"The Singularity is Near" by Ray Kurzweil
by Jason Shen
People have often been wrong when predicting the future of technology, but author Ray Kurzweil may be an exception. HeÕs been noted as an incredible inventor, having won the prestigious MIT National Medal of Technology, and featured in Time magazine as a 21st century Thomas Edison. HeÕs also a renowned futurist: Microsoft co-founder Bill Gates called him Òthe best person I know at predicting the future of artificial intelligence.Ó In his new book The Singularity is Near, Kurzweil presents a fascinating vision of the near future. In 25 to 50 years, he sees nanorobots, artificial intelligence superior to human intelligence, and immortality being realized.
Kurzweil predicts that dramatic changes in our lives will be produced by exponential technological progress in computing power, drops in computing prices, the size of mechanical devices and genetic sequencing. Ultimately, he claims that we are hurtling towards the merging of human and artificial intelligence, or what he calls ÒThe SingularityÓ by the year 2030. Kurzweil also sees revolutions in the fields of genetics, nanotechnology and robotics - this section being the toughest to swallow. At one point, he describes ÒfogletsÓ- swarms of nanobots that could serve as a form of virtual reality.
To illustrate his arguments, he uses entertaining fictional conversations at the end of every chapter. One conversation is held between two bacteria discussing their future as giant groups of cells working in an organized fashion, while another features Kurzweil, a woman named Molly in 2004, the same woman in 2040 and Charles Darwin as they discuss evolution, human intelligence and the future of society.
Kurzweil may be an optimist about our technological future, but he does mention unusual possible dangers. If we were to invent self-replicating machines, he cautions, they could get out of control and exponentially increase until they covered the earth in a so-called Ògray goo." He spends a large chapter defending his thesis against criticisms ranging from incredulity to governmental regulations to challenges in quantum computing.
Although not a dull writer, the book can make for a tiresome read. Totaling over 600 pages, the book is heavily footnoted and Kurzweil frequently references his previous writings.
While the claims made in The Singularity is Near are fantastic, the book remains a thought-provoking and substantial read. The future may not unravel exactly as Kurzweil describes, but his book encourages readers to pay attention to the technological progress of tomorrow, making it a must-read for anyone interested in the future of science and technology.