Editing Technology (section)

==Emerging technologies==
{{main|Emerging technologies}}
[[File:Army invests in 3-D bioprinting to treat injured Soldiers.jpg|thumb|Experimental 3D printing of muscle tissue|alt=Photo of a scientist looking at a microscope pointed at a petri dish]]
Emerging technologies are novel technologies whose development or practical applications are still largely unrealized. They include [[nanotechnology]], [[biotechnology]], [[robotics]], [[3D printing]], and [[blockchain]]s.

In 2005, futurist [[Ray Kurzweil]] claimed the next technological revolution would rest upon advances in [[genetics]], [[nanotechnology]], and [[robotics]], with robotics being the most impactful of the three technologies.<ref>{{Cite book |last=Kurzweil |first=Ray |title=The Singularity is Near |publisher=Penguin |year=2005 |isbn=978-1101218884 |chapter=GNR: Three Overlapping Revolutions}}</ref> [[Genetic engineering]] will allow far greater control over human biological nature through a process called [[Directed evolution (transhumanism)|directed evolution]]. Some thinkers believe that this may shatter our sense of self, and have urged for renewed public debate exploring the issue more thoroughly;<ref>{{Cite journal |last=Kompridis |first=N. |year=2009 |title=Technology's challenge to democracy: What of the human |url=http://www.parrhesiajournal.org/parrhesia08/parrhesia08_kompridis.pdf |journal=Parrhesia |volume=8 |issue=1 |pages=20–33 |access-date=21 February 2011 |archive-date=4 October 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221004185314/http://www.parrhesiajournal.org/parrhesia08/parrhesia08_kompridis.pdf |url-status=live }}</ref> others fear that directed evolution could lead to eugenics or extreme social inequality. [[Nanotechnology]] will grant us the ability to manipulate matter "at the molecular and atomic scale",<ref>{{Cite news|date=19 April 2016|title=Ray Kurzweil Predicts Three Technologies Will Define Our Future|url=https://singularityhub.com/2016/04/19/ray-kurzweil-predicts-three-technologies-will-define-our-future/|access-date=10 May 2021|website=Singularity Hub|last1=McShane|first1=Sveta|archive-date=10 May 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210510191934/https://singularityhub.com/2016/04/19/ray-kurzweil-predicts-three-technologies-will-define-our-future/|url-status=live}}</ref> which could allow us to reshape ourselves and our environment in fundamental ways.<ref>{{Cite book |last1=Poole |first1=C. P. Jr. |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=XfzgEoY9SNkC |title=Introduction to Nanotechnology |last2=Owens |first2=F. J. |year=2003 |publisher=John Wiley & Sons |isbn=978-0471079354}}</ref> Nanobots could be used within the human body to destroy cancer cells or form new body parts, blurring the line between biology and technology.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Vince |first=G. |date=3 July 2003 |title=Nanotechnology may create new organs |url=https://www.newscientist.com/article/dn3916-nanotechnology-may-create-new-organs/ |access-date=11 September 2022 |website=New Scientist |archive-date=11 September 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220911220109/https://www.newscientist.com/article/dn3916-nanotechnology-may-create-new-organs/ |url-status=live }}</ref> Autonomous robots have undergone rapid progress, and are expected to replace humans at many dangerous tasks, including [[search and rescue]], [[bomb disposal]], [[firefighting]], and war.<ref>{{Cite book |last1=Lee |first1=Sukhan |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=65-q7fi9yrcC&dq=progress+in+robotics&pg=PA4 |title=Recent Progress in Robotics: Viable Robotic Service to Human: An Edition of the Selected Papers from the 13th International Conference on Advanced Robotics |last2=Suh |first2=Il Hong |year= 2008 |publisher=Springer Science & Business Media |isbn=978-3540767282 |page=3  |access-date=13 September 2022 |archive-date=4 October 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221004185316/https://books.google.com/books?id=65-q7fi9yrcC&dq=progress+in+robotics&pg=PA4 |url-status=live }}</ref>

Estimates on the advent of [[artificial general intelligence]] vary, but half of machine learning experts surveyed in 2018 believe that AI will "accomplish every task better and more cheaply" than humans by 2063, and automate all human jobs by 2140.<ref>{{Cite journal |last1=Grace |first1=K. |last2=Salvatier |first2=J. |last3=Dafoe |first3=A. |last4=Zhang |first4=B. |last5=Evans |first5=O. |date=31 July 2018 |title=Viewpoint: When Will AI Exceed Human Performance? Evidence from AI Experts |url=https://jair.org/index.php/jair/article/view/11222 |journal=Journal of Artificial Intelligence Research|volume=62 |pages=729–754 |doi=10.1613/jair.1.11222 |issn=1076-9757 |s2cid=8746462 |access-date=11 September 2022 |archive-date=4 October 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221004185317/https://jair.org/index.php/jair/article/view/11222 |url-status=live |doi-access=free }}</ref> This expected technological unemployment has led to calls for increased emphasis on [[computer science]] education and debates about [[universal basic income]]. Political science experts predict that this could lead to a rise in extremism, while others see it as an opportunity to usher in a [[post-scarcity economy]].