Editing Molecular nanotechnology (section)

===Risks===
Molecular nanotechnology is one of the technologies that some analysts believe could lead to a [[technological singularity]], in which technological growth has accelerated to the point of having unpredictable effects. Some effects could be beneficial, while others could be detrimental, such as the utilization of molecular nanotechnology by an unfriendly [[artificial general intelligence]].<ref>{{Cite book|last=Yudkowsky|first=Eliezer|title=Global catastrophic risks|publisher=Oxford University Press|year=2008|isbn=978-0-19-960650-4|editor-last=Bostrom|editor-first=Nick|location=New York|pages=308–345|chapter=Artificial Intelligence as a Positive and Negative Factor in Global Risk|oclc=993268361|editor-last2=Ćirković|editor-first2=Milan M.}}</ref> 
Some feel that molecular nanotechnology would have daunting risks.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.crnano.org/dangers.htm |title=Nanotechnology: Dangers of Molecular Manufacturing |publisher=Crnano.org |access-date=2010-09-05}}</ref> It conceivably could enable cheaper and more destructive conventional [[weapon]]s.  Also, molecular nanotechnology might permit [[weapons of mass destruction]] that could self-replicate, as [[virus (biology)|virus]]es and [[cancer]] cells do when attacking the human body. Commentators generally agree that, in the event molecular nanotechnology were developed, its [[self-replication]] should be permitted only under very controlled or "inherently safe" conditions.

A fear exists that nanomechanical robots, if achieved, and if designed to self-replicate using naturally occurring materials (a difficult task), could consume the entire planet in their hunger for raw materials,<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.rfreitas.com/Nano/Ecophagy.htm |title=Some Limits to Global Ecophagy |publisher=Rfreitas.com |access-date=2010-09-05}}</ref> or simply crowd out natural life, out-competing it for energy (as happened historically when [[blue-green algae]] appeared and outcompeted earlier life forms).  Some commentators have referred to this situation as the "[[grey goo]]" or "[[ecophagy]]" scenario.  [[K. Eric Drexler]] considers an accidental "grey goo" scenario extremely unlikely and says so in later editions of ''Engines of Creation''.

In light of this perception of potential danger, the [[Foresight Institute]], founded by Drexler, has prepared a set of guidelines<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.foresight.org/guidelines/current.html |title=Foresight Guidelines on Molecular Nanotechnology |publisher=Foresight.org |date=2006-04-06 |access-date=2010-09-05}}</ref> for the ethical development of nanotechnology.  These include the banning of free-foraging self-replicating pseudo-organisms on the Earth's surface, at least, and possibly in other places.