The World in 2030

The World in 2030 85
rich and poor through an inevitable nano-divide (the gap
between those who control the new nanotechnologies
and those whose products, services or labour are displaced
by them); destabilising international relations through
a growing nano arms race and increased potential for
bio-weaponry; providing the tools for ubiquitous
surveillance, with significant implications for civil liberty;
breaking down the barriers between life and non-life through
nanobiotechnology, and redefining even what it means
to be human. Some suggest 171 that nano-scale molecules
could even escape into the environment and self-replicate,
taking over the world as a ‘grey goo’ 172 which will
consume everything.
Whatever the potential benefits and dangers of the
technology almost all futurists and futurologists agree that
nano-scale engineering will become possible in the next few
decades, but few of us can be sure when the products of this
science will begin to emerge.
Ray Kurzweil writes on his website:
Although most nanotech projects today focus on
structural nanotechnology, development of molecular
nanotechnology will surely become a priority
within a few years. Full MNT capability may not be
developed for a decade or longer, but preparation for
it should probably start now.
The economic value – and military significance – of
a nanofactory will be immense. Even a primitive
model will be able to convert CAD files to products