Various "singularities"

Steve Witham (sw@tiac.net)
Wed, 11 Dec 1996 01:04:02 -0500


In these criticisms of belief in "the Singularity," I can't help be curious
*which* idea of singularity is being criticized. Anders, Max and Shaun,
for instance, seem to be talking about some wildly optimistic, "let's
sit back and wait for Santa" version. Well, singularity isn't singular.
Just which ideas under this umbrella do you all have problems with?

I certainly have problems with a large fraction, but I try to infer
which singularity someone is writing about and criticize particular
ideas.

Since my idea of Singularity is one of alarm, of "agonizing reappraisal,"
as they said in The Shockwave Rider, I wonder whether, when people say
the Singularity won't happen, they mean I should relax.

--Steve

--
sw@tiac.net                                    http://www.tiac.net/users/sw
"It just keeps going and going and therefore you yourself have to keep
 going and going." --Energizer Bunny researcher