The Singularity Is Near: When Humans Transcend Biology
by Ray Kurzweil
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Read in November, 2006
recommended to Douglas by:
Glenn Reynoldsrecommends it for: anyone interested in technology
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Read in December, 2007
Kurzweil has made a living of being a futurist and an inventor. Many of his inventions are the result of his predictions coming true, so there is good reason to listen to what he has to say on the topic. The main idea is that the evolution of technology is not linear (as most people think) but exponential. This exponential development of key technologies leads to dramatic changes in human history over relatively short periods of time. Good examples include the internet and cell phones. The book ...more
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Read in February, 2008
A great overview of potential advancements in genetics, nanotechnology, and robotics (GNR). It's a long book, in places longer than it should be (which isn't a sign of laziness so much as an inability to trust the reader - e.g., I felt the discussion of exponential growth was belabored). It's a fascinating primer on the current theoretical state of many cutting-edge technologies and the critique of linear growth models is well-taken. While there are many times that Kurzweil comes off as overly ...more
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Read in July, 2007
NOTES:
-singularity: merger between biological thinking/existence and our technology
-the rate of change itself is accelerating
-the most advanced mammals have added 1 cubic inch of brain matter every 100,000 years whereas the computational capacity of computers doubles every year (but neither are sole determiners of intelligence) -a billion years ago not much happened during 1 million years but 250,000 years ago big events (like the creation of our species) ocurred in time frames of just 10...more
-singularity: merger between biological thinking/existence and our technology
-the rate of change itself is accelerating
-the most advanced mammals have added 1 cubic inch of brain matter every 100,000 years whereas the computational capacity of computers doubles every year (but neither are sole determiners of intelligence) -a billion years ago not much happened during 1 million years but 250,000 years ago big events (like the creation of our species) ocurred in time frames of just 10...more
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Has a copy to sell/swap
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Read in January, 2008
I've been fascinated by the huge potential for technological change since first hearing about nanotechnology about 10 years ago. This book is both grand in scope and precise in detail in describing the promise and perils of technologies which which will be coming in the not so distant future.
The first chapter alone made buying this book a good investment. It was not only eye opening, but riveting, if not downright worrisome. Then, however, the book takes a turn into the examination of evid...more
The first chapter alone made buying this book a good investment. It was not only eye opening, but riveting, if not downright worrisome. Then, however, the book takes a turn into the examination of evid...more
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Perhaps I will revisit this book and its subject matter relatively soon, let me just say that not long after reading parts of this work I definitely count what is called "transhumanism" to be the "World's Most Dangerous Idea".
Perhaps if someone could explain to me these concepts in terms of why a human being with a shred of moral responsibility would even be slightly interested in pursuing the goal of much of what is discussed herein, I might reconsider my judgment.
...more
Perhaps if someone could explain to me these concepts in terms of why a human being with a shred of moral responsibility would even be slightly interested in pursuing the goal of much of what is discussed herein, I might reconsider my judgment.
...more
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Read in July, 2006
recommends it for:
anyone who worries about global catastrophe
I wanted to read this book because I wanted to hear about a possible future that didn't include ever-worsening climate change, Islamic terrorism, corporate hegemony, or any other Orwellian or Kafkaesque scenario. And it delivered in spades. The thesis of the book, laid out in its first chapter, states that the fields of nanotechnology, bioengineering, and robotics, are advancing and converging at geometric rates, zooming us toward the Singularity, a point beyond which (if I remember him correctl...more
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Read in July, 2007
recommends it for:
anyone with an interest in computers, technology, or biochemistry
I would consider this an 'impact book', one that truly changed the way I perceive the world. Kurzweil aims to convince his reader that we are on the cusp of an exponential growth in genetics, nanotechnology, and robotics (GNR) that will fundamentally change humanity, creating humans that are fully integrated with machines, live as long as they like, and frequently immerse themselves in virtual worlds. Its premise sounds a bit far-fetched but his meticulous research, incredibly broad grasp of c...more
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Take everything this man says with a grain of salt.
Ray Kurzweil hits his point home through and through. Which is: technology is developing at an exponential pace, and that the "singularity," representing the point in time when that pace hits the "knee" of the exponential curve is soon upon us. He presents some very interesting results in the context of this hypothesis, though the direct consequence is arguable to say the least. This isn't the first nor the last of the fu...more
Ray Kurzweil hits his point home through and through. Which is: technology is developing at an exponential pace, and that the "singularity," representing the point in time when that pace hits the "knee" of the exponential curve is soon upon us. He presents some very interesting results in the context of this hypothesis, though the direct consequence is arguable to say the least. This isn't the first nor the last of the fu...more
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Tired of sleeping peacefully? Do you feel a bit to contented and secure as you go about your daily business? Has your overwhelming sense of anxiety and ennui drifted to a mere background drone rather then an overpowering howl?
Then dear friends this is the book for you! Guaranteed to make you weep softly in the night as you clutch your knees to your chest! Certified to make you stop showering! Neglect your loved ones and friends because damnit what's the point!!?!?! Darkly contemplate your ra...more
Then dear friends this is the book for you! Guaranteed to make you weep softly in the night as you clutch your knees to your chest! Certified to make you stop showering! Neglect your loved ones and friends because damnit what's the point!!?!?! Darkly contemplate your ra...more
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Read in January, 2007
Excerpt from my book, Dynamic Markets Leadership, all rights reserved:
New technologies arrive faster and faster, affecting many traditional products of Lazy Markets. Ray Kurzweil, a noted inventor in Artificial Intelligence and the Information Technology industry, observed that
...we won't experience one hundred years of technological advance in the twenty-first century; we will witness on the order of twenty thousand years of progress (again, when measured by today's rate of progress), o...more
New technologies arrive faster and faster, affecting many traditional products of Lazy Markets. Ray Kurzweil, a noted inventor in Artificial Intelligence and the Information Technology industry, observed that
...we won't experience one hundred years of technological advance in the twenty-first century; we will witness on the order of twenty thousand years of progress (again, when measured by today's rate of progress), o...more
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Read in June, 2007
Interesting prognostications from a great inventor and thinker. Kurzweil's argument is that we will have computers that are as smart as humans, nanobots that can cure disease and eliminate aging, and transcend biology to mesh with technology. His evidence essentially stems from what he perceives as the accelerating pace of computation and knowledge until we reach the Singularity, the point where our creations are smarter than us and can enhance our abilities. While the evidence that the develop...more
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Read in August, 2007
recommends it for:
every single person on the planet
I don't try to sell the Kool-Ade all that often, but this book earns an exception. Kurzweil lays out the next 40 years of technology and history to come, and its very compelling. A little too outlandish to be believable, but I think he's on the right track.
His argument, simply put: humans have trouble distinguishing linear trends from the early (pre-"elbow") part of exponential trends, but we're about to hit a Moore's-Law-fueled elbow in all walks of life. And that will change EV...more
His argument, simply put: humans have trouble distinguishing linear trends from the early (pre-"elbow") part of exponential trends, but we're about to hit a Moore's-Law-fueled elbow in all walks of life. And that will change EV...more
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Read in October, 2006
recommends it for:
questioners, especially of religion
The idea of the proliferation and amplification of intelligence as the purpose of the universe (and correlatively the "meaning of life" I guess) is something that makes sense in an incredibly profound way. I think this will ultimately be Kurzweil's legacy, as it is a concept that is at once observable and based on empiricism (and this is where the strength of this book lies: in its sobriety and reliance on evidence), but also is entirely in harmony with the problems of mortality and ...more
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Read in February, 2008
So far: This book is pretty dense. A lot of graphs and crap that have to do with math, (algorithmic charts and such). But the fun of this is book is glimpsing into what might be with nano-tech and virtual reality as well as zero energy computation and "time travel" computation, actually sending particles back in time to compute the equation in the present. Its amazing to think in a few short years we will have successfully reverse engineered the human brain.
The only problem I have wit...more
The only problem I have wit...more
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Read in February, 2008
This is a tremendous book. It addresses the concept of the singularity, which is essentially the point at which computers become as powerful as the human brain
(and beyond). while this concept might seem vague, the author discusses the exponential growth of technology in detail, with surprising insight. It's all communicated very clearly, and the implications are mind-blowing, really, if a little frightening. This book is hard to review/explain, but I truly think almost anyone with any interes...more
(and beyond). while this concept might seem vague, the author discusses the exponential growth of technology in detail, with surprising insight. It's all communicated very clearly, and the implications are mind-blowing, really, if a little frightening. This book is hard to review/explain, but I truly think almost anyone with any interes...more
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recommends it for:
Anyone who plans to live another 15 years
This book, by one of the most powerful, creative, and innovative minds of our time, predicts an event to occur within the next fifty years that will represent a break with the entirety of our history as a species on this planet: our transcendance of biology through advanced technologies. As one of the true revolutionaries in technology himself, whose ability to predict, and even create future trends in technology are legendary, this
"heir to Thomas Edison" is a fascinating source for...more
"heir to Thomas Edison" is a fascinating source for...more
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the nanonbots are upon us
and now im paranoid about using sunblock
but this is a fascinating book-his optimism is dangerous- or at least a little immoral ( he advocates a much swifter release of technology so that it can get better faster, sacrifice a few to save the many kind of thing) but ignores the kind of public health disasters that I think would become frightenly large scale. Interesting for me to compare with jared diamonds discussions of how developing cultures adopt technology....more
and now im paranoid about using sunblock
but this is a fascinating book-his optimism is dangerous- or at least a little immoral ( he advocates a much swifter release of technology so that it can get better faster, sacrifice a few to save the many kind of thing) but ignores the kind of public health disasters that I think would become frightenly large scale. Interesting for me to compare with jared diamonds discussions of how developing cultures adopt technology....more
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Read in January, 2007
A fascinating, optimistic view of the future. Kurzweil makes some startling predictions that at first sound like science fiction, but are all based on well-documented, established trends of technological development. The parts on nano-technology are especially interesting. Anyone who wishes they had been born at some other time in history should definitely read this! This is an exponentially advancing technological society we're living in, and we're right at the elbow of the curve.
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Read in January, 2007
recommends it for:
Nerds afraid of dying
Live long enough, and you can live forever. Kurzweil believes technological change will continue to accelerate, and that the rate of change will increase (he gives excellent examples of why this is almost surely so), and that we will soon merge with our technology, outgrowing our version 1.0 bodies, allowing us to live forever, in any format we desire.
It's pretty cool, but hopelessly geeky and often obtuse. But he does get his point across, and its both terrifying and awe-inspiring...
It's pretty cool, but hopelessly geeky and often obtuse. But he does get his point across, and its both terrifying and awe-inspiring...
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