Johnny_Fuckface t1_jeankp4 wrote on March 30, 2023 at 5:08 PM

Reply to comment by ctrl_alt_excrete in Selected before birth | Embryo risk screening could lower the odds of illnesses ranging from depression to diabetes, but poses ethical problems by ADefiniteDescription

It's more likely that this will be used to screen for disease more than anything. Our concept of what genes result in what positive traits we have is shaky. Often a subtle combo of various interactions.

PragmaticBodhisattva t1_jeap1vo wrote on March 30, 2023 at 5:17 PM

If only the rich have the ability to be screened for diseases, that puts those who can’t afford this at a massive disadvantage. The inequity would be stark. I have a disability due to chronic illness and I am treated as sub-human by (far too many of) those with the means to be able to afford treatments etc. Disability payments allow for next to no quality of life. This would be disastrous if only those with wealth could access it.

TuvixWasMurderedR1P t1_jeb7bup wrote on March 30, 2023 at 7:14 PM

And we all know that wealth will greatly determine access, especially while the tech is new.

Frankly, this all is way too close to eugenics for me to be comfortable with it.

PragmaticBodhisattva t1_jebbroo wrote on March 30, 2023 at 7:42 PM

This is how I feel about AI technology right now, too. What happens when those with capital have access to AI to boost their economic output, and everyone else who might have been working more menial jobs are replaced by AI? This has been haunting me recently, especially with AI companies firing their AI ethics teams…

Johnny_Fuckface t1_jef7mgg wrote on March 31, 2023 at 4:00 PM

Yeah, but at some point it's gonna get cheap enough.

PragmaticBodhisattva t1_jeffabi wrote on March 31, 2023 at 4:49 PM

I think you are missing the point of the rising inequality gap.

Johnny_Fuckface t1_jefrdp6 wrote on March 31, 2023 at 6:08 PM

No, I get it. But I think filtering useful tech because of human stupidity and greed when, as a culture we're too complacent to do anything about human stupidity and greed, isn't technology's fault.