The Singularity

Transcending the human condition through a super-intelligence

A combination of two worlds

Thesis: The human brain is able to accomplish marvelous feats of intelligence.

We have a capability to extend our knowledge about the universe by thinking alone. Sir Isaac Newton and Gottfried Wilhelm Leibniz for example both invented (almost simultaneously) one of the most important fields of mathematics - namely Calculus - by locking themselves in their rooms and playing around with the basic tools of pre-existing math. But our brains are very slow when it comes to complex calculations owing that to the fact that we didn't need math to survive evolution.

Thesis: The central processing unit is able to accomplish marvelous feats of mathematics.

We have created machines that can - equipped with the rules our brains derived from the laws of nature & mathematics - calculate massive amounts of information at an incredible speed with perfect accuracy. But devoid of these rules they are also incredibly stupid.
These paragraphs are a simple elaboration on the famous Einstein quote:

Computers are incredibly fast, accurate, and stupid. Human beings are
incredibly slow, inaccurate, and brilliant. Together they are powerful beyond imagination.

Together...

What did he mean by that? Famous futurist Ray Kurzweil is convinced that a human-machine-interface is an inevitable fact of human progress; that we will be enhancing human intelligence with the aid of technology. But he goes even further by saying we are approaching a point in history in which we will create intelligence that is superior to human intelligence and thus will be able to improve itself recursively leading to an exponential growth of intelligence (Intelligence explosion). Disregarding ethical implications for the moment such a super intelligence will make any (purely) human thought from then on obsolete (regarding science and progress of course). This will be the moment of the technological singularity.

Whether it will be a computer-based AI or a trans-human with an enhanced brain remains to be seen. In any case once such an intelligence is in existence, the range of applications is vast to say the least:
Robotic medical doctors performing life-saving surgery with perfect accuracy, unless of course we won't already have nanotechnology healing us from within our bloodstream. Millions of worker robots generating enough wealth for every single human, making money obsolete and affording us all a comfortable, healthy life, which also means no more armed conflict, because what would be the point? All we want is a wealthy, enjoyable life.

Space exploration with hyperintelligent robots and thus spaceships without (material- as well as energy-) expensive life support systems is another application.
Imagine armies of robots roaming the canyons of Mars, terraforming it and building human habitats or sentient ships mining for resources on asteroids while others collect hydrogen from the suns corona as fuel, all without human intervention. The Alcubierre drive could be developed, allowing us to reach for the stars.

Overpopulation will be no concern, depleted terran resources will be no concern, illnesses and all the other petty things that hold us meatbags back and tie us to this fragile cradle will all no longer be a concern. Mankind can fullfill its potential and reach out into space. After all there's enough room, isn't it...?

Post Scriptum:
I originally published this article on my blog in early 2014. Coincidentally this genius short documentary related to the topic here was released later that year. I urge you to watch it!