Singularity What? Taking Over the Human Brain2 min read

The Singularity has risen to fame largely because of two core thinkers. Vernor Vinge and Ray Kurzweil. Vernor Vinge is a sci-fi writer prolific in the ‘90s and Ray Kurzweil works for Google and involved in things such as optical character recognition, text-to-speech synthesis, the list goes on and on.

So, What Is the Singularity?

In a nutshell, the singularity marks a moment when technology trumps the human brain, and the limitations of the mind are surpassed by artificial intelligence. The idea would be that the human mind and the internet would be “connected,” so that you would have quick access to any knowledge in the cloud.

In the past, learning a new skill or a new language took time. You had to take a course and practice the language over and over again. Imagine if a language could be installed into your brain where even the proper accents are achieved.

The possibilities are endless!

Is the Singularity Possible?

Yeah right, this is some future dystopian of the 3000s or beyond. Or some alien nation on the sci-fi channel…

Ray predicts this to be possible by 2035 and we are well on our way to achieving this goal.

If this idea scares you, you are not alone. Both Steven Hawkins and Elon Musk have already expressed their concerns that super AI could turn against the human race and wipe it clean.

Elon Musk and Mars

Musk has set up a space program to colonize on Mars reportedly to escape the chaotic clutches of super AI here on earth. Kurzweil suggests people are overreacting and that if kept on a tight leash, AI could expose us to many of the wonders of the world.

There are already reports that AI systems can diagnose a problem 1000x faster than a typical doctor bound by the limitations of the human brain could.

Don’t forget: The computer “Deep Blue” managed to beat Gary Kasparov in chess in 1997.

Humans Merge with Tech

In the next few decades, we can expect this to mesh with many things in our society that were reserved for human beings. Some will struggle against the AI, and it’s an interesting predicament.

Those that refuse to upgrade to the super-human package may find themselves less marketable in the global economy. Imagine a neurosurgeon of today, jobless in 2035 for simply refusing to upgrade and therefore not stay competitive. Others may realize that the only way to success lies in collaboration with the computers. They will help computers learn and will direct their own growth and learning.