Singularity (technology): Difference between revisions

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The term "technological singularity" is used in [[futurist]] circles to refer to the phenomenon and resulting effects of reaching a critical threshold of positive-feedback technological change.
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The term '''technological singularity''' is used in [[futures studies|futurist]] and transhumanist circles to refer to the phenomenon and resulting effects of reaching a critical threshold of positive-feedback technological change. Those who forecast such an event see it as involving fundamental merger or melding of humans and technology resulting in a new type of being with greatly enhanced mental and physical capabilities. As such, it is seen as the next step in the evolutionary process, involving a leap beyond the stage of purely biological entities.


== Three Models ==
A number of futurists, including [[Ray Kurzweil]], [[Vernor Vinge]], and others, hold that such an event will likely occur within the next few decades, that is, within the lifetime of most people born today. Forecasts of the coming singularity are generally based upon the exponential growth of information technologies and other sciences.


[[Eliezer Yudkowsky]], co-founder of the [[Singularity Institute]], has suggested that the term 'technological singularity' holds three distinct concepts<ref>[Introducing the "Singularity": Three Major Schools of Thought. Singularity Summit 2007.</ref>:
The possibility of such an event has not been without its detractors who hold either that the forecasts are not realistic or that the uncritical pursuit of same carries grave dangers.[[Category:Suggestion Bot Tag]]
# [[Ray Kurzweil]]'s singularity refers to the concept of rapidly [[law of accelerating returns|accelerating change]] driven by technology;
# [[Vernor Vinge]]'s singularity refers to the concept of rapidly accelerating change creating an [[event horizon]]-like barrier to social prediction;
# [[I.J. Good]]'s singularity refers to the concept that intelligent agents able to improve their own intelligence may cause an [[intelligence explosion]].
 
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Latest revision as of 16:01, 18 October 2024

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The term technological singularity is used in futurist and transhumanist circles to refer to the phenomenon and resulting effects of reaching a critical threshold of positive-feedback technological change. Those who forecast such an event see it as involving fundamental merger or melding of humans and technology resulting in a new type of being with greatly enhanced mental and physical capabilities. As such, it is seen as the next step in the evolutionary process, involving a leap beyond the stage of purely biological entities.

A number of futurists, including Ray Kurzweil, Vernor Vinge, and others, hold that such an event will likely occur within the next few decades, that is, within the lifetime of most people born today. Forecasts of the coming singularity are generally based upon the exponential growth of information technologies and other sciences.

The possibility of such an event has not been without its detractors who hold either that the forecasts are not realistic or that the uncritical pursuit of same carries grave dangers.