Singularity: Machine is us

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Kurzweil has become a figurehead in some circles within the futurism and transhumanism movement, due to his public stances on life extension technologies, his claimed ability to accurately predict future technologies, and his interest in the concept of the technological singularity. At the same time, he has attracted significant criticism from scientists and thinkers.

 

Kurzweil's central argument is derived from the predictions of Moore's Law that the rate of innovation of computer technology is increasing not linearly but rather exponentially. According to Kurzweil's argument, since growth in so many fields of science and technology depends upon computing power, these improvements translate into exponentially more frequent advances in non-computer sciences like nanotechnology, biotechnology, and materials science. Kurzweil refers to this concept as the "Law of Accelerating Returns", and has asserted that this is supported by a number of metrics.

 

Kurzweil's opinions on the benefits of technology for future humans are expressed further in his books. He predicted publicly that before 2050 medical advances will allow people to radically extend their lifespans while preserving and even improving quality of life as they age, due to advances in medical nanotechnology, which will allow microscopic machines to travel through one's body and repair all types of damage at the cellular level. He claims that equally consequential developments will occur within the realm of computers as they become increasingly powerful, numerous and cheap between now and 2050. Kurzweil predicts that a computer will pass the Turing test by 2029. He predicts that the first AI will be a computer simulation of a human brain which will be created thanks to hyperaccurate brainscanning done by advanced medical nanomachines inserted into a real human brain. Kurzweil suggests that AIs will inevitably become far smarter and more powerful than unenhanced humans. He also believes that AIs will exhibit moral thinking and will respect humans as their ancestors. According to his predictions, the line between humans and machines will blur as machines attain human-level intelligence and humans start upgrading themselves with cybernetic implants. These implants will greatly enhance human cognitive and physical abilities, and allow direct interface between humans and machines.

 

Kurzweil's standing as a futurist and Transhumanist has led to his involvement in several Singularity-themed organizations:

 

* In December 2004, Kurzweil joined the advisory board of the Singularity Institute for Artificial Intelligence.[43]

* In October 2005, Kurzweil joined the scientific advisory board of the Lifeboat Foundation.[44]

* On May 13, 2006, Kurzweil was the first speaker at the Stanford University Singularity Summit.[45]

 

In February 2009, Kurzweil, in collaboration with Google and the NASA Ames Research Center, announced the creation of Singularity University. The University's self-described mission is to "assemble, educate and inspire a cadre of leaders who strive to understand and facilitate the development of exponentially advancing technologies and apply, focus and guide these tools to address humanity’s grand challenges".[46] Using Kurzweil's Singularity concept as a foundation, the University, whose initial class of 40 Fellows began their nine-week graduate program in June, 2009, provides students the skills and tools to guide the process of the Singularity "for the benefit of humanity and its environment". Singularity U encompasses cross-disciplinary studies in ten different scientific and future-oriented tracks, taught by industry experts.