The Transcendent Man

Has anybody seen this documentary?

Its about inventor and futurist Ray Kurzweil. He has some interesting predictions about the future.

The Law of Accelerating Returns states that technology (and many other systems) evolve exponentially. Pretty simple concept to understand if you just look at how far we have come since the Industrial Revolution. Kurzweil bases his predictions around this theory.

Basically, he says advances in genetics, nanotechnology, and artificial intelligence will allow humans to live forever. Once we master genetics we will be able to "reprogram" ourselves. Nanotechnology will allow us to replace cells with computerized cells, which will stop the aging process and provide unfathomable medical benefits. Super intelligence will basically allow our brains to become computers and allow us to "back up" our brain onto a hard drive.

According to Kurweil we will reach The Singularity in 2045. The singularity will be the point at which total computing power exceeds total human brain power. At this point there will be an "intelligence explosion". New knowledge will be discovered and new technologies will be invented at a rate that cannot be fathomed. 2045 seems too soon, but I think we will all see it happen in our life times.

Of course, all this technology could be the end of humans, and Kurzweil touches on this. However, I hold the same optimistic view that he does. Just as we are evolving technologically, culturally, etc we are also evolving morally. Humans will adapt...we have been here this long. We have over come a lot of obstacles. This is just another step in my opinion.

I would not want to live forever.. I'm bored enough as it is

I agree.

However, I think I might have my body cryopreserved when I die. That way I could be revived when we have the technology to really travel through space. Thats the only reason I would want to live for ever. Traveling around the galaxy would give a person plenty to do.

How is this measured?

My own experience working in the field of AI makes me think this guy is way overestimating how intelligent we can get computers to become.

I definitely agree that his prediction for when this technology will become available is optimistic. As is his view on how that technology will be used.

And I'm not sure how they measure total human brain power and total computer power. I think they might explain it in the documentary, its on Netflix fyi.