suny poly tech 2015
TRANSCRIPT
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The State of the FutureThe State of the Future
Ethical, Legal and Social Ethical, Legal and Social Implications of Human Implications of Human EnhancementEnhancement
Linda MacDonald Glenn, JD, LLMLinda MacDonald Glenn, JD, LLM
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BackgroundBackground
• Linda MacDonald Glenn, JD, LLMLinda MacDonald Glenn, JD, LLM, , Attorney, BioethicistAttorney, Bioethicist
• Professor Albany Medical Center, CSUMB, Professor Albany Medical Center, CSUMB, Singularity UniversitySingularity University
• Director, Humanity +Director, Humanity +• Fellow at IEET Fellow at IEET • & recently featured in & recently featured in ““FutureScape with FutureScape with
James Woods” James Woods” on Science Channel.on Science Channel.
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Pearls of Wisdom from smart people Pearls of Wisdom from smart people
• "It is difficult to make predictions, "It is difficult to make predictions, especially about the futureespecially about the future“ –“ –- According to Yogi Berra, or Niels Bohr, or Albert Einstein, or
Mark Twain, or Somebody
Or, as Berra put it, "I never said half the things I really said."
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The Convergence The Convergence
• Nano – Bio – Info – CognoNano – Bio – Info – Cogno• The creation of new beingsThe creation of new beings• As creators, what our moral (& legal) As creators, what our moral (& legal)
responsibilities?responsibilities?
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The Law of Accelerating Returns
So we won’t So we won’t experience 100 years experience 100 years of progress in the 21of progress in the 21stst century century – – it will be more like it will be more like 20,000 years of 20,000 years of progress progress (at today’s rate).(at today’s rate).
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An analysis of the An analysis of the history of technology history of technology shows that shows that technological change technological change is exponential, is exponential, contrary to the contrary to the common-sense common-sense "intuitive linear" view"intuitive linear" view
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Average Life Expectancy (Years)Average Life Expectancy (Years)
Cro Magnon 18
Ancient Egypt 25
1400 Europe 30
1800 Europe & U.S.
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1900 U.S. 48
2002 U.S. 78
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Linear PlotLinear Plot
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Synthetic biologySynthetic biology
http://kck.st/RNVjcuhttp://kck.st/RNVjcu
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Just how small is Nano-sized?Just how small is Nano-sized?
•Nanotechnology is the understanding and control of Nanotechnology is the understanding and control of matter at dimensions between approximately 1 and 7 matter at dimensions between approximately 1 and 7 100 nanometers, where unique phenomena enable 100 nanometers, where unique phenomena enable novel applications.novel applications.
•A nanometer is one-billionth of a meter.A nanometer is one-billionth of a meter.
•A sheet of paper is about 100,000 nanometers thick.A sheet of paper is about 100,000 nanometers thick.
• A single gold atom is about a third of a nanometer A single gold atom is about a third of a nanometer in diameter.in diameter.
• Dimensions between approximately 1 and 100 Dimensions between approximately 1 and 100 nanometers are known as the nanoscale.nanometers are known as the nanoscale.
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Nano-sizes in perspectiveNano-sizes in perspective
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Earlier Detection Earlier Detection
Some examples: Some examples: • Camera Pill to detect early signs of esophageal/ colon Camera Pill to detect early signs of esophageal/ colon
cancer - easier to use and does not require sedation.cancer - easier to use and does not require sedation.• Breath test for diabetes – No more fingers sticks! Breath test for diabetes – No more fingers sticks!
Detecting levels of acetone in breath using Detecting levels of acetone in breath using nanosensors.nanosensors.
• Using nanosensors to analyze volatile organic Using nanosensors to analyze volatile organic compounds (VOCs) to prostate, breast, or colorectal compounds (VOCs) to prostate, breast, or colorectal cancerscancers
• Smart contact lens by SENSIMED continuously Smart contact lens by SENSIMED continuously monitors eye pressure to detect signs of glaucomamonitors eye pressure to detect signs of glaucoma
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High-Tech Healing and CareHigh-Tech Healing and Care
• Implants and ingestiblesImplants and ingestibles• Artificial organs and bionics (aka Artificial organs and bionics (aka
regenerative nanomedicine)regenerative nanomedicine)• Genomics and ImmunotherapyGenomics and Immunotherapy(e.g., Prolia for osteoporosis, Benlysta for (e.g., Prolia for osteoporosis, Benlysta for
LupusLupus
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Human Intelligence Human Intelligence AugmentationAugmentation
• to keep up to keep up with AI with AI
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Extending LongevityExtending Longevity
• A strain of mice A strain of mice that have lived that have lived more than three more than three normal lifespansnormal lifespans
• Should humans Should humans live 200 years?live 200 years?
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Property – Personhood Dichotomy in LawProperty – Personhood Dichotomy in Law
• Historically, nonhuman animals have Historically, nonhuman animals have been considered “property”, been considered “property”,
• Slaves, women, and children were Slaves, women, and children were regarded as mere chattel until mid-to-late regarded as mere chattel until mid-to-late 18001800’’s and early 1900s and early 1900’’ss
• Yet, nonhumans entities, such as Yet, nonhumans entities, such as corporations and ships have been corporations and ships have been recognized and given rights as “persons”recognized and given rights as “persons”
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Humans and Persons Humans and Persons
• All humans are persons BUT, the law All humans are persons BUT, the law says…says…
• All “persons” are NOT humans...for All “persons” are NOT humans...for example, corporations, example, corporations, municipalities, even ships have been municipalities, even ships have been granted status as persons by the US granted status as persons by the US Supreme CourtSupreme Court
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Current Legal SpectrumCurrent Legal Spectrum
• U.S. Supreme Court cases provide a U.S. Supreme Court cases provide a spectrum:spectrum:
• ““NaturalNatural”” Persons (e.g. aliens, minors, Persons (e.g. aliens, minors, illegitimate) toillegitimate) to
• ““JuridicalJuridical”” Persons (e.g., corporations, Persons (e.g., corporations, labor unions, municipalities, labor unions, municipalities, government units.government units.
• Very little in the way of legislative or Very little in the way of legislative or statutory definition statutory definition (and what there is, is problematic) (and what there is, is problematic)
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What Beings Should be Considered Persons?What Beings Should be Considered Persons?
• Fetuses? Fetuses? (Personhood for Embryos Referendum in (Personhood for Embryos Referendum in Colorado) Colorado)
• Animals?Animals?• Artificial Intelligence?Artificial Intelligence?• Categories in between?Categories in between?• Beings with Numerous Neural Beings with Numerous Neural
Implants and Augmentations?Implants and Augmentations?
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Legal and Ethical ConsiderationsLegal and Ethical Considerations
• Rights of the Individual vs. Rights of Persons Rights of the Individual vs. Rights of Persons
• Persons vs. PropertyPersons vs. Property
• Persons -> Persons + Augmentation <-MachinesPersons -> Persons + Augmentation <-Machines
• (Query: How many parts of yourself can you (Query: How many parts of yourself can you replace before you are no longer yourself?) replace before you are no longer yourself?)
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The future?The future?
• Get ready for the Cyborgs – Human Get ready for the Cyborgs – Human Machine MergersMachine Mergers
• We will continually incorporate more We will continually incorporate more and more computer technology into and more computer technology into ourselves and our lives, until we ourselves and our lives, until we become one with it.become one with it.
((It’s already happening! How many of us It’s already happening! How many of us carry our PDAs or wireless carry our PDAs or wireless devices his small wireless computer to our meetings (and devices his small wireless computer to our meetings (and everywhere else). When someone has a question no one can answer, everywhere else). When someone has a question no one can answer, in just a few seconds, we conjure up the answer with Google) in just a few seconds, we conjure up the answer with Google)
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Thank you for your attention!Thank you for your attention!
• For further info, references contact me at For further info, references contact me at [email protected]@csumb.edu