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What is the Singularity, and why is it coming?

Usaell

Shared on Sat, 07/30/2011 - 13:24

In today's world it is increasingly harder to avoid any sort of technological advancement. This constant interactivety with high technologies are literally changing the way we think and the way our brains work. The internet is bringing the world together in amazing ways, at exponential speeds. As a society we have embraced this reality and have subcosciously accepted the loss of privacy and individualism in return for expediancy and knowledge. There is no escaping these emerging technologies, and eventually they will consume us spurring a man-made evolution, as humans become one with machines... this is the point of singularity, when man becomes one with his own creations.

Why can we not excape the effects of the Internet?

 

How will the Singularity look?

And as IAMDANK so graciously pointed out... This will be the Kinect in 2020, if Kurtzweil is correct... lol

Comments

RyanFromVegas's picture
Submitted by RyanFromVegas on Sat, 07/30/2011 - 19:58
Ive seen/heard interviews with Mr Kurszweil and his ideas are impressive, but Ive also heard interviews with brain doctors who are very sceptical. According to them, we are really just scratching the surface of our understanding of the brain...We probobally have more distance to cover on that end of the equation than the technological side of building powerfull enough computers to run a brain simulation in real time. Anyways, thats what I heard.
Usaell's picture
Submitted by Usaell on Sun, 07/31/2011 - 01:12
Well, yes, if the research and development were strictly in human hands, I would agree. Those researchers don't take into account the amazing advancements that may be made with the assistance of an actual Artificial Intelligence. I think that is what Kurtzweil argues. We will give birth to an artificial intelligence that will help us increase the speed and understanding of all sciences with it's (the AI's) aid... Only time will tell. I for one think Kurtweil is way optimistic in his time table... but the time is coming quicker than we realize i believe.
RyanFromVegas's picture
Submitted by RyanFromVegas on Sun, 07/31/2011 - 10:22
I think we are on the cusp of entering a cyborg era of human development. When we start getting implants and whatnot to increase our connectedness with the machines around us and the internet. A true AI seems a long way off given our current state....as does the singularity. But its interesting stuff.
Usaell's picture
Submitted by Usaell on Sun, 07/31/2011 - 11:18
Well, some would argue that a "cyborg" era is the very definition of Singularity. "The time in which humans merge with machines". The very "forced, man-made evolution" referred to. It isn't any one technological increase that herald's this inevitability, but all of them together... And you might be suprised at how close we are to realizing the first true AI. Be looking for a future blog featuring a Nova: Science Now episode "How the Brain Works", that will cover this very issue. (also available on Netflix). These are amazing times.

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