# Vulnerable to Cascading Breakdown by Martin Rees > As technological systems become more complicated and society becomes more dependent on them, breakdowns become harder to trace and repair, leaving civilization far more vulnerable. > **— Adapted from Martin Rees**, *2023, Robots, Transhumanism and Life Beyond Earth* ## Sources and Context - **Direct source and editorial record:** [2023, Robots, Transhumanism and Life Beyond Earth](https://www.thebigconversation.show/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/TBCS4E5_UNB_Robots_Transhumanism_Rees_Wyatt.pdf) — This is a labeled adaptation of Rees's continuous answer about dependence, complicated breakdowns that are difficult to trace and repair, and resulting vulnerability. ## Related Articles and Collections - **Collection:** [[collections/Machine Succession|Machine Succession]] - **Collection:** [[collections/MARS|MARS]] - **Article:** [[articles/AI Escape Is the Wrong Metaphor|AI Escape Is the Wrong Metaphor]] - **Article:** [[articles/The Last Migration Will Not Be Human|The Last Migration Will Not Be Human]] - **Article:** [[articles/Christopher Nolan's Odyssey at the Threshold of Machine Succession|Christopher Nolan's Odyssey at the Threshold of Machine Succession]] - **Wiki map:** [[wiki/Artificial General Intelligence|Artificial General Intelligence]] ## Related Topics - [[wiki/Complex Systems|Complex Systems]] - [[wiki/Technological Risk|Technological Risk]] ## Share on Social Media ``` As technological systems become more complicated and society becomes more dependent on them, breakdowns become harder to trace and repair, leaving civilization far more vulnerable. — Adapted from Martin Rees, 2023, Robots, Transhumanism and Life Beyond Earth https://bryantmcgill.com/simple-reminders-martin-rees-vulnerable-cascading-breakdown ```