In Drexler’s case, X = molecular nanotechnology.14) 1 The risks of X are great. 2 Reducing these risks will require a period of serious preparation. 3 Serious preparation will begin only once the prospect of X is taken seriously by broad sectors of society. 4 Broad sectors of society will take the prospect of X seriously only once a large research effort to develop X is underway. 5 The earlier a serious research effort is initiated, the longer it will take to deliver X (because it starts from a lower level of pre-existing enabling technologies). 6 Therefore, the earlier a serious
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