[sk1zzyk1d]

I found the quote below from Surviving the 21st Century by Julian Cribb similar to many attitudes I've encountered on the other end of the interest spectrum. The warnings are worth heeding, yet how can we ignore such tech, just as we pursue nanotechnology that has similar dangers, when such scientific pursuits may be what allows the human race to persist long after the Earth ceases to be habitable.

"All biowarfare laboratories - and indeed, many ordinary biotech labs – thus represent an ongoing existential threat to humanity whose safety, like that of nuclear materials, cannot ever be guaranteed.

"This was highlighted in early 2016 when James Clapper, U.S. director of national intelligence, issued a warning that even gene editing (such as by the technology known as CRISPR) should be added to the list of weapons of mass destruction, adding that it 'increases the risk of the creation of potentially harmful biological agents or products'. (Regalado 2016). Other scientists warned that genetically modified lifeforms could be used to target specific groups of humans carrying certain genes, or if released in agricultural ‘designer crops’ might result in uncontrollable plagues. They cautioned that gene editing technology is far cheaper and easier to access than nuclear or chemical weapons."

- Surviving the 21st Century, Julian Cribb, Chapter 8 "The Urbanite (Homo urbanus)"

[kneel]

James Clapper's job is to worry about everything, of course he would say that.

The common flu is a lot more dangerous than CRISPR/cas9.

The CRISPR/cas9 system has potential for existential threat in the same way that AI does (not anytime soon.) This is what happens when you develop a new set of tools.

[ahazred8ta]

> James Clapper's job is to worry about everything

"And Ye Shall Know the Truth and the Truth Shall Make You Free" is inscribed in the lobby of the CIA, but informally they say "the truth will just make you nervous". :(

[obstinate]

Feel the same. Would be much more worried if we had figured out how to fix cancerous cells with CRISPR already.

[spynxic]

"They cautioned that gene editing technology is far cheaper and easier to access than nuclear or chemical weapons."

The potential dangers from gene editing shouldn't be put in the same light as artificial intelligence or nuclear technologies. Instead it deserves recognition for the nature of its actual danger, that being it's ease of use as mentioned, potential uses (of which I don't believe the tip of the iceberg has been reached), and as far as a risk of existential threat is concerned, it's communicability.

Gene-editing will not be a nuclear arms race nor will it be a speculative threat as AI currently stands. Gene-editing can be put into action by anyone, just as an AI of some sort might be, but has very real consequences, just as nuclear technology does.