The Singularity Is Nearer: When We Merge with AI

by Ray Kurzweil

The promise of the Singularity is to free us all from those limitations. For thousands of years, humans have gradually been gaining greater control over who we can become. Medicine has enabled us to overcome injuries and disabilities. Cosmetics have allowed us to shape our appearance to our personal tastes. Many people use legal or illegal drugs to correct psychological imbalances or experience other states of consciousness. Wider access to information lets us feed our minds and form mental habits that physically rewire our brains. Art and literature inspire empathy for kinds of people we’ve never met and can help us grow in virtue. Modern mobile apps can be used to build discipline and cultivate healthy lifestyles. People who are transgender have greater ability than ever before to make their physical bodies match the gender identity that they experience inside. Imagine how much more we’ll be able to shape ourselves when we can program our brains directly. And so merging with superintelligent AI will be a worthy achievement, but it is a means to a higher end. Once our brains are backed up on a more advanced digital substrate, our self-modification powers can be fully realized. Our behaviors can align with our values, and our lives will not be marred and cut short by the failings of our biology. Finally, humans can be truly responsible for who we are.[92]