K. Eric Drexler

engineer · 4 mentions across 1 reading

In this course

K. Eric Drexler is a pioneering theorist of nanotechnology and molecular computing whose 1985 *Engines of Creation* established the speculative framework for understanding how self-replicating nanomachines might transform matter and computation itself. In this course's readings, Drexler appears as a foundational reference for debates about technological singularity and existential risk—his work enables discussions of how computational systems might scale beyond human control, from nanotechnology's grey-goo scenarios to estimates of the computing power needed to emulate human cognition. His vision of engineering at atomic scales haunts contemporary AI discourse as a limiting case of what "superintelligence" might actually do with physical reality.

Mentioned in 1 reading

Nick Bostrom

Are You Living In A Computer Simulation?

--- [^1]: See e.g. K. E. Drexler, Engines of Creation: The Coming Era of Nanotechnology, London, Forth Estate, 1985; N. Bostrom, “How Long Before Superintelligence?” International Journal of Futures Studies, vol. 2, (1998); R. Kurzweil, The…--- [^1]: See e.g. K. E. Drexler, Engines of Creation: The Coming Era of Nanotechnology, London, Forth Estate, 1985; N. Bostrom, “How Long Before Superintelligence?” International Journal of Futures Studies, vol. 2, (1998); R. Kurzweil, The…The amount of computing power needed to emulate a human mind can likewise be roughly estimated. One estimate, based on how computationally expensive it is to replicate the functionality of a piece of nervous tissue that we have already unde…

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Appears alongside

People mentioned in the same passages — sorted by co-occurrence weight.

Hans Moravec 2 Nick Bostrom 2 Seth Lloyd 2 Anders Sandberg 1 Hans-Joachim Bremermann 1 Jacob Bekenstein 1 Ray Kurzweil 1 Robert J. Bradbury 1 Robert A. Freitas Jr. 1 Robin Hanson 1