People fear AI while ignoring a far greater peril. Tampering with genes can be supremely dangerous. It is doubtful we'll ever create true consciousness in a machine, and if we did, and it was considered "alive" it would not live long in the grand scheme of things. With life, you have to constantly compete with the new, with adaptations. The predator strengthens it's prey, and vice versa. Machines lack instinct, which may not seem like much, but it is what keeps living things alive and brings me to my next point.... Breeding. Even if machines took over the earth for the next ten thousand years (doubtful) they would eventually break down. Life on the other hand, has survived on this planet for over half a billion years. Probably longer. If you create life, you're creating something with the potential to be perpetual. As our technology advances, I am certain we will move away from machines and towards living tools. Taylored life, to complete whatever task. I cannot adequately express how absolutely bad such a thing can turn out. We lost our fear of fire, and gained metallurgy. The age of the sword was born. We lost our fear of lightning, the age of the electron was born. Now we have lost our fear of God. I promise you, play with life, and it will undo all...
