Organoids are collections of human cells used to model human organs.
I think the fastest route to AGI will involve integrating improvements in digital intelligence with advancements in synthetic biology via organoid-computer interfaces.
These are all recent developments, and as is usual in science, regulations and ethical guidelines likely have not caught up to technological advancement.
I think there is an opportunity here to advocate for stronger restriction of this form of research on ethical grounds, which should slow down AGI emergence. This could be via legal routes, funder regulations and through papers offering ethical guidelines for such research.
But there is certainly a trade off to think about given that brain organoid research will probably help treat brain diseases.
Restricting brain organoid research to slow down AGI
Organoids are collections of human cells used to model human organs.
I think the fastest route to AGI will involve integrating improvements in digital intelligence with advancements in synthetic biology via organoid-computer interfaces.
Brain organoids are currently able to play a video game called Pong (https://neurosciencenews.com/organoid-pong-21625/) and influence rat behaviour (https://www.nature.com/articles/s41586-022-05277-w) which has raised ethical concerns surrounding organoid consciousness and suffering (https://www.nature.com/articles/d41586-020-02986-y).
These are all recent developments, and as is usual in science, regulations and ethical guidelines likely have not caught up to technological advancement.
I think there is an opportunity here to advocate for stronger restriction of this form of research on ethical grounds, which should slow down AGI emergence. This could be via legal routes, funder regulations and through papers offering ethical guidelines for such research.
But there is certainly a trade off to think about given that brain organoid research will probably help treat brain diseases.