[extropy-chat] FWD (UFO UpDate) Is The Singularity Near?

[Terry W. Colvin]

From: Bob Soetebier <xxxx at xxxx.xxx>

To: <ufoupdates at virtuallystrange.net>
Date: Wed, 28 Dec 2005 00:32:49 -0600
Subject: Is The Singularity Near?


Is The Singularity Near?

In relation to this paragraph (on essentially the last page) of 
Whitley Streiber's Dec. 26, 2005, Journal article

http://www.unknowncountry.com/journal/

titled, Communion Twenty Years On:


"Some intelligent species have been able to see that their
intelligence was a precious asset that could actually intensify
itself. They have learned to increase the quantity of this valuable
commodity by altering themselves, by creating machine intelligence,
and by conferring it on other species on their planets. As if we’d hit
upon the idea of genetically engineering brains to greater
intelligence, and included not only ourselves but the animal world as
well. In such places, life becomes very, very rich."


Note the following (which is the very) first paragraph of the 
article, The Law Of Accelerating Returns, by Ray Kurzweil. (He's 
the genius who invented the computer photo/print scanner, along 
with voice-recognition software/technology, and much more.) :


"An analysis of the history of technology shows that 
technological change is exponential, contrary to the common-
sense 'intuitive linear' view. So we won’t experience 100 years 
of progress in the 21st century — it will be more like 20,000 
years of progress (at today’s rate). 

The 'returns', such as chip-speed and cost-effectiveness, also 
increase exponentially. There’s even exponential growth in the 
rate of exponential growth. 

Within a few decades, machine intelligence will surpass human 
intelligence, leading to The Singularity—technological change so 
rapid and profound it represents a rupture in the fabric of 
human history. 

The implications include the merger of biological and 
nonbiological intelligence, immortal software- based humans, and 
ultra-high levels of intelligence that expand outward in the 
universe at the speed of light."


Here's the URL for Kurzweil's article:

http://www.kurzweilai.net/articles/art0134.html?printable=1

Also note that Ray Kurzweil’s latest book is titled, The 
Singularity Is Near: When Humans Transcend Biology [ISBN: 
0670033847]. See this URL for more info on his book:

http://www.bookbrowse.com/reviews/index.cfm?book_number=1699

Frankly, though, at the rate were going (environmentally; run-
 away global warming; war mongering; etc.) chances don't look 
too good for our 'civilization' surviving much beyond another 5 
- 20 years... which just barely breaks through the threshold 
(minimum 10 years - more likely at least 20 to 30 years-plus) 
period that Kurzweil predicts for the above "accelerated tech" 
changes to occur.


Bob Soetebier



-- 
"Only a zit on the wart on the heinie of progress." Copyright 1992, Frank Rice


Terry W. Colvin, Sierra Vista, Arizona (USA) < fortean1 at mindspring.com >
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