re: scientists have created the first-ever living robots that can reproduce

The Guardian - Amazing Science (Xenobots)

I guess I'm the only one thus far that thinks it's pretty cool. You can see potential industrial and medical applications down the line.

Concerns about supplanting the supernatural's prerogatives usually accompany technological and scientific progress. The sci-fi disaster angle is a fun read or watch, but hardly applicable here where the first generation can't even produce a second. Moreover self-replicating technology is a goal. It's not the inevitable realization of the grey goo scenario.

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And then these new Xenobots can go out, find cells, and build copies of themselves – and the process happens over and over again.

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Congrats. You just invented a new genus of virus.

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When does it become aware?

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Awareness is completely unnecessary, perhaps even a hindrance, to them replicating out of control and destroying all other life.

Kill.It.With.Fire.

and its creators too.

Grey goo theory. Look it up.