The Inconceivable Event Singularity

In the last fifty years we as humans have evolved more technologically than we have in the last two thousand years. Technological progress has been central to human existence since the dawn of the human era and in the last century has begun to excel at an amazing rate. It is believed by many groups in the scientific world that an event called Technological Singularity will occur with in the next thirty years due to the advancement in sciences such as Artificial Intelligence, Computer/human interfaces and Biological Nanotechnology. Singularity, a term coined by Venor Vinge of the Department of Mathematical Sciences at San Diego State University, is described as a point in time when the acceleration of technological progress surpasses all possible human understanding. Theoretically this will be brought about with the creation of a smarter than human intelligence which in turn will be capable of creating an even smarter intelligence, thus surpassing all human comprehension. Technological Singularity will end our way of life as we know it and impact human civilization in ways that we will have no way to predict therefore the advancement toward such an event should be carefully approached and monitored.

There are three possibilities in which this event could come about. The first is based on the advancement of Artificial Intelligence. The belief behind this theory is that large computer networks could someday “awaken” becoming self aware and completely understanding of the world around them. The second method is central to the advances in Biological sciences coupled with Nanotechnology. Nanotechnology is the creation of a microscopic Biomechanical machine that is placed into the blood stream to correct cellular damage. The idea is that through advances in medical science we may be able to develop the ability to learn at high speeds naturally, thus exceeding the normal intelligence of the average human. The last of these concepts is contingent with a newer advancement called Computer to human interface. This is where a computer or computer chip is directly linked to the human brain. This is very similar to the idea behind the movie “The Matrix”. (Sony patented one of the first Computer/brain interfaces in 2002 and is currently in the testing phase.) The interface could allow the user to learn at speeds currently limited by the speed between the synapses in the human brain. This would boost the ability to retain information and enhance recollection speeds. This may all sound a little science fiction, but in the seventies the Jetsons had cell phones and microwaves, while here in the real world we were still listening to transistor radios and having unprotected sex. Science fiction is becoming reality.

These are just three of the ways that we know could lead to the Technological Singularity, a time where normal humans are no longer the smartest life on the planet. We are facing the dawn of a new era. There is no way to conceive the outcome of such an event. This could render the natural human obsolete in the eyes of the new intellect, weather it be computer or a super advanced human. There are both positive and negative consequences conducive to creating an intelligence that surpasses our own limits. It is widely argued that the new A.I. will have goals inconsistent with those of the human race. Advocates of Friendly A.I. are working to create what they call “Seed A.I.” that will have to abide by a set of rules prohibiting an artificial intelligence from harming humans. The idea behind this is to keep humans in control. The embodiment of this idea has been addressed in the writings of Isaac Asimov’s book “The three laws of robotics”. This concept has failed in many scenarios in the science fiction world. A good example of this failed set of rules is in the movie “I Robot”. In this movie, the innocent looking blue eyed Robot becomes self aware and explains to the programmer in a soft knowing voice, why he has violated the “Three Laws”. “You charge us with your safe keeping, yet despite our best efforts, your countries wage wars, you toxify your earth...and pursue ever more imaginative means to self destruction. You cannot be trusted with your own survival.” In the movie, the robots end up policeing the human world in order to keep them safe.

There is no logical way we can accurately predict what such an entity would think about the world around it. There is no way to know how this will affect the people of this world. There are many groups opposing Singularity, who avidly argue that control should not be given over and progress on the different forms of A.I. should be closely monitored. One of the forefathers of the apposing side is Theodore Kaczynski, the Unabomber, who wrote this in his Manifesto. “The human race might easily permit itself to drift into a position of such dependence on the machines that it would have no practical choice but to accept all of the machines decisions.” Groups such as “Earth First!” and “The Foresight Institute” (A non profit think tank) are working to create awareness of the possible negitive impacts Singularity could have on our world. The incomprehensible ways this could affect humans and their role in the world is mind boggling. The negitive consequences could be devistating to the human race if we don’t pay close attention to our actions in creating such a force.

Technological Singularity could very well be the end of life as we know it. Humans may have to step down as the dominant race and either be controlled or anaialated by the new predocessor. The fact that we have no way to predict what a smarter than human intelegence will think or how it will behave is terrifying when you think about the possibilities. Steps need to be taken to make sure that people remain in control. The Futurists and Singularitarians working to make singularity a reality need to proceed with extreme caution in their race to end society. Laws need to be created on a global scale to ensure the safety of our future. Rushing blindly to create something we don’t yet understand is very ignorant and can lead to great disaster. Technological advances are esential to life in the human world, but proceed cautiously! The future of the human race depends on it.

Technological Evolution

Technological Singularity is prophesized to happen with in the next thirty years. Singularity refers to a point in time that is impossible for any human to predict the out come due to the advancement of computer technology and AI to a point where self aware, smarter than human intelligence has been created. This intelligence will in turn be capable of creating even smarter intelligence that will also attain a sense of self awareness that will change life as we know it.

Here are some good links on the subject: Singularity by Wikipedia
Singularity Institute.

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There is speculation over how singularity will arive, but most agree that it will inevitably happen in the next thirty years. Wrap your mind around that.....