RE: What is the singularity?

From: Lee Corbin (lcorbin@tsoft.com)
Date: Wed Aug 01 2001 - 10:16:04 MDT


>From http://www.kurzweilai.net/brain/frame.html?startThought=Singularity

Defined by Vernor Vinge as the postulated point or short period in our future when our
self-guided evolutionary development accelerates enormously (powered by nanotechnology,
neuroscience, AI, and perhaps uploading) so that nothing beyond that time can reliably be
conceived. The Singularity is a common matter of discussion in transhumanist circles.
There is no concise definition, but usually the Singularity is meant as a future time when
societal, scientific and economic change is so fast we cannot even imagine what will
happen from our present perspective, and when humanity will become posthumanity. Another
definition is the singular time when technological development will be at its fastest.

Lee



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