A Shorter Path to Singularity

The coming technological singularity, defined by Ray Kurzweil as "technological change so rapid and profound it represents a rupture in the fabric of human history," is predicted in his book The Singularity Is Near: When Humans Transcend Biology to occur around 2045. But Marshall Brain (yes, that's really his name), founder of How Stuff Works, a noted author and a fan of robotics, says that it could happen a lot sooner than that, with one caveat: we have to really really try.

By "we," he means gifted computer scientists, coming together in a coordinated effort. Brain claims to have already "arrived at a detailed software design that is capable of giving rise to intelligence at the human level and beyond." But he needs a cadre of scientists to help with the implementation, testing and teaching. To this end he has started a small software company called Novamente LLC7.

I certainly wish Marshall God-speed. Stay tuned.

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