The Singularity. The Singularity is a hypothesized future time
where a strong form of Artificial Intelligence will be here. I
often mention Ray Kurzweil but it was
[1]
http://mindstalk.net/vinge/vinge-sing.html who originated the
concept.
Vinge's prediction was before 2030 (set for around 45 years
after he made the prediction) and Kurzweil's prediction, which
he talked about in
[2]
http://www.amazon.com/The-Age-Spiritual-Machin*/*/0140282025
in 1999 but became uber-popular for after his 2005 book.
Kurzweil sets his prediction for around 2045, about 45 years
after the prediction. Hard not to notice the connection between
prediction time and time predicted. [to me, points to cognitive
assumptions found among near-futurists, as you'll often see
predictions that range around the 40-50 year mark] Now all that
aside, do you believe? What are your thoughts on the concept
that technology will be self-aware in a way that *we* can
measure and know? Conversely, is it possible that machines are
already self-aware and it is we that are unaware of their
awareness? Or are computers and their programs limited by the
constraints and assumptions of the original programming; in
short, will they always be limited by built-in assumptions by
the programmer (even ones the programmers themselvers were
unaware of?) Thoughts? [it's not an either/or thing; just
whatever thoughts you have] My personal bias: I remember when
Vinge was a bit of a kook as was Kurzweil when he started
talking/writing about it. Transhumanism and strong AI were very
fringe topics. Perhaps they still are, but they've gotten more
press and more belief among the population as time has gone on.
So you can expect a slight bias when I respond, which I do try
to curtail.
References
Visible links
1.
http://mindstalk.net/vinge/vinge-sing.html
2.
http://www.amazon.com/The-Age-Spiritual-Machines-Intelligence/dp/0140282025
