virus writers will be improving their craft as well.
RAY: It's going to be a nervous standoff, no question about it. But the benefit today clearly outweighs the damage. It's going to be a nervous standoff, no question about it. But the benefit today clearly outweighs the damage.
MOLLY 2004: How clear is that? How clear is that?
RAY: Well, no one is seriously arguing we should do away with the Internet because software viruses are such a big problem. Well, no one is seriously arguing we should do away with the Internet because software viruses are such a big problem.
MOLLY 2004: I'll give you that. I'll give you that.
RAY: When nanotechnology is mature, it's going to solve the problems of biology by overcoming biological pathogens, removing toxins, correcting DNA errors, and reversing other sources of aging. We will then have to contend with new dangers that it introduces, just as the Internet introduced the danger of software viruses. These new pitfalls will include the potential for self-replicating nanotechnology getting out of control, as well as the integrity of the software controlling these powerful, distributed nan.o.bots. When nanotechnology is mature, it's going to solve the problems of biology by overcoming biological pathogens, removing toxins, correcting DNA errors, and reversing other sources of aging. We will then have to contend with new dangers that it introduces, just as the Internet introduced the danger of software viruses. These new pitfalls will include the potential for self-replicating nanotechnology getting out of control, as well as the integrity of the software controlling these powerful, distributed nan.o.bots.
MOLLY 2004: Did you say reverse aging? Did you say reverse aging?
RAY: I see you're already picking up on a key benefit. I see you're already picking up on a key benefit.
MOLLY 2004: So how are the nan.o.bots going to do that? So how are the nan.o.bots going to do that?
RAY: We'll actually accomplish most of that with biotechnology, methods such as RNA interference for turning off destructive genes, gene therapy for changing your genetic code, therapeutic cloning for regenerating your cells and tissues, smart drugs to reprogram your metabolic pathways, and many other emerging techniques. But whatever biotechnology doesn't get around to accomplis.h.i.+ng, we'll have the means to do with nanotechnology. We'll actually accomplish most of that with biotechnology, methods such as RNA interference for turning off destructive genes, gene therapy for changing your genetic code, therapeutic cloning for regenerating your cells and tissues, smart drugs to reprogram your metabolic pathways, and many other emerging techniques. But whatever biotechnology doesn't get around to accomplis.h.i.+ng, we'll have the means to do with nanotechnology.
MOLLY 2004: Such as? Such as?
RAY: Nan.o.bots will be able to travel through the bloodstream, then go in and around our cells and perform various services, such as removing toxins, sweeping out debris, correcting DNA errors, repairing and restoring cell membranes, reversing atherosclerosis, modifying the levels of hormones, neurotransmitters, and other metabolic chemicals, and a myriad of other tasks. For each aging process, we can describe a means for nan.o.bots to reverse the process, down to the level of individual cells, cell components, and molecules. Nan.o.bots will be able to travel through the bloodstream, then go in and around our cells and perform various services, such as removing toxins, sweeping out debris, correcting DNA errors, repairing and restoring cell membranes, reversing atherosclerosis, modifying the levels of hormones, neurotransmitters, and other metabolic chemicals, and a myriad of other tasks. For each aging process, we can describe a means for nan.o.bots to reverse the process, down to the level of individual cells, cell components, and molecules.
MOLLY 2004: So I'll stay young indefinitely? So I'll stay young indefinitely?
RAY: That's the idea. That's the idea.
MOLLY 2004: When did you say I could get these? When did you say I could get these?
RAY: I thought you were worried about nan.o.bot firewalls. I thought you were worried about nan.o.bot firewalls.
MOLLY 2004: Yeah, well, I've got time to worry about that. So what was that time frame again? Yeah, well, I've got time to worry about that. So what was that time frame again?
RAY: About twenty to twenty-five years. About twenty to twenty-five years.
MOLLY 2004: I'm twenty-five now, so I'll age to about forty-five and then stay there? I'm twenty-five now, so I'll age to about forty-five and then stay there?
RAY: No, that's not exactly the idea. You can slow down aging to a crawl right now by adopting the knowledge we already have. Within ten to twenty years, the biotechnology revolution will provide far more powerful means to stop and in many cases reverse each disease and aging process. And it's not like nothing is going to happen in the meantime. Each year, we'll have more powerful techniques, and the process will accelerate. Then nanotechnology will finish the job. No, that's not exactly the idea. You can slow down aging to a crawl right now by adopting the knowledge we already have. Within ten to twenty years, the biotechnology revolution will provide far more powerful means to stop and in many cases reverse each disease and aging process. And it's not like nothing is going to happen in the meantime. Each year, we'll have more powerful techniques, and the process will accelerate. Then nanotechnology will finish the job.
MOLLY 2004: Yes, of course, it's hard for you to get out a sentence without using the word ”accelerate.” So what biological age am I going to get to? Yes, of course, it's hard for you to get out a sentence without using the word ”accelerate.” So what biological age am I going to get to?
RAY: I think you'll settle somewhere in your thirties and stay there for a while. I think you'll settle somewhere in your thirties and stay there for a while.
MOLLY 2004: Thirties sounds pretty good. I think a slightly more mature age than twenty-five is a good idea anyway. But what do you mean ”for a while”? Thirties sounds pretty good. I think a slightly more mature age than twenty-five is a good idea anyway. But what do you mean ”for a while”?
RAY: Stopping and reversing aging is only the beginning. Using nan.o.bots for health and longevity is just the early adoption phase of introducing nanotechnology and intelligent computation into our bodies and brains. The more profound implication is that we'll augment our thinking processes with nan.o.bots that communicate with one another and with our biological neurons. Once nonbiological intelligence gets a foothold, so to speak, in our brains, it will be subject to the law of accelerating returns and expand exponentially. Our biological thinking, on the other hand, is basically stuck. Stopping and reversing aging is only the beginning. Using nan.o.bots for health and longevity is just the early adoption phase of introducing nanotechnology and intelligent computation into our bodies and brains. The more profound implication is that we'll augment our thinking processes with nan.o.bots that communicate with one another and with our biological neurons. Once nonbiological intelligence gets a foothold, so to speak, in our brains, it will be subject to the law of accelerating returns and expand exponentially. Our biological thinking, on the other hand, is basically stuck.
MOLLY 2004: There you go again with things accelerating, but when this really gets going, thinking with biological neurons will be pretty trivial in comparison. There you go again with things accelerating, but when this really gets going, thinking with biological neurons will be pretty trivial in comparison.
RAY: That's a fair statement. That's a fair statement.
MOLLY 2004: So, Miss Molly of the future, when did I drop my biological body and brain? So, Miss Molly of the future, when did I drop my biological body and brain?
MOLLY 2104: Well, you don't really want me to spell out your future, do you? And anyway it's actually not a straightforward question. Well, you don't really want me to spell out your future, do you? And anyway it's actually not a straightforward question.
MOLLY 2004: How's that? How's that?
MOLLY 2104: In the 2040s we developed the means to instantly create new portions of ourselves, either biological or nonbiological. It became apparent that our true nature was a pattern of information, but we still needed to manifest ourselves in some physical form. However, we could quickly change that physical form. In the 2040s we developed the means to instantly create new portions of ourselves, either biological or nonbiological. It became apparent that our true nature was a pattern of information, but we still needed to manifest ourselves in some physical form. However, we could quickly change that physical form.
MOLLY 2004: By? By?
MOLLY 2104: By applying new high-speed MNT manufacturing. So we could readily and rapidly redesign our physical instantiation. So I could have a biological body at one time and not at another, then have it again, then change it, and so on. By applying new high-speed MNT manufacturing. So we could readily and rapidly redesign our physical instantiation. So I could have a biological body at one time and not at another, then have it again, then change it, and so on.
MOLLY 2004: I think I'm following this. I think I'm following this.
MOLLY 2104: The point is that I could have my biological brain and/or body or not have it. It's not a matter of dropping anything, because we can always get back something we drop. The point is that I could have my biological brain and/or body or not have it. It's not a matter of dropping anything, because we can always get back something we drop.
MOLLY 2004: So you're still doing this? So you're still doing this?
MOLLY 2104: Some people still do this, but now in 2104 it's a bit anachronistic. I mean, the simulations of biology are totally indistinguishable from actual biology, so why bother with physical instantiations? Some people still do this, but now in 2104 it's a bit anachronistic. I mean, the simulations of biology are totally indistinguishable from actual biology, so why bother with physical instantiations? MOLLY 2004: MOLLY 2004: Yeah, it's messy isn't it? Yeah, it's messy isn't it?
MOLLY 2104: I'll say. I'll say.
MOLLY 2004: I do have to say that it seems strange to be able to change your physical embodiment. I mean, where's your-my-continuity? I do have to say that it seems strange to be able to change your physical embodiment. I mean, where's your-my-continuity?
MOLLY 2104: It's the same as your continuity in 2004. You're changing your particles all the time also. It's just your pattern of information that has continuity. It's the same as your continuity in 2004. You're changing your particles all the time also. It's just your pattern of information that has continuity.
MOLLY 2004: But in 2104 you're able to change your pattern of information quickly also. I can't do that yet. But in 2104 you're able to change your pattern of information quickly also. I can't do that yet.
MOLLY 2104: It's really not that different. You change your pattern-your memory, skills, experiences, even personality over time-but there is a continuity, a core that changes only gradually. It's really not that different. You change your pattern-your memory, skills, experiences, even personality over time-but there is a continuity, a core that changes only gradually.
MOLLY 2004: But I thought you could change your appearance and personality dramatically in an instant? But I thought you could change your appearance and personality dramatically in an instant? MOLLY 2104: MOLLY 2104: Yes, but that's just a surface manifestation. My true core changes only gradually, just like when I was you in 2004. Yes, but that's just a surface manifestation. My true core changes only gradually, just like when I was you in 2004.