Experts are urging the G20 to establish a high-level group to quickly address urgent technological issues in the face of ongoing advancements in post-human technology. The group would provide a basis for potential international agreements to avoid negative outcomes, such as security competitions and economic disruption. The rise of post-human technology is seen as both a moment of extraordinary promise and peril, and the experts call upon the G20 leaders to act quickly in establishing the group. The group should tap the best minds worldwide to address these urgent issues and provide continuous updating and a wider focus.
G20 Urged to Establish International Panel on Technological Change
The development of new technology, particularly Artificial Intelligence (AI), has caused significant concern among experts in recent years. Many are worried about the impact that AI could have on the future of work, and there is ongoing debate as to whether or not the creation of a superintelligence is a realistic possibility. However, there are also concerns about the impact that developments in biology could have on society, particularly in areas such as embryo selection and germline editing using Clustered Regularly Interspaced Short Palindromic Repeats (CRISPR) and related technologies.
Experts believe that these technological advancements, along with the ongoing geopolitical landscape, could disrupt the traditional human equilibrium, where cultural evolution was the main driver of change. As such, there is a need to ensure that the interests of humanity are protected, and that political, economic and social processes do not lead to suboptimal outcomes.
To address these concerns, experts have proposed the creation of an International Panel on Technological Change (IPTC), similar to the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), which provides policymakers with scientific assessments of the climate crisis. The IPTC would assess current and future developments in “post-human technology,” and ensure that standard human processes do not lead to negative outcomes. Unlike the IPCC, which deals with long-term climate change, the IPTC would need to work much more quickly and nimbly.
The G20 has been urged to establish the IPTC, as it is the right-sized organization to charter such a panel and enable its functioning. This would be a crucial first step towards addressing the coordination problem caused by technological advancements and ensuring that the interests of humanity are protected in the face of ongoing developments in technology.
Experts Urge G20 to Quickly Establish High-Level Group to Address Urgent Technological Issues
Experts in the fields of astronomy, physics, and scientific advising are calling upon the leaders of the G20 to establish a high-level group that can quickly address urgent technological issues. The group should tap the best minds worldwide to provide a basis for potential international agreements to head off dangerous security competitions, social and economic disruption, and a rapid and uncontrolled transition beyond the power of humanity to shape to its benefit.
The experts warn that while the rise of post-human technology is a moment of extraordinary promise, it is also a moment of extraordinary peril. As such, they urge the G20 to rise to the occasion and establish this group as quickly as possible. They suggest that the first fruits of such a process should be available within a year, and the process should continue with continuous updating and a wider focus.
Don’t miss interesting posts on Famousbio
