technology-hyper-evolution
The rapid and accelerating pace at which these technologies develop and improve, outstripping traditional regulatory and control mechanisms.
1 chapter across 1 book
The Coming Wave: Technology, Power, and the Twenty-first Century's Greatest Dilemma (2023)Mustafa Suleyman; Michael Bhaskar
This chapter explores the transformative potential and risks of two general-purpose technologies: artificial intelligence and synthetic biology, emphasizing their underestimated impact. It highlights the complex interplay with related technologies such as robotics and quantum computing, and outlines four defining characteristics—omni-use, hyper-evolution, asymmetric impacts, and increasing autonomy—that make these technologies difficult to control. The chapter also discusses the powerful incentives driving rapid development, including geopolitical competition and financial rewards, which challenge regulatory efforts.