Singularity

In Lev Grossman's, 1945 The Year Man Becomes Immortal, he states, "Computers are getting faster. Everybody knows that. Also, computers are getting faster faster — that is, the rate at which they're getting faster is increasing."(Grossman). Will humans lose themselves and this Earth to computers? According to Raymond Kurzweil, the answer is yes. When Kurzweil was just 17 years old he appeared on  games show called I've Got A Secret and revealed a computer that composed music. He believes that we are approaching singularity. "Kurzweil believes that we're approaching a moment when computers will become intelligent, and not just intelligent but more intelligent than humans. When that happens, humanity-our bodies, our minds, our civilization- will be completely and irreversibly transformed"(Grossman).Kurzweil believes that this concept of singularity is inevitable and within 35 years there will be an end to human civilization as we know it today. Singularity as described in the article states that, "The one thing all these theories have in common is the transformation of our species into something that is no longer recognizable as such to humanity circa 2011."(Grossman). Eventually, computers will reach a level of intelligence equal to that of man and soon after, a level much higher and unthinkable to man. This highlights the idea of artificial intelligence, the technology will soon be technology based and produced, man will be pushed out of the picture. People believe that we may eventually have to share our planet with these machines that will become far too intelligent for humans. Some people even believe that, "we'll merge with them to become super-intelligent cyborgs, using computers to extend our intellectual abilities. Maybe the artificial intelligences will help us treat the effects of old age and prolong our life spans indefinitely" (Grossman). This idea of an extended lifespan and a possible eradication of aging and sickness and health issues seems very plausible and even inviting to some people. To other people however, this idea of extending your lifespan through technological means is a contradiction to religion and God. Many people simply see this idea and concept as being far fetched and unlikely. However, people like Kurzweil believe it is inevitable and the day is approaching very soon because of technology and its continual exponential growth. Brave New World represents what a society run by technology would be like. The technology has becoming so powerful that even things like a home, a mother, and a father seem far fetched. For instance, in Brave New World, everyone  has a sole purpose and that is to serve the society. They are machines that are simply working or the betterment of the society. Their places in society are predetermined and they are not given the opportunity to be an individual. Bernard, a protagonist in the novel, believes that there is more out there and than simply working for the society. He longs to be authentic and original, he wants to be able to exercise free thought and let his mind render him capable of anything. For instance, in chapter 6 he states, "But wouldn't you like to be free to be happy in some other way, Lenina? In your own way, for example; not in everybody else's way?"(Huxley 91). Bernard believes that true happiness will come from getting free, out of the grip of this society that doesn't allow him any freedom. This civilization is based on artificial intelligence, because as the article stated, technology has taken over. Technology makes people. Technology shapes them into what they should be. Technology controls their thoughts. Technology tells them how they can be happy. And even after they die, technology finds a way to make them efficient. Technology has already merged with civilization in this book. People have become very dependent on technology even nowadays. With the growing reliance, machines and technology are going to continue their rapid increase in growth and power. So long as we want to determine what we do with our lives, how to make ourselves happy, and be the force that controls our own emotions and thoughts, we should be cautious about our over reliance.