RAY KURZWEIL & THE SINGULARITYMARSHALL MILLER

DOES TECHNOLOGY DIRECT US?

No. But soon it will.

THE SINGULARITY IS NEAR

• “First we build the tools, then they build us.” – Marshall

McLuhan (1911-1980)

• 5th Epoch: Merger of human tech with human intelligence

• Moore’s Law

• Succeed in simulating the brain by 2020

• Self replicating technologies: genetics, nanotechnology,

robotics

MOORE’S LAW

• Computer industry prophecy

• Reason for exponential growth

• Nearly ending

SELF REPLICATING TECHNOLOGIES

• “We have the tools for the first time to address age old

problems of disease and poverty.”- Ray Kurzweil

• genetics, nanotechnology, robotics

• Already experiencing breakthroughs in science

• Potential for major benefits (health)

QUESTIONS FOR PANEL

• Morally, is it okay to embrace technology like this?

• Is it better to be directed by technology? Direct technology?

Coexist with technology (AI)?

REFERENENCES

• Kurzweil, Ray. The singularity is near: When humans transcend

biology. Penguin, 2005.

• Tapscott, Don. "The Digital Economy: Promise and Peril in the Age of

Networked." Intelligence (1995): 291.

• http://www.vice.com/motherboard/the-singularity-of-ray-kurzweil

• https://www.ted.com/talks/ray_kurzweil_on_how_technology_will_tra

nsform_us#t-1151247