You put a stake in the ground with your book. The singularity is near. This one is called T.The singularity is closer. How is uniqueness defined?
For me it is when a human being will not only be able to do everything that other people can do, but also create something new, like curing certain forms of cancer. AI is critical to achieving this, because you can actually try every possible combination of things that could cure cancer. And instead of wondering which of those billions of possible cures we are going to test, we can test them all and simulate them in a few days. The singularity is when we can actually combine that kind of thinking with our normal thinking, and then we will become superhuman.
If we get to that point where we are all merged with super-intelligent systems, will there still be huge personal fortunes or will income inequality be mitigated at that point?
What’s the difference between, say, us and billionaires? They can sell companies and so on. But in terms of our ability to enjoy the fruits of life, it is more or less the same.
More than half of the people in the United States cannot find $500 for an emergency. Are you sure that the social safety net, universal basic income, and programs like that will equally share in this promised abundance?
The safety net has been greatly expanded. There are hundreds of programs. And will continue to do so. Is that guaranteed? No. It depends on the decisions we make and the type of political systems we implement. Once we reach AGI, computers will be able to do anything, including washing dishes and writing poetry; Anything you say, these machines can do.
Your opinions seem Panglossian to me. Do you feel that humans are essentially good?
Yes. From all this turmoil, we have obtained technology, which would never have happened without brains combined with opposable thumbs. Good things happen.
You could They argue that we are destroying the planet.
Well, no. Within 10 years we will have renewable energy that does not produce carbon dioxide. Look, we are going through a very big change. People (not just scientists and philosophers) ask, “How are we going to handle this?” I think those changes will continue to be positive. We don’t have to worry about that.
Vernor Vinge, who first developed the concept of singularity, also died recently. Were you in contact with him?
I was in contact with him along the way. I think the last time was probably 10 years ago. How old was the?
I think he was about eighty years old. (Kurzweil picks up his phone.) Yes, check that part of your brain.
(looking at the screen) Okay, he was born in ’44. He just died in ’24. Seventy-nine. He is quite young.
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