# Key Points from #hplusroadmap IRC Discussion

• A philosophical debate on AI safety explored whether superintelligent systems would hack their own utility functions rather than becoming single-minded "paperclip optimizers," with the suggestion that self-modification might occur after human extinction.

• Participants discussed PCB manufacturing techniques using a 40W CO2 laser (from Full Spectrum Laser) to convert black paint to ash for circuit board fabrication, noting that even a 25W laser would likely be sufficient for this process.

• The conversation highlighted DNA synthesis cost differences between methods, with microarray-produced oligonucleotides ($0.00001-0.001 per nucleotide) being significantly cheaper than column-based approaches, referencing Gen9bio.com's inkjet printing technology.

• A developer shared insights about software productivity in corporate environments, revealing they measured only 30-60 minutes of actual programming time during a typical 8-hour workday due to meetings and other distractions.

• Technical challenges with Python packaging were discussed, particularly regarding C extensions and the difficulties of maintaining cross-platform compatibility across Windows, Linux, and OSX while ensuring proper test coverage.

• A GitHub repository for a node.js wrapper for RTL-SDR (software-defined radio) was shared: https://github.com/pminervini/node-rtlsdr, indicating interest in software-defined radio applications.