Re: NANO: U.S. Federal Nanotechnology Research Initiative?

Eliezer S. Yudkowsky (sentience@pobox.com)
Mon, 22 Mar 1999 10:54:44 -0600

I'm not sure whether this is better or worse than Zyvex going it alone. On one hand, the US will be a heck of a lot less naive when somebody finally wakes up and realizes they have the power to take over the world. On the other hand, Zyvex, faced with the actuality, might lose the blinders.

I think, on the whole, I have to vote for the US on this one. The faster nanotech is developed (after it's found) and the longer it can be kept secret, the less the chance of a nanowar between equals.

The primary problem is that official recognition increases the chance of other countries jumping on the bandwagon, creating an arms race.
-- 

        sentience@pobox.com          Eliezer S. Yudkowsky
         http://pobox.com/~sentience/AI_design.temp.html
          http://pobox.com/~sentience/singul_arity.html
Disclaimer: Unless otherwise specified, I'm not telling you everything I think I know.