The Singularity is Near: When Humans Transcend Biology

by Ray Kurzweil

basic philosophy: no matter what quandaries we face—business problems, health issues, relationship difficulties, as well as the great scientific, social, and cultural challenges of our time—there is an idea that can enable us to prevail.

I got access to an IBM 1620 and began to write programs for statistical analysis and subsequently for music composition.

Inventing is a lot like surfing: you have to anticipate and catch the wave at just the right moment.

Our progress in reverse engineering the human brain, a key issue that I will describe in detail in this book, demonstrates that we do indeed have the ability to understand, to model, and to extend our own intelligence.

“any sufficiently advanced technology is indistinguishable from magic.”