There are some incredible emerging technologies on the horizon for 2023, but you should also be aware of some dangerous and unsettling developments. This Scariest Future Tech Trends could have enormous ramifications for humanity.
In the end, we applaud scientific progress, but we must monitor how some of these technologies are utilised. Someutilizedions can be easily abused or used in dangerous or frightening ways.
Following The 10 Scariest Future Tech Trends
1) AI Singularity
In many respects, artificial intelligence is approaching human-level cognition. The “AI singularity” is a hypothetical point in the future at which AI becomes smarter than humans, but I would argue that, in certain respects, we have already reached this tipping point.
We now have extremely powerful AI algorithms that can outperform humans on a variety of tasks, and this will have a significant effect on employment.
Experts predict that 80 to 90 percent of the world’s current jobs will be augmented by AI, and many will become obsolete. We must consider how to prepare for this shift and be able to shift gears to perform tasks that only humans can do.
2) Editable People
We can alter inherited genes in plants, animals, and our bodies, cour of CRISPR-Cas9. Gene editing has incredible benefits, as it can aid in the fight against disease, correct genetic mutations that cause debilitating illnesses, eliminate food allergies, and ensure there is sufficient food to feed the world.
For instance, scientists are experimenting with a method for correcting a gene mutation that causes Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy – a debilitating disease that causes premature death. Experiments on CRISPR in mice and dogs are promising and may lead to viable Duchenne muscular dystrophy treatments in humans.
On the other hand, there are many concerns regarding the idea of permanently altering inherited genes. CRISPR enables the manipulation of genes that become permanently incorporated into the genome and are passed down from generation to generation.
Many nations, including the majority of Europe, have outlawed germline editing because its implications are not fully understood; however, germline editing remains legal in China and the United States. Expect more public discourse on the ethical implications of this technology.
3) Human-machine hybridization
In many ways, humans and machines have already begun to merge. When someone loses a limb in an accident, we can replace it with a prosthetic. Using technology, we can also improve people’s vision with contact lenses or even give them “super” or night vision.
However, what if this technology becomes excessive? The U.S. military has already developed exoskeletons that appear to grant soldiers superhuman abilities. Scientists are also developing interfaces that could provide us with AI capabilities that fully integrate humans and machines. Some companies have announced plans to develop mind-reading brain-computer interfaces.
The concern is that this technology could be abused, resulting in a Terminator-esque future.
4) The Power to Print Anything
3D printing technology enables the creation of virtually any 3D object, but this capability can also be exploited for malicious purposes. As 3D printers become more accessible and pervasive, it will be more difficult to regulate the printing of weapons, including firearms, because anyone can download an algorithm and “print” whatever they want from the comfort of their own home.
Due to the absence of serial numbers, it is difficult to regulate and track 3D-printed firearms, which pose a growing threat. In October, the British police in London made a large seizure of 3D-printed firearm components from a shady gun factory.
The fear is that extremists and criminals will gain access to these unregulated firearms as they become more popular.
5) Quantum Computing
Quantum computers are novel machines that will provide us with computing power that is potentially a trillion times more potent than our current supercomputers.
Quantum computing can have enormous benefits, but it will also allow hackers to circumvent our traditional security systems and break into virtually anything. Currently, we use advanced encryption to safeguard our personal, military, and commercial data, but quantum computers will be able to bypass this security.
Businesses and governments are beginning to take this threat seriously and are investing in “post-quantum encryption” to safeguard our most sensitive data.
6) Self-Aware Smart Robots
As robots increase in intelligence and autonomy, they will be able to replace humans in a variety of occupations. Autonomous robots are capable of making their own decisions based on environmental data and acting accordingly.
There are already self-driving cars and robots that flip burgers, work in factories, pick up grocery orders, make coffee, and serve food.
As with artificial intelligence, we will need to consider how to retrain and reskill our workforce as autonomous smart robots take over certain jobs.
7) Killer Drones
Groups of drones aided by artificial intelligence can already identify, track, and destroy targets.
Scientists at China’s Zhejiang University have developed an autonomous drone swarm capable of tracking humans through dense bamboo forests.
Halcon, a subsidiary of UAE’s Edge Group, has unveiled the Hunter 2-S swarming drone system, which can share information for tracking and engaging with targets.
Drones are viewed as a cost-effective way to overwhelm defenses without putting soldiers in danger, and the implications of this technology are quite frightening.
8) Digital Surveillance
In our increasingly digitalized world, nearly everything can be tracked. Companies monitor employees’ keystrokes, and police departments use facial recognition to monitor the actions and movements of individuals.
This type of digital surveillance poses a threat to human rights and paves the way for the massive potential for abuse.
As a violation of human rights, the United Nations (UN) has publicly condemned arbitrary and unlawful digital surveillance. The UN Special Rapporteur on Freedom of Opinion and Expression, David Kaye, has called for a moratorium on the global sale and transfer of digital surveillance tools until we can implement legal policies that hold organizations and governments accountable for how these tools are used.
9) Deep Fakes in the Metaverse
There are several beneficial applications for deep fake technology, such as recreating historical figures for educational environments and providing AI-enabled, synthetic media accessibility tools to those in need. However, malicious use of this technology is a cause for concern.
Deepfakes can be used to create images and videos of anyone, including celebrities, politicians, and technology leaders, to promote any agenda. Deepfakes have become so realistic that it is difficult to distinguish between real and fake videos.
And as we enter the metaverse and spend more time in the virtual world, we will require methods of identity verification to ensure the safety of our interactions with others.
10) Nanobots
Scientists have created nanobots, nanoscale robots that can enter the bloodstream and even pass through the blood-brain barrier.
This technology has enormous potential benefits for sample collection, data collection and transmission, and drug delivery, but it also has a high potential for abuse. Nanobots may in the future be used to transmit human thought.
Weaponized nanobots are capable of killing a specific individual or group of individuals, or even rewriting their memories so that they turn against their side. In our modern world of interconnected devices, there are also serious privacy concerns. What safeguards our medical records and thoughts in the nanobot era? Transparency and the prevention of these problems necessitate stringent regulation and oversight.
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