The Singularity
The Singularity refers to a point in the 21st century at
which technological advances will crescendo and create a radically
different kind of society. The term singularity is drawn from
black hole physics. Beyond the "event horizon" of a black hole
the behavior of matter and energy cannot be predicted. Beyond the point
of convergence of transhuman technologies, the future of civilization
cannot be predicted.
The most common vision of the Singularity
involves the advent of self-willed artificial intelligence that rapidly
outpaces human intelligence. Some visions of the Singularity involve
faster or slower processes of change, and ore or less traumatic results
for humanity. Singularitarian forecasts of the onset of the
Singularity range across the 21st century. Not all transhumanists
believe that a Singularity is likely.
The
Singularity is a part of Anders Sandberg's TH Resources website
Ray Kurzweil, 2001. The
Singularity is Near. A Book Précis.
Vernor Vinge, 1993. "The Coming Technological Singularity: How to Survive in the Post-Human Era"
This is the seminal essay that generated the current discussions.
Robin Hanson (ed.), "A Critical Discussion of Vinge's Singularity Concept"
October 1998. A collection of critiques.
"Max
More and Ray Kurzweil on the Singularity"
February 26, 2002. An exchange about the rapidity of technological
diffusion.
SingularityWatch
is a site managed by
John Smart,
with teaching resources and a discussion list related to the singularity.
The Singularity Institute for
Artificial Intelligence
is a organization devoted to creating the kind of "friendly"
artificial intelligence that would minimize chances of an apocalyptic
Singularity. Eliezer Yudkowsky, the
Secretary/Treasurer of the
SIAI,
is the author of the SIAI publications Levels
of Organization in General Intelligence and Creating
Friendly AI. He also serves on the Board of the
World Transhumanist Association.
Basics
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