High-Stakes Decision Making for World-Changing Technologies | Michael Santos | TEDxGreatMills

TL;DR

High stakes decisions on world-changing technologies, such as genetically modified mosquitoes for malaria prevention, require careful consideration of potential risks and benefits.

Transcript

okay thank you thank you I really really am delighted to be here with you tonight uh to have the opportunity to talk with you about making high stakes decisions we make decisions all the time including really difficult decisions like what color shirt I was going to wear tonight that decision is not going to change the world fortunately however many... Read More

Key Insights

• 🪡 AI is a powerful technology with both benefits and potential risks that need to be carefully managed.
• 🤨 Geoengineering to counter climate change raises concerns about unintended consequences and the complexity of natural systems.
• 🦟 Genetically modified mosquitoes for malaria prevention offer potential benefits, but the risks associated with scale, persistence, and novelty need to be addressed.
• 🌍 Decision-making about world-changing technologies requires identifying, assessing, planning, communicating, and making informed decisions based on rigorous analysis.
• ❓ Involving stakeholders and considering their concerns is crucial for successful decision-making.
• ❓ The approach for decision-making can be applied to various technologies and situations.
• 👶 Consultations and research can help identify and address potential risks associated with new technologies.

Questions & Answers

Q: What are some potential risks associated with genetically modified mosquitoes for malaria prevention?

Potential risks include the scale of impact on populations beyond the release location, the long-term persistence of gene drive modifications in the mosquito population, and the novelty of the technology.

Q: How can decisions about world-changing technologies be informed and balanced?

An approach involves identifying and assessing risks, planning to manage and mitigate those risks, transparently communicating risk assessments and management plans, involving stakeholders in decision-making, and making informed decisions based on a rigorous perspective.

Q: How can the approach for decision-making be applied in practice?

The African Union development agency consulted with stakeholders to identify concerns related to the use of gene drive mosquitoes for malaria control, leading to the inclusion of additional considerations, such as the potential risks to water quality, in risk assessments.

Q: What is the importance of informed and rigorous decision-making for world-changing technologies?

Informed decision-making helps balance potential benefits and risks, ensures transparency and stakeholder involvement, and allows for the identification and management of potential risks before they become problematic.

Summary & Key Takeaways

• High-stakes decisions, including those related to AI, geoengineering, and genetically modified organisms, have the potential to create both benefits and risks.

• Malaria is a devastating disease that has been controlled to some extent, but progress has stagnated, leading to interest in genetically modified mosquitoes as a potential solution.

• Genetically modified mosquitoes with gene drive technology could help control the spread of malaria, but releasing these mosquitoes into the environment poses challenges related to scale, persistence, and novelty.