Assignment Two: Summary of Engines of Creation by Eric Drexler Jujhar Bains 822 521 803

In the opening chapter of Engines of Creation by Eric Drexler, the author introduces the reader to the transition from bulk technology of today to the molecular technology (nanotechnology) of the future. By using gene machines, engineers will be able to manipulate DNA strands for desired results. Companies are investing millions into this technology which gives the opportunity to control ribosomes in order to build protein based machines. Protein machines will be the main source of creation for first generation of nanotechnology, but due to its downfalls as an engineering material, it will be replaced by second generation universal assemblers and disassemblers. Critics of nanotechnology argue that there are certain factors that will halt progression, such as uncertainty principle of quantum physics, heat related issues, radiation, and evolutionary limits. However, the author sees nanotechnology as an inevitable technology which will see Charles Babbages mechanical brass geared computer of the 1800s evolve into the protein based computers of the future. In Chapter two, Drexler looks at the role of assemblers as self replicators and the implications for nanotechnology. Throughout the replication process, there are areas of concern, such as miscopying and undetermined mutations. The replication process of assemblers from generation to generation will eliminate the weaker strands, and the strong will continue to replicate and evolve. According to Drexler, evolution proceeds by the variation and selection of replicators. As replicators choose specific genes to copy and others to eliminate, there is controversy in which direction nanotechnology may take us. The author compares genes to memes (ideas) and the dangers of bad ideas directing the assemblers. According to Drexler, traditional ideas evolved to be good may be less appealing than ideas evolved to sound good.

Assignment Two: Summary of Engines of Creation by Eric Drexler Jujhar Bains 822 521 803

Even though the reject-the-new principle may have its shortcomings, Drexler states that change can be risky. Overall, the best systems respect tradition, but encourage experimentation. Chapter three begins by asking three questions regarding the assembler breakthrough: What is possible? What is achievable? And what is desirable? Two constraints on nanotechnology will be time and cost. Nanotechnology will not be perfected overnight, and according to Karl Popper science can be recognized as evolutionary process. Nanotechnology will evolve through experimentation and ideas, and these ideas can evolve to seem true or they can evolve to be true. Scientific and technological foresight will also affect the progression of assemblers. According to Drexler, scientists refuse to predict knowledge, and seldom discuss future engineering developments. Engineers do project future developments, but seldom discuss any not based on present abilities. Drexler uses Leonardo da Vincis writings as an example of projected future developments. Technological foresight is an enormous task for todays engineers, as the assembler breakthrough will lead to advances in medical technology, space frontier, advanced computers, and new social inventions. Chapter four looks at the capabilities of replicators and the possibilities of designing anything imaginable by using these machines. Eventually robots will be able to do all robotassembly work without human intervention, including self-expansion and self-repair. Unlike bulk technology replicators, molecular replicators will have endless amount of resources, as their main material is the atom. Furthermore, the size of these replicators will be million times smaller than any of todays bulky machines, with replicating speeds in thousandths of a second. It is already evidential in nature that molecular machines can build gigantic creations such as the whale, making Drexler confident that building skyscrapers will be a reasonable projection for

Assignment Two: Summary of Engines of Creation by Eric Drexler Jujhar Bains 822 521 803

future assembler projects. The composition of these objects will be far superior to the materials used today, both extremely durable and substantially lighter. The future of the assembler breakthrough has a positive outlook, and according to Drexler, they will transform technology and the economy at their roots, opening a new world of possibilities. Chapter five revolves around the topic of artificial intelligence, and its imminent emergence through nanotechnology. As machines evolve, from calculators to sophisticated programs like CASNET and MYCIN, our definition of artificial intelligence varies. Drexler argues that artificial intelligence cannot be based on present technology, but rather on the projection of advanced future technologies. However, there are some critics that believe machines cannot encompass mental materialism or truly have self-awareness. The Turing Test was administered to artificial machines to verify if it could impersonate human intelligence, but no machine has ever passed the test. The author distinguishes between two types of artificial intelligence: Technical artificial intelligence which is adapted to deal with the physical world, and social intelligence which is adapted to deal with human minds. EURISKO is an example of a program that uses a heuristic approach to explore new areas of knowledge. Many institutions, from military to private firms are investing millions into the AI field. Drexler states that molecular technology will open the door for engineers to replicate the human brain, producing intelligence far more superior than its creator. Space frontier is the main theme of chapter six, as Drexler explains how artificial intelligence and nanotechnology will allow humans to further explore beyond earth. Space travel today is limited due to exponential cost of equipment and fuel. By using the power of the sun, engineers will be able to build solar sails to travel throughout space. Galactic travel is crucial

Assignment Two: Summary of Engines of Creation by Eric Drexler Jujhar Bains 822 521 803

because space houses abundance of matter, energy, and room. A single asteroid can hold a million tonnes of precious metals that are scarce in the earths crust, and the sun puts out as much energy in a microsecond as the human race uses in a year. Space, specifically open space, can be utilized for housing that could mirror earth life. Nanotechnology and artificial intelligence will produce space equipment at the fraction of the cost and time. These technologies will also benefit many different parts of society, such as labour, capital, land use, waste disposal, and taxation. Humans will transcend from a zero-sum society to a positive-sum society. Chapter seven deals with nanotechnology and the benefits it will have for the medical industry. Even the finest surgeons cannot perform to the perfection at the molecular level, and drugs are not as effective once in the body. By using assemblers and artificial intelligence, mechanisms of bodily repair will be improved and diseases like aids would diminish at minimal cost to the patient. The human body at the molecular level can be viewed as a complex machine, and cell repair machines will be able to access, recognize, disassemble, reassemble, and rebuild. No more reliance on medication for self repair will be the biggest fundamental breakthrough. Another breakthrough will be Anaesthesia Plus, which will allow medical professionals to put a human body in complete biostasis. Furthermore, aging will also be curable, with the ability to replicate new cells more efficiently as the human body ages. Nanotechnology will significantly benefit human health, excelling the mind and body to greater conditions. Longevity of human life and the strain on the earth is the concerning topic of chapter eight. Many critics believe nature has purposely put a clock on existence as a way to balance the earth system. However, Drexler argues that nature and past human failures in extending human life are not worthy adversaries for the inevitable creation of cell repair machines. The

Assignment Two: Summary of Engines of Creation by Eric Drexler Jujhar Bains 822 521 803

benefit of nanotechnology on the environment will lead us to elimination of many pollutants, by waste exportation to space and advanced use of solar power. The capabilities of molecular technology will enable us to restore extinct species of the past such as the African Quagga. The extension of human life will have great implications on future generations, whether it is economically, politically, or culturally. Population growth will exceed earths threshold even without nanotechnology. However, nanotechnology will lead us to an earth population where individuals will span multiple generations and their insight will be much more beneficial to human existence. Chapter nine builds on the topic of biostasis, and how bulk technology today can begin the process while molecular technology will be able to reverse it. The preservation of memory and personality is the critical area for biostasis, and this is done by preserving the protein patterns and cell structures of the brain. Using bulk technology, fixation and vitrification are the current procedures in order to achieve biostasis. Cryonics or freezing of human patients is another approach to biostasis, but the reversal stage is still lacking the cell repair machines needed for revival. Biostasis cannot be confused with immortality, as death will remain inevitable for reasons rooted in the nature of the universe. Critics against biostasis are not convinced that future technology will be present to reverse the procedure. However many medical innovations like anaesthesia were considered impossible, but have become important tools in the medical industry.

Assignment Two: Summary of Engines of Creation by Eric Drexler Jujhar Bains 822 521 803

Natural limits or limits that cannot be challenged by our capabilities today shape the content of chapter ten. According to Drexler, the laws of nature and the conditions of the world will limit what we do. Space vacuum, gravity, and speed of light are examples of limits placed by natural laws of the universe. Energy consumption will adversely affect the world ecologically, but will also set a limit to human action. Earths resources are limited, but Drexler sees space exploration as the answer to exceed our limits of growth. Due to the vast size of the universe, Drexler hints on the idea that other civilizations may already cultivate space, which may inevitably place a limit on our explorations. Exponential population growth versus linear resources growth was a limit proposed by Thomas Robert Malthus, but has been somewhat discredited because it lacked advancement of technology. There is still room for advancement even with possible limits, but surely beyond as well. Notably, the author states: The world of brute matter offers room for great but limited growth. The world of mind and pattern, though, hold room for endless evolution and change. The possible seems room enough. 1600 words