Ep 11. Engineering Immortality & Robot Revolution

In Vice season 5 episode 11 titled Engineering Immortality & Robot Revolution, the show delves into the world of advanced biotech and robotics to explore the possibilities of creating humans who can live forever and the impact it could have on our society.

The first segment of the show focuses on the futuristic idea of achieving immortality through biotechnology. The technology used to make this a reality is known as CRISPR, which stands for Clustered Regularly Interspaced Short Palindromic Repeats. CRISPR is a molecular tool that allows scientists to modify genes in living organisms. Scientists believe that CRISPR could be used to modify the human gene, allowing them to live much longer, healthier lives, even potentially allowing them to live indefinitely.

Through interviews with leading experts in the field, the show explores the ethical and practical implications of such a technology. Some experts argue that immortality could create major issues with overpopulation, where others worry about what the consequences could be if only a select few had access to such technology. Additionally, the episode takes an in-depth look at CRISPR's impact on the biotech industry and how scientists are currently exploring this technology to create new breakthrough treatments for diseases like AIDS, cancer, and more.

The second half of the episode ventures into the world of robotics, examining how major advancements in artificial intelligence (AI) and robotics are drastically changing the workforce. With AI and robotic assistants becoming increasingly more advanced and accessible, some experts predict that significant displacement of jobs is inevitable. The show interviews experts who explore how AI is transforming specific sectors of the economy, such as manufacturing and customer service, and what this means for the future of jobs.

The episode raises important questions about the impact that these technological advancements will have on society and what we can do to prepare for them. Will the advancements in biotechnology and robotics take us to the next level of human evolution? Or will they spell the end of human control and adaptation?

Overall, Engineering Immortality & Robot Revolution is an intriguing episode that takes viewers on a journey through the cutting-edge biotech and robotics industries. The show highlights both the excitement and the apprehension surrounding these technological advancements, as well as the potential benefits and downsides of a world where humans could potentially live forever and robots could do most, if not all, of our work.