Jolt to the System:

The Transformative Impact of Nanotechnology

Mike Treder
Executive Director
Center for Responsible Nanotechnology

Troy, New York

November 16, 2004

2004

Industrial Revolutions
First Revolution
(17801840)
Based in United Kingdom Steam Engine Textile Industry Mechanical Engineering

2004

Industrial Revolutions
Second Revolution
(18401900)
Based in Europe England, France, Germany Railways Steel Industry

2004

Industrial Revolutions
Third Revolution
(19001950)
Based in United States Electric Engine Heavy Chemicals Automobiles Consumer Durables

2004

Industrial Revolutions
Fourth Revolution
(1950Present)
Based in Pacific Basin California, Japan Synthetics Organic Chemicals (Oil) Computers

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The Next Industrial Revolution

Fifth Revolution
(2010? ??)
Based in Developing World? China? India? Brazil? Nanotechnology Molecular Manufacturing

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Accelerated Impacts
Molecular Manufacturing Revolution

Im So pa cie ct ta s l

Industrial Revolutions

Time
2004

Jolt to the System

The ability to build anything we can design, by manipulating molecules under direct computer control, will be a jolt to the system.
Molecular Mill image courtesy of Eric Drexler

2004

Jolt to the System

The ability to build anything we can design, by manipulating molecules under direct computer control, will be a jolt to the system.
Image by John Burch, Lizard Fire Studios

A transformative, disruptive, discontinuous jolt to ecological, economic, political, and social systems on a local, national, and global scale.
2004

Transformative Impact

The combined impacts of nanotechnology will equal the Industrial Revolutions of the last two centuries but with all that change compressed into just a few years.
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The Next Revolution

Not just new products a new means of production Manufacturing systems that make more manufacturing
systems exponential proliferation

Vastly accelerated product improvement cheap

rapid prototyping

Affects all industries and economic sectors

general-purpose technology

Inexpensive raw materials, potentially negligible capital

cost economic discontinuity

Portable, desktop-size factories social disruption Impacts will cross borders global transformation
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Inside a Nanofactory

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Benefits + Risks
An automated, self-contained factory could provide...
Lifesaving medical robots Networked computers for everyone in the world Trillions of dollars of abundance Rapid invention of wondrous products

or or or or

Untraceable weapons of destruction

mass

Networked cameras so governments can watch our every move A vicious scramble to own everything Weapons development fast enough to destabilize any arms race

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Dangers
Economic disruption from an abundance of cheap products Economic oppression from artificially inflated prices Personal risk from criminal or terrorist use Constant intrusive surveillance Oppression from abusive restrictions Social disruption from new products/lifestyles Unstable arms race leading to war Collective environmental damage from unregulated products Black market in molecular manufacturing (increases other risks) Competing nanotechnology programs (increases other risks) . . . and many more

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What is Needed Now

Awareness of the issues Technical research Policy research

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CRN CRN
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Copyright 2004 Copyright 2004

gy sible Nanotechnolo Center for Respon notechnology for Responsible Na Center

Brooklyn, NY, USA Brooklyn, NY, USA

www.Wise-Nano.org

A collaborative project to study the facts and implications of advanced nanotechnology a website for researchers worldwide to work together, helping to build an understanding of the technologies, their effects, and what to do about them.
2004

www.CRNano.org
2004