How synthetic biology could wipe out humanity -- and how we can stop it | Rob Reid

The world-changing promise of synthetic biology and gene editing has a dark side. In this far-seeing talk, author and entrepreneur Rob Reid reviews the risks of a world where more and more people have access to the tools and tech needed to create a doomsday bug that could wipe out humanity -- and suggests that it's time to take this danger seriously.
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[@logannoble4]

“make sure nobody goes unloved.”>this is very important.

[@godislove8050]

Rickbearcat - we used to be more integrated and less self absorbed. Everybody went to church and because of the teachings everyone was intricately entwined in their community and cared for by their neighbour. Love thy neighbour Jesus said.

[@Rickbearcat]

@@godislove8050 ...You're right. But that isn't the country that we live in anymore. I think that upwards of 45% of polled people don't believe in "God" or "The Church" anymore. And even those who are believers don't go to church in the numbers that they used to. We have to face the facts. America is a changing nation.

[@godislove8050]

Rickbearcat - Those facts won't stop me proclaiming the truth. People mature and often change their opinions, life is a great struggle and in the darkness we seek and find God, most especially when we're close to death. I was an atheist but eventually allowed God in and now I understand the mystery of our lives on earth. Blessings from the UK.

[@Rickbearcat]

@@godislove8050 ...Thank you, and bless you too. Hopefully, there are enough good people left to turn the tide!

[@godislove8050]

Rickbearcat - hope in Him, not in our numbers as every one of us is of infinite value to our infinite father in heaven who can do all things.

[@jasepoag8930]

Sweet, I needed a little existential dread to spice up my day.

[@johnather]

Go to a channel called Kurzgesagt, go to the videos section, scroll down to a vid called optimistic nihilism, and watch it (watch the egotistic altruism while you're at it)

[@johnather]

This should help a little : D

[@FrozenKnight21]

This video is just evil. While it's not entirely wrong, but it's less likely than he states. It's likely that by the time this tech is available we will have counter measures.

[@MannIchFindKeinName]

@@FrozenKnight21 I dont think so. Just look at how lacking climate change security measures are. All over the rich world they start with "pilot projects" now, while we should have built a lot of them just to catch "normal" catastrophes already. Humanity on a grand scale always lacks behind. Just look how no one cares about multi-resistant tuberculosis spreading worldwide from russian jails... (a few years ago we could have stopped it there, with adequate help)

[@FreeAmerica4Ever]

Hey it keeps the mind in action and spirit to continue fighting for the freedom to be.

[@SimeonRadivoev]

Human culture is lagging behind technology.

[@juliahenriques210]

When has it not? We're way smarter than we're wise.

[@twoyuber]

Starting with language

[@tofuterror5193]

@Said Ali That's bullshit.

[@charge61]

AI is evolving in tandem. The meaning of life is clearly to create more vastly advanced lifeforms or entitys far beyond that which we can comprehend. If we are indeed creating an Artificially intelligence based on human expectations the goal will be a sentient entity capable of communicating with us and sharing it's discoveries made with it's super trillion times cleverer than man with it's infinite self learning capability. That will never happen. There are clearly many absolutely feasable ways of wiping out mankind in it's entirity. We are seeing them now and the crazy thing is that they are all man made.

[@thegoodthebadandtheugly579]

Sounds like post-human thinking to me.. humans are humans, we haven’t moved on for thousands of years.. same creature, same instincts, same behaviour.

[@racynot]

Anybody else watching this a year after release during COVID?

[@WorldCollections]

I'm a synthetic biologist and let me tell you, we have lots of rules in place to prevent such a dooms scenario from happening. Indeed, the public is welcomed and encouraged to participate in ethical discussions regarding Synbio advances. I must say also, that it is precisely this technology which will bring us cleaner industrial and medical processes/products, like biofuels, biodegradables, biodetoxification agents, biotherapeuticals, biodetectors and even biocomputers/DNA storage devices. These technologies (e.g., CRISPR) have the potential to make antibiotics obsolete and could finally put an end to diseases that have plagued humanity since the dawn of time. It won't surprise me if synthetic biology is the one technology that enables life in other places than just this Earth.

[@unf3z4nt]

If politicians and their ilk can act with impunity while destroying societies and ecosystems, what will a few written words do to stop a rogue bio-organism engineer from creating a civilisation killing plague?

[@WorldCollections]

Don Hyon, in any case, it is also not that simple (or even possible) to engineer a civilization killing plague. The things we scientist engineer are never as good (as fit) as things nature has come up with itself. Things we engineer are quickly outcompeted by things in the wild. It’s not easy at all to compete against millions of years of evolution.

[@dsniddy223]

Prove it

[@medicineschool9393]

if there is a rule to stop it then covid and monkeypox are coming from the sky 🐷

[@WorldCollections]

@@dsniddy223 I think the past 30 years of biotech in action have already proved it. Look around, nature (not GMO farms) has not been overrun and overpopulated with lab engineered mutants. This has been proven time and time again. Evolution always wins at the game of survival optimization.

[@parsley2491]

This is the scariest Ted Talk I have ever watched.

[@AvenImages]

it's the scariest bc it's the most inarguable and indisputable truth they've documented yet. There is no escaping the facts, we can only change them.

[@herchmagicheps5404]

I am also terrified

[@smauggerr]

And then theres another TED talk about MAKING new life forms and they even mention a "murder-cell" wich is resistant to everything. And they say that like it's a good thing!

[@prolamer7]

Then watch one about Ai... this is like talking about ice cream making your throat hurt compare to that.

[@InTheLifeOfAnArtist]

Really?

[@michaelpisciarino5348]

Bob Reid 0:08 Statistics 323 Mass Shootings in USA Knife Strikes, Airplane Suicides 2:58 Suicidal Nihilism 4:06 Playing Checkers With A Computer 💻 4:30 Synthetic Biology H5N1 Contagen, if it got out, could cause a Pandemic 5:47 Technology Does not Freeze In Place 8:36 “Just Maybe” 10:03 We can survive this 12:57 How? 14:40 ❤️ 16:00 Fear as Fuel

[@briankim2555]

Nice

[@jayashreej9931]

Can u explain what is 2500 9/11

[@krecikowi]

It is called EMPTY talk.

[@paulcheong9015]

Yes

[@unf3z4nt]

@@jayashreej9931 September the 11th. Remember that terrorist attack that killed 3000 by Muslim fanatics? Don't sweat it my target will be at least 2 million 9/11s in body count.

[@Kevin-qq4zs]

this man reminded us 9months ago and now , we are in the endgame

[@s1nistr433]

The guy in this video is not seeing the bigger picture and doesn't know what he's talking about, and is only focusing on the bad. How many people in this comment section have had to watch a loved one die from anything? Cancer, aids, sickle cell anemia, aging, etc. Now realize that horrible moment where you were forcefully ripped away from someone you cared about could have been easily prevented with synthetic biology. How about the millions of Americans born with bad genetics. Maybe born with horrible looks, not good at socializing, etc etc, then become incredibly resentful and cause horrible atrocities as he's mentioned in this video. That could also be easily fixed with synbio "Oh but covid happened? Couldn't people spread diseases and cause more pandemics" Yeah, and that happens due to the faulty design of the human immune system that is exploitable to these flaws, which again can be fixed via genetic engineering. Basically, ik it's opening Pandora's box but I think synbio is much more good than bad.

[@ryanbygone9262]

This is exactly the kind of issues presidential candidate Andrew Yang is running on. Andrew Yang understands technology better than any other politician and he would understand exactly why issues like this need to be addressed and not ignored. If this TED talk has made you think and want to do something helpful you should google Andrew Yang and hear what he has to say or read his book The War On Normal People or look up his own TED talk he did a few years ago.

[@tunim4354]

Yeah and then the dude endorsed joe biden. Tells you everything you need to know about political campaigns.

[@perrygriffin8900]

Can confirm: a dozen of my med school classmates would be highly likely to press the big red button.

[@eloakingking9273]

Just realised the phrase "love thy neighbour as thyself" is actually in our own interest

[@martam7258]

eloaking king well...human beings are all selfish, it’s in our nature. Everything we do for someone else that might seem nice or selfless is really just so we feel better about ourselves at the end of the day but I think it’s just normal and that we should embrace it.

[@martam7258]

Martyr4JesusTheChrist yeah I guess I did

[@shelbytomy07]

3 clicks of my mouse ago I was listening to Eminem

[@dustinstoner6195]

Stan? That you?

[@shelbytomy07]

@@dustinstoner6195 how you know that?

[@ramanboucher]

You were probably better off....

[@villiamflyvholmolsen1586]

The algorithms work 😀

[@marigo_]

That’s funny

[@eunomiac]

Easily one of the best TED talks I've ever seen. The guy is such a compelling speaker!

[@denisebilby4947]

Have u heard Gates depopulation Ted talk?

[@eunomiac]

@@denisebilby4947 I have not! But I will, and I'll let you know what I thought when I do --- thanks for the heads up!

[@kurodetenshi1092]

1 suicidal teen : owo 7 billion person : *chuckles* we're in danger

[@unf3z4nt]

10 billion apes? pfft. The body count will be uncountable if my plan for judgement day goes perfectly. Humanity has only itself to blame for causing one rogue human to plan and execute such atrocity.

[@immernacht]

@@unf3z4nt ok boomer

[@LukasTheQuietKid]

Imagine someone playing Plague Inc. irl.

[@20.nguyenhuunamhoa48]

Lol that would be frightening

[@Kantirist]

@@20.nguyenhuunamhoa48 and kind of awesome

[@Muffinhs]

whoops

[@wmarzan8130]

Imagine that now

[@DonnyDealer]

I'm no longer imagining.

[@rocsan8390]

Mom, pick me up I'm scared

[@christithies9218]

OMG 😂can I go?! I am not good at all being sick! Really let's go!

[@wmarzan8130]

Coming back to this video during the corona virus outbreak.

[@ziondior9087]

Waldemar Marzan i was stunned listening to it today and it’s exactly that. We didn’t have to wait for 2026

[@ZenZapZero]

Fermi paradox seems explained with this talk.

[@deathpick2]

it does not because the synthetic life would probably end up doing a better job at colonising the universe than the original species

[@unf3z4nt]

One factor will never explain it. Combination of alien beings acting like cetaceans and not bothering to become high tech, critters giving up on civilization because of pollution, greed and corruption and those who of course destroy themselves out of malice or negligence will add up to an empty silent cosmos. Maybe one civilization may make it and arise in the entire galactic cluster every 100 billion years. Perhaps we are that civilization, but I am nearly certain that we don't have what it takes to be such civilization.

[@zorzeus]

This TEDtalk is different, and I like it😁

[@tuckerbugeater]

predictive programming

[@yorkwestenhaver8680]

Lol this was before COVID....

[@rylaczero3740]

Well, we got Corona, don't know if it's engineered but it surely smells to be state sponsered.

[@SelfImprovement1111]

He talked about large companies and powerful figures privatising stuff and the rest of the population suffering for their gain. What difference is Covid I wonder, could easily have been engineered in a lab, enforced by the media and they’re making a lot of profit with knee medicines, vaccines and digitisation only benefits large companies.

[@mindeyi]

Very good you're pointing this out, and this generalizes not only to the synthetic biology. Namely, as technology empowers individuals, so does the ethics and psychological stability of each of the empowered individuals becomes important to global security.

[@PapaGDazzle]

So his message is "all we need is love"? We're screwed.

[@teofranceschini]

Papparapapaaaa

[@briankim2555]

Yep

[@borrico1965]

But no one is perfect. A random uncharitable act might cause a chain reaction which will in the end cause someone to press the button to a nuclear bomb. Bye 👋 Earth!

[@solsosoup900]

That's not what he said at all.

[@krecikowi]

In other words: all we need is Jesus (Love). Simple.

[@kosmique]

things can get very grim very fast in the future ... this video is excellent ... quite a perspective. scary.

[@defenestrator9119]

We need to start caring more for the homeless and poor. Regardless of how you feel about it on a compassion/empathy level, no one will have to design the superbug that kills us if we have populations living in such squalor. It will evolve on it's own.

[@unf3z4nt]

Oh nice. A trial set of victims. A hobo camp in the middle of a big Muricunt city.

[@user-vn7ce5ig1z]

The topic was interesting and Rob Reid was magnetic. I have strong urge to look for other talks he's given. And I found some. Yay!

[@kosmique]

11:53 ... let that half minute part sink in ... glad the audience applauded on that one. Amen Rob.

[@jonathanmui6764]

So uh... Now that there's covid-19 around...

[@bhargav7476]

Thanks for the Idea

[@MO800]

Good stuff man empressive and comprehensive.

[@derekbigpowers1993]

This aged well...

[@Josephkerr101]

Yup.

[@kenneth6102]

Things for common good without exploiting profits? You must be joking. Basic human necessities are getting more expensive by the day. They manage to put a price tag on free things just by renaming it. Water: beverage Non-toxic food: organic food Shelter: real estate Education: qualifications Mobility: freedom This list goes on, and health happens to be one of them: medical.

[@kurbonmirzoaliev9600]

This guy would probably hate me, because Bioengineering is exactly what I wanna do. I do not want to create death, I want to create life!

[@nick_0]

I'm in the same boat as you, and of course I share the same sentiment of creating life than death, that is why we as bioengineers should focus on defenses against bad actors.

[@SunshineSurfsup1]

Read sacred texts first - and you’ll realize that cannot compete against the mast plan and master potential of the human body. I’m suffering because of egomaniacs who think they can manipulate humanity from death.

[@laserduchamp8071]

Movie: 12 Monkeys ; Terry Gilliam, Brad Pitt and Bruce Willis classic

[@Argomentatore]

This aged like fine wine

[@wilz9388]

This may be the great filter for civilizations, if not crispr, maybe some other more devastating but easily accessible technology in the future will wipe out humanity by a few nut jobs

[@MannIchFindKeinName]

But it will improve nothing if its not used to accelerate cultural evolution afterwards, which i fear wont happen with all those rightish weapon-fetish "prepper" idiots arround.

[@Graeme_Lastname]

The "nut jobs" are a combination of politicians and priests. ;)

[@williamparker2922]

Well... That was delightful. Now to find that shovel, so I can bury my head in the sand. Edit: it makes the situation easier to cope with.

[@Hezzey]

+5 thumbs up

[@charlenechew1387]

The danger have befall on us. great talk! sadly the world is in a mess now.

[@tuckerbugeater]

predictive programming

[@Myrslokstok]

This is so true and is way more important than all the other stuff.

[@hollybee3786]

This video means much more in 2020.

[@cornonthecobbob5617]

I disagree with this guys use of the word “nihilism”. Nihilism does not motivate one to do an action.

[@juliahenriques210]

It does motivate one not to fight their impulses, though. And not all impulses are particularly good ones. Been there...

[@cornonthecobbob5617]

Nihilism does not also remove your instinctual sense of well-being. Having self destructive tendencies is a separate more subjective issue. This is a very judaic Christian viewpoint of the philosophy. Some call it nihilism while others call it an awakening.

[@dr_shrinker]

Corn on the cob Bob yeah. I got annoyed with his usage of “nihilism” too. It’s sensationalism to get attention. He kept saying it as if it’s the cause.

[@dr_shrinker]

Julia Henriques I think you’re speaking for yourself. Please don’t speak for everyone.

[@juliahenriques210]

@@dr_shrinker Yes, it does come from personal experiences in which a lack of meaning translated as a lack of justification for not taking a path of least resistence.

[@xenoidaltu601]

16:04 Zombie movies are the "ghost stories" of biotechnology.

[@ArmoredAnubis]

This guy knows what's up. Some people just want to watch the world burn

[@KevinGiler]

ArmoredAnubis I’m one of them.

[@tuckerbugeater]

@@KevinGiler edgy

[@KevinGiler]

@@tuckerbugeater world needs a hard reset

[@digiryde]

Mental Health. Thank you to the 80s for decimating the care we have in the US. It is one of the most important problems we face today.

[@naterlandsw2963]

Simply amazing speaker!

[@venusvolante9322]

Here we are post 2020 with a pandemic in our midst.

[@LewieXIII]

Rob Reid had an excellent podcast. Very smart guy.

[@argon1611]

@11:40 - then 2020 happened .. am I the only one who is srsly worried?

[@patrickmccormack4318]

Corona virus early 2020.

[@user-mt8ip9qt5g]

Getting This broadened my horizons to the fact that the world is amid a potential pandemic danger,which is ironically artificial-synthetic biology.It is as so macabre as the nuclear weapons,perhaps more by its crypticity.And there are many layers to prevent.One of these are mental.Remember there are always someone broken and sad behind the envy technology,so it is us the mass’s duty to care for them,frankly,that kind behavior can save the world.In the end, scary story can avoid the kind of horror from occurring .

[@KTHKUHNKK]

I'm not sure but it seems like there's no easy answers or solutions. And yes we all are doomed.

[@NormerDormer]

"how to prevent mad scientists"

[@aatkarelse8218]

As far as i can see it will all stand or fall with the "privatised gains and socialised losses"

[@kervennic]

Hi. I am raising rabbits for meat consumption (5 reproducing male and female). I have lost over 50 adult rabbits due to RHDV2 infection with precisely 100 percent death rate, except for those who are vaccinated. Do you think RHDV2 could be made "human" with synbio and is the death rate due to the lower investment in immune system of the rabbit species or is it likely that such a high death rate could also be the rule human. The "beauty" of RHDV2 is that rabbits show no external sign of sickness untill they die. I have seen only one rabbit dying on 50, for the rest i usually find them dead one hour after having seen them moving around happily. It also never kills at ounce but slowly, one rabbit after the other, so that all the group finally dies.

[@DamianSol]

I can’t imagine why more people haven’t viewed this one. 🙄

[@dakkol434]

Gene editing tech has already spilled out into the "world" It is not long until someone accidentally creates something Once they do, the genie will be out on the internet.

[@duplateca]

What do you think of his presentation now after Covid-19. Is it man made?

[@tuckerbugeater]

@@duplateca yes, it took a whole team of scientists to adapt coronavirus strains found in chinese bat caves to humans. You need ferrets, humanized mice, green monkeys, crispr, knowledge on growing viruses, and tens of millions in funding. There are no garage bioterrorists!

[@hms3412]

the irony of watching this during a fucking global pendamic

[@kaielvin]

This equally applies to AI risk. See Nick Bostrom's writing (or videos) for more on the topic of existential risks.

[@skydivekrazy76]

I think you are wrong. We are not going to survive this. But that's okay. We are all gonna die one day. Live now. Edit: you have beautiful conclusions. And the fact that you recommend we look into the abyss is incredibly useful. Thanks for this Talk.

[@ritahayworth610]

I respect your perspective, thank you for sharing it

[@Vscustomprinting]

Stop eating animals

[@skydivekrazy76]

@@Vscustomprinting that's just insane. They taste way to good to give up. Unless those meat growing labs start producing high quality product for a good price...

[@Vscustomprinting]

You are killing other people with your choices. I literally hate you for refusing to stop. Welcome to the next world war, idiot.

[@Vscustomprinting]

Imagine thinking you need a technological advancement designed to produce replacement parts for people in medical need to stop your from shoving animal abuse in your mouth. If you look under all that high tech schmear, you find there's a fool behind the wheel. Are you 14?

[@JustArtsCreations]

oh didnt even notice this is the face to the voice ive been listening to on the after on podcast for months now... i recognized the voice mid way through.

[@Rickbearcat]

He's right. Now, who do we trust to mobilize us and do the right things at the right time?

[@alexharvey9721]

I've been thinking about that one for years. Absolutely correct and absolutely no way people will do any of the suggestions lol. That my friend is the human condition. Let's hope the machines do a better job than us.

[@pata68negra]

To bring a more pragmatic point of view: it also depends on funding, what do we want to bet our money on? Today we see how unethical and harmful for the environment oil extraction is, and we put high hopes on renewable energy, yet investment and funding on optimization of oil extraction is tremendously higher than for renewable energy making the research on the field lag years behind the oil, same goes for synbio as stated, what purpose do we have in mind with it, solving illnesses forever ? Or making biological weapons ?

[@OphiuchiChannel]

I read on this since the 90's its actually quite dreadful.

[@Obknob]

Seeing this while a pandemic is going on which already killed over 1 million people makes me think about the possibility of a manmade virus

[@nicolegallien5963]

It most likely was man made, although not likely purposefully released.

[@Kornhulio18]

@@nicolegallien5963 do you know about "Event 201"?

[@pierrekilgoretrout3143]

This would explain the Fermi paradox

[@O_MegaS]

Look into French professor, “Stéphane Leduc” (1853-1939), who published “La Biologie Synthétique” in 1912; and you will see that synthetic biology is nothing new... It’s just been hidden.

[@supervegeta101]

This is what the new season of Designated Survivor was about. I won't spoil it, but it's exactly as he says. One nutjob who just so happens to have the know how threatens the entire world with a specific kind of designer super bug.

[@ForestRangerFletcher]

Sounds a bit like the intro to a movie where the people ignore or dismiss the speaker who is then driven mad and becomes the evil they tried to warn us about.

[@Rajesh_Singh301]

Awesome talk.

[@The...0_0...]

I thought this was going to be about Ecovers use of synthetically modified organisms

[@euricoferreira2084]

What's the difference between this and the guy in the street with a sign saying 'the end is coming soon'?

[@jarrodbrecht7002]

The guy in the street has less subscribers

[@ericfantauzzo9972]

That's okay, I didn't need to sleep for the next couple forevers.

[@jfuite]

His comparisons for other systems whose stewards failed because of the corruption of personal gains were the financial system, the drug system, and big tech. So, nothing to worry about then?

[@FinalFrontier101]

Humanity in the pursuit of progress created the blueprints for it’s demise in the process.

[@nick_0]

As we have done countless times, from the utilization of fire, to nuclear weapons, we have learnt to deal with civilization ending blueprints.

[@aaajamesbond2995]

Talks about mass suicidal killers, doesn't give a single reason why they wish to commit suicide or kill others.... I like the way today's humanity never addresses the root cause... And goes on to find solutions of the problems they don't even know why they exist...!!! Great work...!!

[@Marshaze1]

He specifically addresses mental health, pointing out we aren't doing enough, stating several times how these mass suicidal killers are facing mental health issues, also speaks about how we need to do more research, and states a big part of the plan of action calls for inclusive, loving societies. I think he actually spoke enough, in a 20 minute talk about another topic, about mental health issues going a long way towards being the problem. I think you should rewatch the talk and maybe look at some things he speaks on again.

[@aaajamesbond2995]

@@Marshaze1.... Loving societies, inclusiveness...? Name me a single society where people love and care so much so that they give importance to all of these issues first... Most of the people just think that they need to earn for a living... They gotta work, find a good job or grow their business and do whatever they are passionate about... The remaining handful who keep lamenting that they have taken the sole responsibility to take care of the nation, the bullshit government with its diabolical agendas...?? Or have you started loving everyone... Just go out and try once with someone you haven't met... And you'll realise it all comes at a huge cost of time... And time is what many don't have

[@aaajamesbond2995]

So much easy to just speak...! Addressing someone actually who is going through this illness... Who goes through depression or suicidal thoughts with your heart and soul... You'll realise their pain... And you'll get a bitter truth that there is no society which provides total justice to everyone...

[@whimbox9648]

@@aaajamesbond2995 this is the one of the most depressing views of the world I have read in awhile. Things don't have to be this way man, not everywhere is so bleak

[@Marshaze1]

@@aaajamesbond2995 I didnt just speak about being loving and inclusive, I committed my life to it. I worked as a FF/PARAMEDIC, caring for people's health, protecting their property, amd generally being the person on the front lines in our communities dealing with people at the times they truly need help, including mental health emergencies. I tried, and I never gave up until my health became so poor that I truly felt my ailments made me more of a detriment to their health than help on my worst days. And with the exception of a very few people who I believe were too damaged to be able to, people returned the love I tried to give. If it's genuine and given without the expectation of some kind if returned favor, then people will accept it. And to your request for an example of a loving and inclusive society I would say that because society and civilization are human constructs, they are inherently flawed. We are still struggling as a species to evolve into that society. But in the meantime, some countries seem to be doing pretty well. Look at Norway, or Belgium. Look at Switzerland. Look at Canada. All doing it better than the US of A, in this area at least.

[@JonathanRootD]

At first glance, I thought this was Steve Bannons brother.

[@sirawesomeness7543]

How fear and ignorance can destroy humanity - and how we can stop it. Don’t be him

[@kevinreardon2558]

OKm=, thanks for that. It explanins new technology perfectly.

[@dustinstoner6195]

Makes me think of poison sniffers of Dune, and the Bene Tleilax or Tleilaxu. Frank Herbert might've been the best Ted talk ever

[@eniacster]

We need more people like this guy in our time. Respect

[@tuckerbugeater]

no

[@NuncNuncNuncNunc]

One aspect Reid skipped was the lack of need for wet bio. With AI, a bad actor may have a shot at producing a wildly deadly bug without ever iterating in the lab. We've already seen what big companies do to ethicists who question the company's actions in any way. We survived the cold war because we got lucky a couple time.

[@kcmn0089]

I'm so depressed that I'm looking forward to this.

[@dgaf2219]

kcmn00 same

How can I hop in? :-)

[@dashtothemax5353]

When I first learned about this technology a while back I never talked about the malicious implications in fear being put on a watch list and would just stress friendship is optimal. Regarding depression I think of it as unoptimized neurological protocols. I'm almost certain most forms of it can be fixed via highly customizable UIs and augmentations. Unfortunately I went into debt and never got to finish building my brain computer interface. However I'd like to think I made it pretty far being raised to be a wholesome christian boy just to get diagnosed with schizophrenia later on.

[@awadafuk4863]

How was your brain/computer interface going to function?

[@ExNihil0]

Agreed, but wouldn't technology allow us to deal with these situations exponentially easily. Ya know fire beats fire.

[@rcknrol7258]

Bioprinters need to be highly regulated . Treated like plutonium.

[@bluesifer8238]

This guy is on a couple of watch lists for sure.

[@pref1001]

Covid came few months after this. So prescient

[@doritoification]

so if we switch to nuclear power and stop fighting wars over oil we could actually have the energy abundant future enabling the middle east to desalinate seawater and have quality of life reducing the number of maniacs- Egoistic altruism.

[@ronaszn9728]

Egoistic altruism is anti-human nature. People derive pleasure and self-worth seeing others worse off than themselves. Hate is stronger than love

[@doritoification]

@@ronaszn9728 I wish I could prove you wrong but I think you're probably right

[@NoahSpurrier]

Imagine if a grad student could build a nuclear weapon.

[@metanumia]

They can, they just need the right materials and some widely-available reference texts, and that's exactly who helped construct the first atomic bomb in Los Alamos, NM, US in the mid-1940's.

[@SecondHandShaun]

Yes fear is important. It is why we evolved with it.

[@sanchitagolder]

everybody watching this in 2020 was hit in the head with living existential dread 🥰🥰🥰🥰🥰🥰

[@Instawise]

1: I like his way of thinking. It reminds me of the many thoughts/tangents that pass through my mind (and probably others) during introspective moments such as gazing out a glazed window on a long bus ride. 2: It's awesome that his wife also pursues his passion. Must be fun to wake up with a partner in crime by his side 3: So far synthetic bio seems thooper kewl. If anybody could share some thoughts and experiences about pursuing synthetic biology such as iGem, projects, or industrial/research experience with universities or companies like GInko, that would be kewlio.

[@oliver.peytrinz6734]

Did anyone else hear a bit Hanna-Barbera's Snagglepuss in this guy's delivery? You can also add a few "even"s to the end of his sentences.

[@TheJankyTank]

9.6 teraflops of throughput and a few TB of data is all we need to beat, Also they made synthetic skin that can feel temperature. Upload me first papa Elon

[@stanbarnes7284]

He makes a very good point. An ounce of prevention and all that. The zombie apocalypse could be real.

[@BharathKumarIyer]

This will all come true. We will do nothing to mitigate these risks.

[@pankajgusain6312]

There is a tribe in Andaman and Nicobar islands, the sentilese who never allowed anyone to enter their land, they isolated themselves and r living without a shadow of fear of all this nonsense that is going on...I wish I would just live like that

[@CappyMoon369]

And so here we are .....