Ray Kurzweil, an American computer scientist and futurist, has long predicted that humanity will reach a technological singularity by the middle of this century. His latest book, The Singularity is Nearer, details how humanity’s intelligence will increase a millionfold via nanobots and other advancements.
Kurzweil initially theorized in 1999 that artificial general intelligence would be achieved once technology could perform one trillion calculations per second, which he predicted to occur by 2029. Experts at the time dismissed this idea, but with Kurzweil’s timeline only a few years off and talk of AGI spreading, his decades-old prediction is now gaining credibility.
In his new book, Kurzweil doubles down on his predictions, including that humans will achieve a millionfold intelligence by 2045 through brain interfaces formed with non-invasively inserted nanobots. He believes this merge of human and artificial intelligence will expand our awareness and consciousness.
While some futurists are more pessimistic about the implications of AI, Kurzweil is relatively optimistic, highlighting the potential for a Universal Basic Income and unprecedented advancements in medicine that could lead to immortality. He predicts that by the early 2030s, humanity will reach “longevity escape velocity,” where scientific progress will help us regain years lost to aging.
While some have dismissed Kurzweil’s predictions in the past, his timeline is now drawing near. Whether these technology-fueled utopias become a reality or not, it’s clear that AI is changing the world as we know it.
Source: https://www.popularmechanics.com/science/a61777484/2045-singularity-ray-kurzweil/