Re: No nanotech before AI

From: Robin Hanson (rhanson@gmu.edu)
Date: Thu Jul 13 2000 - 08:02:13 MDT


John Clark wrote:

> >Your "Nanotechnology" can make just about everything so cheap you
> >wouldn't think to just make another one if you ever saw any flaw in something.
>
> Yep, that's what I mean by the term.
>
> >And it can do this right next to anyone anytime.
>
> Obviously. Nanomachines are small and portable and cheap, so if it can do
> something someplace then it do it everyplace.
>
> >my poor nanotech is just atomic-precision factories, which you'd have to figure
> >out how to use to do other useful stuff.
>
> That's not clear, if stretched a little you could almost say we have nanotech
> (small n) right now, so it's not a useful word. If a nanomachine can make
> another nanomachine then the world will never be the same, .... But perhaps
> I misunderstand you, just what were you planing to make in your "atomic-precision
> factories"?

To be clearer, I'll grant a largely-self-reproducing atomic precision factory,
whichimplies the ability to manufacture the components of a factory, including simple
computers and machine tools. This is still just "nanotech", not the magic Santas
you envision.



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