The next big thing will be complexity science, the study of how order inevitability emerges from chaos, says Internet pioneer Jim Rutt. Rutt is interested in applying the theories of complexity science to develop computers, systems and software that will independently think and learn.

“When Ray Kurzweil wrote ‘Spiritual Age of Machines,’ I thought he was nuts,” Rutt said. “But now, I’m convinced that he is definitely onto something. I’m now thinking it quite likely that within maybe 30 years we’ll have true machine intelligence. It may be crazy but it’s not insane to be talking about machines that are a lot smarter than we are, machines with general-purpose intelligences, not just special problem-solving ones.”