Drexler Clarifies Grey Goo Scenario

b00le writes "The BBC says that the scientist many regard as the father of nanotechnology has backed away from his famous claim that runaway nanomachines could turn the planet into 'grey goo'. Eric Drexler now says nanomachines that self-replicate exponentially are unlikely ever to enter widespread use. So that's all right, then, but he also said 'tiny machines would need close control' - which not everyone would agree with. I always imagined some kind of emergent behaviour would, er, emerge." Bill Joy is still suitably pessimistic.

Comments

Many?

[pmj]

Many people regard him as the father of nanotech? Like who? The media likes to play him up as somehow being more important than he is (such as having him publicly argue with Richard Smalley), but in reality he is a crank. His real peer-reviewed papers are publications from 20 years ago. His "famous" books are simply regurgitations of already well known physics and chemistry. He appeals to non-scientist well-wishers and visionaries (he seems to have a fascintation with life-extension, in an unhealthy way), but to actual scientists, he is a crank. Plain and simple.

Re:Gey Goo

[Himring]

Gey Goo

Gey goo? Don't be so closed-minded. Just because it doesn't apply to you doesn't mean there's anything wrong with it. Gey goo is just as much goo as any other goo....