Are we nearing the Singularity? - Dr Divya Chander

Converging biotechnologies in an artificially intelligent age

Dr Divya Chander discussed the potential of biotechnology, synthetic biology, nanotechnology and neurotechnology to revolutionise medicine, enhance human capabilities, and create new forms of life at the SingularityU South Africa Summit 2024 held in collaboration with Old Mutual.

“In the realm of synthetic biology, we are building life from scratch. We're not only designing life from scratch, but we’re utilising nature's machinery to synthesise things,”

said Dr Divya Chander, the Chair in Neuroscience and Faculty in Medicine at Singularity, and the founder and CEO of Lucidify. She is one of among 40 global and local speakers at the SingularityU South Africa Summit 2024. Dr Chander tackled the question of ‘Are we nearing the Singularity?’ in her talk to hundreds of attendees at the Sandton Convention Centre.

Biotechnology

The biological singularity, she explained, is a point at which biological systems and artificial systems merge seamlessly, ushering in a new era of biological innovation. She highlighted the exponential progress in genome sequencing, with the cost of a human genome plummeting from $100 million in 2002 to under $1000 today.

This genomic revolution has paved the way for CRISPR, a revolutionary gene-editing tool that has been used to treat sickle cell anaemia. But CRISPR's potential can also be used for human augmentation – modifying genes to enhance radiation resistance for long-duration space missions or improving the nutritional value, taste and resilience of crops.

Similarly, Artificial Intelligence (AI) is transforming drug discovery and development. Scientists are using AI to predict how proteins fold, create new proteins, and accelerate the process of designing new drugs. "In the future, all drugs will be designed by Artificial Intelligence," she predicted.

Nanotechnology

Dr Chander turned her attention to nanotechnology, the science of manipulating matter at the atomic and molecular scale. She described how scientists are using nanobots, microscopic machines, for drug delivery, to image hard-to-reach areas in the human body and deliver targeted therapies. She highlighted their potential to combat cancer by starving tumours of their blood supply. Dr Chander painted a future where nanotechnology seamlessly integrates with biological systems, blurring the lines between the natural and the artificial.

Neurotechnology

Finally, she delved into the realm of neurotechnology, exploring the remarkable advancements in brain-computer interfaces (BCIs) that are transforming the lives of those with physical disabilities. Neurotechnology is helping paralysed people regain movement and sensation. "We can now write to the neural circuits of your brain," Dr Chander explained.

Beyond restoring mobility and sensation, Dr Chander discussed the potential of neurotechnology to decode and reconstruct human thoughts, senses, and memories. She discussed the possibility of using BCIs to upload memories and programmes into the brain, a concept popularised in The Matrix. She described experiments where the neural activity of a rat’s brain was recorded and injected into another rat’s brain, allowing it to navigate an unfamiliar environment without prior experience. "We can actually stimulate a brain to think it's had a memory, to think it's had an experience,” Dr Chander concluded. She believes that in the next five years, this kind of technology will be used to enhance human memory or even create entirely new memories.

The ethical considerations remain top of mind

Throughout her talk, Dr Chander emphasised the importance of considering the ethical implications of genetic engineering, such as the possibility of creating "super soldiers" or a "eugenics programme". She raised concerns about the potential for misuse and campaigned for the need for robust governance and regulations to ensure that these powerful tools are used responsibly and do not get into the wrong hands.