Mustafa Suleyman and co-author Michael Bhaskar argue that humanity is entering a new epoch defined by two meta-technologies-AI and synthetic biology-which possess unprecedented capacity to reshape reality itself. Unlike past innovations, these technologies spread quickly, empower individuals and small groups with state-level capabilities, and evolve beyond human control, creating what he calls the “containment problem”. Without robust mechanisms to limit their misuse-be it engineered pandemics, cyberattacks, mass surveillance, or widespread automation-these tools could destabilize democracies and upend global order. Suleyman emphasizes that while these technologies hold promise-curing diseases, tackling climate change-society’s current regulatory, ethical, and governance structures are vastly inadequate to channel their power safely.
To address this challenge, Suleyman proposes a strategy of “containment”, borrowing a Cold War metaphor to mean deliberate, multilayered control systems rather than unrestricted technological expansion. This includes international norms, technical safety systems (like audits, kill-switches, “choke points” on critical hardware), adaptive regulation, and new governance models to ensure transparency, accountability, and alignment with human values. He urges nations and corporations to treat containment not as optional bureaucracy but as a strategic necessity-combining engineering, ethics, and policy-to safeguard humanity’s collective future while still harnessing the benefits of the coming wave.