Genetic Engineering and Artificial Intelligence: Promises and Perils
Genetic engineering and its applications in medicine are at the forefront of ethical debates. The concept of savior siblings and designer babies has gained attention, with the potential to heal children and save them from diseases. However, this raises questions about the nature of parental love and the creation of "perfect" children.
Highlight: The Nuffield Council on Bioethics has agreed to genome editing under certain circumstances, despite many laws against it.
The ethical concerns surrounding genetic engineering are complex. Some argue that the benefits outweigh the risks, while others see serious threats to human dignity and equality.
Example: In vitro fertilization and preimplantation genetic diagnosis are existing technologies that raise similar ethical questions.
Artificial intelligence and robotics are also transforming society. Artificial body parts are helping disabled people, but there are concerns about their potential military applications.
Vocabulary: Cyborgs are individuals with both organic and biomechatronic body parts.
Wearable machines and implanted technology offer benefits such as improved health monitoring and increased productivity. However, they also raise concerns about privacy, physical risks, and the potential for hacking.
Definition: Artificial intelligence refers to the simulation of human intelligence in machines that are programmed to think and learn like humans.
The development of AI-powered technologies like self-driving cars presents ethical dilemmas, such as how to program decision-making in life-or-death situations.
Quote: "Computers are faster than us but not emotional."
The future of AI is debated between techno-skeptics who fear a dystopian outcome and digital utopians who see great potential benefits.
