[NotAnEconomist]

Because a lot of "playing god" is thinly veiled authoritarianism -- the desire to control our fellows, out of our own egotism?

[mynameisvlad]

That's not what the term is generally used for.

Generally speaking, "playing god" is talked about as messing with nature and the things around us to better suit our needs. Genetic engineering, climate engineering, etc. "God" refers to the natural order of things and trying to change it.