The Singularity Is Coming—Now What?

Summary posted by Meridian on 11/18/2009
Source: Popular Mechanics
Author: Glenn Harlan Reynolds

In light of the fact that IBM Corporation's "Blue Gene brain simulation" project has made gains toward creating artificial intelligence, the author of this article explores the concept of "Singularity". Singularity is a time, according to its proponents, when a technological jump so big occurs, that it causes society to be transformed. Or in the words of Ray Kurzweil, technology pioneer and futurist, "[W]ithin a quarter-century, nonbiological intelligence will match the range and subtlety of human intelligence. It will then soar past it," and, "nonbiological intelligence will have access to its own design and will be able to improve itself in an increasingly rapid redesign cycle." Even before we reach the point of Singularity, researchers and futurists see breathtaking advances, many of which are due to breakthroughs in nanotechnology. Already, the article points out, "nanobots" that crawl through blood vessels attacking cancers have been developed, and it may be only decades before such tiny robots are built into just about everything, including your brain. The author analyzes the likelihood of Singularity actually occurring, and bets it will. Some organizations, such as the Foresight Institute and Singularity University, are betting it will too, and are trying to stay ahead of the curve, by publishing guidelines on developing nanotechnology and studying ways to avoid problems while still reaping benefits. The article can be viewed online at the link below.

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our team contact us site map	The Singularity Is Coming—Now What? Summary posted by Meridian on 11/18/2009 Source: Popular Mechanics Author: Glenn Harlan Reynolds In light of the fact that IBM Corporation's "Blue Gene brain simulation" project has made gains toward creating artificial intelligence, the author of this article explores the concept of "Singularity". Singularity is a time, according to its proponents, when a technological jump so big occurs, that it causes society to be transformed. Or in the words of Ray Kurzweil, technology pioneer and futurist, "[W]ithin a quarter-century, nonbiological intelligence will match the range and subtlety of human intelligence. It will then soar past it," and, "nonbiological intelligence will have access to its own design and will be able to improve itself in an increasingly rapid redesign cycle." Even before we reach the point of Singularity, researchers and futurists see breathtaking advances, many of which are due to breakthroughs in nanotechnology. Already, the article points out, "nanobots" that crawl through blood vessels attacking cancers have been developed, and it may be only decades before such tiny robots are built into just about everything, including your brain. The author analyzes the likelihood of Singularity actually occurring, and bets it will. Some organizations, such as the Foresight Institute and Singularity University, are betting it will too, and are trying to stay ahead of the curve, by publishing guidelines on developing nanotechnology and studying ways to avoid problems while still reaping benefits. The article can be viewed online at the link below. The original article may still be available at www.popularmechanics.com/technology/industry/4337160.html?nav=RSS20&... As tagged by Meridian Institute: Health And Medical: Devices, Diseases Implications: Human Enhancement, Privacy, Governance, Ethics Materials And Manufacturing: Electronics, Manufacturing Nanomaterials: Carbon Nanoparticle, Metal Nanoparticle Regions: North America Stakeholders: Government, NGO, Academia Related Forums: Health and Medical Materials and Manufacturing Governance Ethics print format	NDN Home Subscribe Manage Subscription Search News Archives Understanding Public Debate on Nanotechnologies: Options for Framing Public Policy -- The Innovation Society (2/8/2010) The Governance and Ethics Unit of the Directorate General for Research (DG Research) of the European Commission (EC) has published an overview paper on options for framing public policy on nanotechnologies. [More] UN Patent Filings Dropped for 1st Time Since 1978 -- ABC news (2/8/2010) The United Nations World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO), an entity through which a company can, for a fee, file a request for patent protection in any or all of the 142 countries that have subscribed to the U.N.'s Patent Cooperation Treaty, reported that the number of international patent filings dropped last year for the first time since 1978. [More] TECHNOLOGY: Science Panel Probes Renewable Energy's Current Use of China's Rare Metals -- Environment & Energy Daily (2/8/2010) A United States House of Representatives Science and Technology subcommittee this week will hold a hearing on rare earth mineral production and the resource's role in the growing clean energy industry. [More] Nanofood for Thought -- Nature Nanotechnology (2/5/2010) This editorial, in the journal Nature Nanotechnology, is in response to the recent report, "Nanotechnologies and Food", released in January by the House of Lords Science and Technology Committee, United Kingdom, that criticized the food industry for failing to be transparent about its research into the uses of nanotechnologies and nanomaterials. [More] More News... Learn how to include these headlines on your own website by clicking here. Please email us if you require text-only versions of the daily emails.