Renowned futurist Ray Kurzweil suggests that the convergence of artificial and human intelligence is inevitable, potentially leading to a significant increase in human life expectancy.
The concept of singularity, which refers to the merging of human intelligence and AI, is borrowed from the world of quantum physics. Futurologists have long debated when this technological singularity will occur, a moment that could propel humanity to a new level of development and potentially extend our lifespans.
American computer scientist and futurist Ray Kurzweil has consistently argued that this singularity is likely to occur by the mid-21st century. With the rapid advancement of AI, its predictions are becoming more and more plausible, as noted by Popular mechanics.
In July this year, Kurzweil released his latest book, The singularity is closera follow-up to his 2005 book The Singularity Is Near. In this new work, Kurzweil claims that human intelligence will be enhanced a million times through the use of nanobots implanted in our brains.
While many predictions made by futurologists have not come true, others have come true. Either way, such predictions broaden our understanding of what the future might bring.
Kurzweil has long maintained that humanity is moving toward a technological singularity, where man and machine will merge. Twenty-five years ago, he predicted that by 2029, AI would be able to perform a trillion calculations per second. This idea was initially met with skepticism, with some scientists suggesting that such progress would take at least another century. However, recent breakthroughs in AI indicate that Kurzweil’s theory could become a reality much sooner than expected.
In his new book, Kurzweil not only confirms his earlier predictions about the development of AI, but also states that by 2045, humans will be able to increase their intelligence a million times through nanobots implanted in their brains. He envisions a future where natural and cybernetic intelligence work together in harmony as a single entity.
Previously, Kurzweil suggested that achieving singularity would give humans superintelligence, allowing the creation of revolutionary technologies and turning humans into biomechanical beings.
Some scientists, such as Marcus du Sautoy of the University of Oxford, agree that the convergence of humans and AI is inevitable and has already begun. Du Sautoy believes that humanity is moving towards a hybrid future where AI and human intelligence can coexist and complement each other.
However, this hybrid existence raises numerous challenges and questions. How will this affect human behavior? Could it lead to immortality? And how might it redefine what it means to be human?
Kurzweil is optimistic that AI will bring about unprecedented advances in medicine, making the concept of immortality a plausible reality. He predicts that technologies will emerge in the early 2030s that can gradually extend human life expectancy. However, he warns that this is no guarantee that humanity will achieve eternal life.
