Modern Artificial Intelligence: Catching Human Brain-power?
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Kurzweil's Singularity Curve shows that computers will catch up with human intelligence in the near-term, probably in the next ten years or so (Kurzweil, 43). That's faster than we have been predicting because the curve is logarithmic, not the usual numeric. Things speed up, especially technical things, after they get going. Those are pretty much the facts. What makes those facts even more interesting is that some scientists are concerned because they think singularity - computers better than man - means that bad people will figure out how to use the new technology to mankind's horror. It's probably too late to think about it, so get used to it, scientists. Maybe a little control is in order, yes, but it's probably too late. Better to protect your systems instead.
Free spirits in Silicon Valley have their own way of responding, namely, Singularity University. Kurzweil is the Galactic Chancellor (do I detect a hint of Merry Prankster here?) of the University. An exclusive organization, they're pitching courses on nanotechnology, neuroscience, robotics, biotechnology and bioinformatics. People are lining up to take the - expensive - classes. Other people are complaining about the exclusivity of it all. Get used to it. Kurzweil, at long last, is fashionable. It's his time. Get to know him.
Hardwick, Chris. Know Your Future. Wired. July 2009. 034.
Kurzweil, Ray. The Singularity is Near. Viking. 2005. [ Referenced in http://mixnerstrategy.com/blog/2009/04/singularity_and_modern_man.html ]
Markoff, John. Scientists Worry Machines May Outsmart Man. New York Times. 4 August 2009. http://www.nytimes.com/2009/07/26/science/26robot.html?hp=&pagewanted=print