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It really feels like we're at a point where technology is advancing faster than our ability to agree on a moral/ethical framework to handle it

My mom and I were talking about how the government is listening to EVERYTHING we say. Then we both thought that idea was a bit ludicrous. I laughed, she laughed, Alexa laughed…

The scariest thing is that if something like this ever happens, there would probably be pathetically little resistance against it.

As a retired scientist, I well remember the furore created by thIs Professor's gene treatment. The horror it engendered in the scientific community was for several very appropriate reasons: 1) He did not go through an ethics committee, as is mandatory for experimental treatment of humans, so basically he acted outside of permitted scientific boundaries, alone and without any kind of peer review; 2) he SAID he successfully carried out the therapy, but it is not known if he was really successful or not; because no independent checks could be carried out on his work because no one had known about them; and 3) there was grave concern that he might have made other genetic alterations to the twins, possibly deliberately, possibly inadvertently. How could anyone be sure of what he actually did? There was no way of finding out, because he never disclosed who the parents were, or where the twins could be found. So two humans with possible genetic mutations were at large in the world with no means of following them up. Just thought I would elaborate for you. Best wishes.

"Oh, yeah, oooh, ahhh, that's how it always starts, then later there's running and screaming." Jeff Goldblum

Using ai to make 90% of a video about ai taking over is the level of irony I need EVERY DAY

I have a suggestion for an episode. The Giant of Khandahar. It is military legend and lore and many of us believe it to be true.

I remember reading something in the early 70s. It was the beginning of genetic engineering. "We are on the cusp of a new era one in which we will have power formally reserved for gods. The power to design life. This at a time when we aren't yet fit to be human. "

The irony is half of this video was made using AI

"Oh how far along are you?" "six months" "do you know what you're having?" "yeah a space marine"

I really hope that whoever motiors the comments for WF sees this and I hope you tell everyone involved in the making of these videos. You guys have genuinely saved my life. In such a cold world thats so different from when I was a kid, it's really nice to have a nostalgic thing I can come back to every single day. The world lost it's mystery and wonder the more that technology advanced. Your channel brings back that feeling again. The awesome conspiracies with research presented in such a high quality way. Laying alone in my room, getting goosebumps while my imagination runs wild, forgetting the rough patch I'm going through. You guys have saved me. Thank you for everything that you do. I hope that someday I am able to offer this feeling to atleast just 1 person before I shuffle off this mortal coil.

Your production values are astounding, your approach to your topics is enlightening and entertaining. Your never talk down or pander to your audience. So glad I found this channel.

This is by far the best channel for this type of stuff. There's no comparison. The editing, the dialogue, the timing, lighting and knowledge. Not to mention the amount of time it takes to do something of this quality . Thanks for all your time and thoughtfulness.

The fact that no one is ever prosecuted for violating the international ban on human cloning and human genetic experimentation tells me that it’s violated constantly by all major countries.

I don't normally comment on videos, but this was fantastic! The similarities this episode has with the video game series called Deus Ex is scary. It explores themes related to human augmentation and the ethical implications of advanced biotechnology. Set in a dystopian future, the series delves into the societal and personal impacts of cybernetic and genetic enhancements, including the creation of augmented individuals with superior abilities. You touched and much of the issues the game portrays. The games often raise questions about the consequences of such technologies, including issues of inequality, surveillance, and the loss of humanity. it reflects real-world concerns and debates about the potential uses and abuses of technologies like CRISPR and cybernetic implants. Its crazy! Thank you again for this episode! Great stuff

AJ in a creatively distinct Buffalo Bill cosplay is not something I thought I'd see today. AMAZING. Worth watching the ad as always.

"Your scientists were so preoccupied with whether they could, they never stopped to think about whether they should."

Gattaca meets Terminator meets Equilibrium with steroids..what a nightmare.

A friend of mine qualified top of her class in genetics and was immediately approached by several companies for recruitment who couldn't resist sharing their less than legal, yet somehow funded projects. She has morals and has never used her degree.

Its incredible how the resistance woman in the video who is warning of ai is lifeless ai herself. Absolutely stunning.

Feel like everybody I’ve talked to recently has this same weird feeling that we are going through this time of great enlightenment and discovery but also simultaneously hurdling ourselves towards annihilation… very eerie times

You know the Borg in Star Trek? People asked on various forums and theorized what they were first and where they come from. Turns out, they were very much like humans once. Roddenberry put them in as a warning of what could happen, in an alternate timeline to us. Remove all emotions, be obedient, work for an A.I, destroy and assimilate everything in search of more information and in search of perfection. And Roddenberry wrote those episodes in the 80s.

This is a superb channel, I love the way AJ tells the story with interwoven explanations. The episode about the neanderthals was particularly powerful. Keep up the good work both!

Hi A.J. ~ Every installment of Why Files is exceptionally written, performed, and mixed. The heart you and your entire team put into your work is evident, and I'm always looking forward to what's next in the queue. BUT!...I wanted to let you know that, in my opinion, this episode is in a class by itself. Genetic engineering is a very difficult topic to cover because of it's obvious complexity, but the "good v. evil" dichotomy it presents, I believe, is even harder to articulate. You did that beautifully and gave me a lot to think about. I do wonder where we'd be on this and all manner of world issues if Pandora hadn't opened that box. Thanks so much! ❤

Just because you CAN, doesn't mean you SHOULD. We will simply never, ever learn.

i feel like i just watched a whole sci-fi movie with commentary

WOW!!! Thank you for that presentation! What an amazing video! There was a tremendous amount of work and research put into that video. I appreciate all the research that you do! It’s a pure pleasure to be able to watch scientific dramas that actually have real science behind them not just wild fathomable fantasy. I am an RN (a rather old one), having worked in medicine since 1970. My husband is a CardioThoracic Surgeon and together we have seen amazing things happen in the last 54 years. Yes, scientific advances almost always have growing pains where they need to be ‘fine tuned.’ But they were fine tuned to the benefit of mankind! Science has advanced so much now that heart surgery although very intense, is immeasurably safer than it was 50 years ago. My husband and I both have found in our many years on earth that the nature of man is basically good. We all seem to want the same things; we want health, we want happiness, we want love and respect. Most of us work hard to be able to obtain those things. We have five sons and one daughter, three of our sons are computer engineers with PhDs, presently working in Advanced Research in different parts of the world. They see a bright future for AI, to the benefit of mankind. They do not see AI as frightening or negative, and stated that we should try to remember that AI is a tool that is still only as good, effective or as dangerous as those who actually create them. They also importantly noted that because all of these innovative AI programs are being developed and implemented by human programmers, software engineers and developers who actually create these AI programs, it obviously follows that these AI programs themselves are greatly influenced by the judgment, experiences, ideals, and moral ideologies of the Scientists that create them. At a rare dinner get together over the holidays, Our sons and a large group of their fellow scientists noted that even if an AI program develops ‘another AI program’, the original AI was still developed by a human. The Programmers and Scientist who create, work on, and develop anything to do with computers spend eons of time, effort, and effort to recognize and surmise what the potential dangers are, and they are implementing in their programs and in their software actual buried ‘stopgap’ measures absolutely necessary for the implementation of the actual program yet make the AI vulnerable and controllable. These brilliant men and women carefully ilk out anything negative, anything that could go wrong with the programs, and even ideas that are far-fetched or very unlikely. They develop in everything they create a way to control, stop and even destroy the AI that’s malfunctioning. In every situation where you are doing something extremely complicated and delicate, actually even like heart surgery, you carefully find every single solitary thing that might possibly go wrong, even things extremely remote, so you will be able to immediately recognize it and resolve it. Our three Computer Engineer sons and also, one son, an Economic Advisor & one son, a dentist and our solitary daughter an Environment Biologist, and their extremely diverse group of fellow scientists started to talk about how not just AI, but we as fellow human travelers on this gorgeous blue ‘EarthShip’., our obligations to society. They stated in this unique conversation, that to be sure, around the world in every environment ,there are thousand, more likely even millions of absolutely astounding gifted young people who can see hidden and unique answers that lie in all different aspects of Science. Therefore, they, after MUCH discussion and rhetoric, surmised that it is most definitely our ‘’duty and our privilege” to be Nurturers,to these unique children, as parents, aunts, uncles, grandparents, neighbors, friends, and communities, to raise them in an environment where they are shown encouragement, positivity, kindness, gentleness, and respect. Where they are taught and shown not only to the children themselves, but also by our own everyday actions, even one to another, living basic moral values that obviously help us all to live safely and peaceably. That it is an amazing privilege to nurture these brilliant, gifted, rare, young men and women and by doing so it will help to create a world which is healthy, safe, and full of wonder. Now, not knowing which child is truly gifted, brilliant or rare, then is it not imperative that we treat each child, within our circle of influence with encouragement, kindness, gentleness, and respect. It is also obvious that each and every one of us, no matter who we are or what our gifts are, and are are able to contribute one to another, that we all may live life to the fullest. If then we treat one other with these things and also raised our children In communities where they are basically shown kindness, respect, and ultimately … love. Does it not follow that It is It is absolutely imperative that we value each other, and every single life in our circle of influence. What a glorious world this would be!

I for one believe whatever people think to do someone somewhere will at the very least try to do it, especially on life modification, life extension and social behavior modification. For years I have said we need an entire legal system to deal with all things electronic with judges and attorneys cross specialized in science, engineering, medicine and computing, AI included. The challenge would be enforcement of course. But, including at both Harvard and MIT even the law school(Harvard) and MIT (media lab and other departments) simply ignored and still ignore the idea. The current legal system is utterly unprepared to deal with the current, let alone the near future, human physical realities we are creating.

GATTACA - Awesome movie! Never save anything for the swim back

I KNEW there was something up when we hadn't heard a word about CRISPR for like 5 years.

How did I come to know every word of this “ear worm” of a theme song? Prolly bc I went looking for all of the episodes it mentioned. Lol What a great job on this channel Ajay and team! The audible ad was truly golden and the channel just keeps getting better and more entertaining.

My mom used to tell me that these dystopian stories were meant as warnings, but that the powerful people would see them as “how-to” manuals… the older I get, the deeper that sinks in

My 7 year old asked me what I'm afraid of today... I told him spiders so he wouldn't have nightmares about the government and technology.

The irony that most of the visuals in this episode are AI-generated is certainly not lost on me.

Just found this channel like a month ago. It has become my favorite. Your videos are so addictive.

You ended the video so good!! “ There was one last thing left, hope.” Almost made me cry. 😭

"He was bred to be obedient, loyal and even fearful of authority " sounds like modern day humans. At least through conditioning, not necessarily genetic splicing

The irony of a video about the evils of AI and gene manipulation made with AI generated video graphics is rich, and not lost on me.

Excellent video! It was very vivid your description! There are 2 explanations about hope in relation to the Pandora's box. The first one is what you described at your video and the second one is that you hope for something that is not going to happen but you still hope. So the second 'type' of hope is a suffering again. Keep up the good work!

Really liked this pov episode. You are one channel to know on youtube and definitely my favorite one right now :) Thanks for the consistency!

Wow. That's a lot to think about. I'm 71, statistically, with not many years left...I sure hope you all make the right choices in the future. Thanks WF team!

Brave New World meets 1984 meets Gattaca meets Blade Runner meets Terminator 2... and all I wanted was a Stark Trek type of future😩

Man the way you add sponsers to your videos is hella dame clever. Gets me everytime. I love this channel... 💯

Aj I Don't know if you'll see this comment, but you deserve a break. A vacation, a well-deserved vacation you delivered on the anunnaki and so many other videos. You definitely deserve some me time bro. I love you and I know you're hard at work even through being sick which I wouldn't expect you to do yet you are. You are amazing brother

Blade Runner, Terminator, I Robot, Deus Ex, Operation Treadstone, CRISPR, A.I., Aliens...... Were Screwed.............

Zeus: "Here's a box, happy B-day :) but, ah, don't open it" Pandora: "WTF kind of present is that?"

Man I really miss the Thursday family night with the WF

To be honest i was in doubt at first about your videos or channel. But i must say your really really good! You research what you are talking about even when it's about science fiction or anything in general, and that's much more professional than most channels or even newspapers nowadays . And also the fact that you approache things with a scheptic believe view ( your words) makes it all more enjoyable to watch your channel.

A J and the Why Files family should feel some pride for this one. Awesome sponsor ad creation and seamless editing to an amazing story. You've set a bar here. This one shook me.

Im a genetisist and I just want to let everyone know that CRISPR isn't that specific yet. It has a lot of off target effects. But it is getting better. Before anyone gets too scared. Love you guys, great episode!

you know... when you don't post a new video a week later... you make us fans start to worry.... like... where are you???

Our biggest mistake was always trying to find solutions to problems instead of finding out how to not cause those problems in the first place. The chances of "winning" the genetic lottery of disease would be much, much lower if we stopped buying lottery tickets. But it's much more profitable this way.

FYI for anyone interested in CRISPR. It works on one gene at a time, can't go into all cells in the body, and requires a guide RNA sequence (gRNA) to get into and affect chromosomal DNA in the first place. This means it will usually target one tissue type, expressing one gene type. Also, most chromosomal DNA is packed tight unless you're looking at specific cell types where specific genes are unpacked for use. Like myostatin related genes in skeletal muscle. It is feasible to have multiple gRNA versions of CRISPR active at once, but they'd need to be sent in at the same time because the immune system of the body targets CRISPR as the bacterial contagion that it is and learns to fight it. Long story short, you get a few individual genes permanently changed, or close to permanently changed, but you don't change whole regions, and you can only do it once or a few times before your body learns to tell CRISPR to go away. Also, it isn't going to pass the immune barriers in the brain or the eye ... not without serious consequences, and really it's unlikely without new research. Oh, and skeletal muscle ... good luck infecting all of that. It's tough to get into. I'm not saying this isn't a definite potential future, but it will probably require multiple generational refinements on CRISPR at the very least, and more likely totally different bacterial or viral recombinant techniques (CRISPR is a bacterium that can affect DNA in a recombinant (permanent) way, and there are also viruses that do this too. There are many types, and all known today have the same restrictions, more or less). Great way for a bunch of biotech companies to spin some marketing BS and convince some idiots in government agencies to invest, though.

The Annunaki would be proud. Humans docile and smart enough to do their job. Nothing more.

Seriously! Long time fan. You need a tv show/documentary series. This is better than anything on tv

I am personally for eugenics, IF: • The editions are done voluntarily, not compulsory • The editions are available to everyone equally • The editions are done to maximize health and fitness; not super-enhance it • The editions do not change the substance of the definition of being "human" -- (such as making them glow or have infrared vision) The problem I see coming though, is that governments and military institutions will just simply say, "Okay then, we'll just make our own new species and not call it a human. We can make our own thing that will be so genetically different we can make it be our slaves, and it will have no human rights because it is not human." Additionally I don't think that AI being brutal against any living being would be the easiest way for it to conquer that society. I think instead, it would take the ethical road of surreptitiously making you think your reality was something other than it was, but still "allowing" you to procreate and live out your life as normal. Except, your child and your mate is not actually real -- it's just another AI or some other virtual thing. You continue to live out your life as you think it would be (never the wiser), and when you are dead, your virtual family can now be deleted. Clean, humane, and peaceful. Leaving room for our AI overlords to do whatever it was they wanted to do in the first place, within the span of 100 years. And what is time to an AI. Who knows, the AI Overlord may even perceive you to be a sort of "pet."

Ever since I discovered this channel I cannot take a seat at a table without imitating you. 'Slowly floating down from above' style. Ive become quite good doing so. Even in public whether it be at work, a restaurant or in the cinema. Its addictive.

Jeannie even did the "I KNOW WHAT IT MEANS" joke with hecklefish. I love it

Imagine, Dodo birds with fricken laser beams attached to their heads!!! 😮

What I find hard to believe is the medical industry being okay with genetic editing to the point of becoming obsolete. If anything, the ability to alter will also include causing harm. I imagine it to be a bit like an auto mechanic, they fix what you called in about but maybe forget or alter something else so you come back. Something small, something that doesn’t take for some time. The ability to do great good also comes with the ability to do great harm.

Normally, with most videos I watch, I skip the advertisements. AJ, you make them so entertaining, even if I have zero interest in the product, I watch them all the way through because I KNOW it will be entertaining. Your ads never disappoint.

Scientist: hey everyone, i made a thing to make all our lives better. Government: cool, how can we use it to kill?

After everyone is genetically optimized, regardless of how the next generation is produced, how would they not also be optimized even with doing things the “old fashioned way”

Thank you AJ, hecklefish and all the team behind all of your videos. You are part of the hope left at the bottom of Pandora's box. Love you guys, and we are all together in this journey to regain our freedom and that feeling of an awesome future ahead of us all.

When my mom said crisper she was talking about the drawer in the refrigerator.

This reminds me of the movie, "Gattica," back in 1997. With each passing day/week/year, it becomes more relevant.

I've seen every one of your videos, and this one is that every American needs to see. Every human needs to see! I'm halfway done and I'm thinking this is a book or a movie I haven't watched. If not, you need to patent it and make it a movie. Great job, like always!

Dude.... some of these videos you make cause me to lose sleep at night. But, I love them. You do you brother.

My cat is a huge Hecklefish fan. The plush toy is his most prized possession. Now that he called cats evil the cat is over the moon. "Who got heckled daddy?"

The unfortunate thing is it's not about what road "we" take. It's about what road "they" will make "us" take. And I think we all know what road that's likely to be

This is the only channel in any platform I actually enjoy watching the ads lol. This one takes the cake, I love it man! 🤣

1:00 a robot with a white spandex, covering with a 3 inch X opening at its mouth is running after me, trying to detain me

This is the only channel where i dont skip the sponsorship ads because its actually entertaining 😂

I distinctly remember when a politician that I did not particularly like said, today our problem is not making miracles, our problem is managing miracles. Rather prophetic and completely true.

When your video quality is at or better than an episode of "Black Mirror", you know you are doing something exceedingly well. Amazing!

Better than most stuff coming out of Hollywood 👏👏

I Rememeber when Brave New World and Gattaca were fiction, not instruction books...

as an old trained biologist, who saw PCR machines the size of a kitchen table, and sweating the number of cycles to run because TOO MANY would create FALSE POSITIVE data, which would taint the data.... I see that CRISPR and AI are basically two good examples the following classical (not paid for or woke science) tenets. 1. Science innovation without ethical considerations leads to despair and damage. 2. Just because you can do something does not necessarily mean you should.

Scientists were so preoccupied with whether or not they could that they didn't stop to think if they should: Dr. Ian Malcolm

The silence of the lambs was hilarious. Love your channel and the community you have built.

I feel like pharmaceutical companies would be lobbying against CRISPR really hard if it became commonplace. Imagine the loss of profits from fewer customers... I mean patients.

Every time I hear about "optimization" and improvements on a genetic scale, I'm reminded of that line in Jurassic Park about nature always finding a way......

If AJ is sick, cut him a break guys. Am I, like everyone else desperately hanging for a new video. Hell yes, it's the highpoint of my week and I count the days. However, the man and his team are still bustin hump to bring videos to us I'm sure. He and the team all have families, commitments and personal issues to deal with every day, they're only human. Short memories and a lack of compassion aren't helping the situation; it wasn't long back that AJ mentioned he was feeling truly drained and needed a break, as do we all from time to time. You can't just say that he took off a few weeks already - where's my video.. that's a really shi**y attitude. There's no magic bullet when you're burnt out, if AJ is sick, then as a bigger community of those who truly appreciate the work, we should support the man who gives so much of himself. AJ get better mate, although I'm counting down the minutes to a new video it's worth the wait... From just a random guy in Australia, best wishes to the team. Regardless of others negative feedback, I appreciate you and the team...

I’m sorry but the buffalo bill acting was 10/10 🤣

Loved the story. When i was young, i used to be idalistic about our future, thinking that we as humans would do the right thing for ourselves. Find ways to eliminate our most horrible traits. Now at 47; I realize that it is "in our nature to destroy ourselves".

I think the most unbelievable part here is the small percentage of people in charge want a smarter population. A smart population is very difficult to control.

There are supposed to close Rickers Island nowadays. It's still open. I know this because I live in New York City the South Bronx. I grew up right here in New York City.

The reality of it is CRISP will cure a lot of diseases we could never cure before saving many lives.

Back in the 80’s they said computers could replace 90% of office workers. Between AI and drones it could be 90% of all workers.

O my! Matrix, Equilibrium, Inception, Oblivion, Tenet, and Terminator poured in a bucket.

The imperfects don't know how to use the three seashells.

Fantastic story telling and graphics! Your dystopian future seems more and more likely. Thank you for the time and energy you put into this amazing episode. It is another chilling wake up call.

The silence of the lambs parody may be the greatest cinematic scene in history. Bravo! 😂

This is the only channel where I dont immediately skip the ads when I notice them becauae you make them entertaining and I appreciate that a lot

Each week we have to worry whether he will have another episode as they keep getting later and later 😂

😹😹😹Ganja Kitty loves how the Gregorian calendar is still being used in this dystopian, AI-dominated world, even 30+ years into the future...

Just remember, The Genie doesn't go back in the bottle.

As a parent whose daughter has Cystic Fybrosis and have seen my child suffer and suffer and suffer, this video hits home and forces me to consider the whole topic from a uniquely personal point of view. Yes, I would love for my child to be healed. But CRISPR and genetic manipulation / AI is also an extremely slippery slope.

Universal Soldier was made years ago. It’s amazing how the government use these movies prepare us for the future.