Reaction

I have unfortunately never encountered a Xenobot, and if I had, I most likely would not have realized it either. This is because Xenobots are currently limited to development in research labs. However, even though I may not see this technology in my lifetime, I still have some relatively strong bipolar feelings.

On one hand, I am thrilled that this is something that is being worked on. Not only does it hold promise to fix some of the world's greatest problems, but this research could have positive externalities within the fields of biology and medicine, teaching us more about cells, DNA, and so much more. It is fascinating how much progress has been made thus far and I hope that with stronger AI, we will be able to accelerate the development and research into Xenobots.

On the other hand, I am scared about the implications of the Xenobots. I grew up reading and watching a lot of SciFi books and movies, and I distinctly remember this one book called "Fuzzy Mud", that in a way colors my thoughts on this. In the book, a biological fuel made of cultivated microorganisms causes a large biohazard when a mutation in the organisms leads to their dispersal and spread into the environment, wreaking havoc. Just like how we can't prove that COVID did not come from a lab, what is stopping Xenobots from becoming the next biological disaster? We as humans can barely stop ourselves from causing invasive species the size of squirrels from traveling with us. If a Xenobot strain was somehow released that was particularly good at surviving in extreme environments and eating organic material, we would look extremely yummy and vulnerable. I'm just imagining how this fits into the plotlines of Horizon: Zero Dawn (video game series), Clive Cussler's The Storm (action thriller novel), and other works that fit a similar biotech-geddon narrative. Overall, the ethical implications of Xenobots are extremely complex and understanding the benefit versus risk of pursuing them is just as nuanced.

I have yet to decide whether I would work on a technology like this if I had the chance. Is it our savior? Is it going to bring about Armageddon? Is there a way to regulate this and make it safe?