In this keynote given at the 8th Annual Foresight Conference, Raymond Kurzweil discusses exponential trends in various technologies, and the double-edged sword accelerating technologies represent.… read more
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Live Forever–Uploading The Human Brain…Closer Than You Think
April 9, 2001 by Ray Kurzweil
Ray Kurzweil ponders the issues of identity and consciousness in an age when we can make digital copies of ourselves.… read more
Promise And Peril
April 9, 2001 by Ray Kurzweil
Bill Joy wrote a controversial article in Wired advocating “relinquishment” of research on self-replicating technologies, such as nanobots. In this rebuttal, originally published in Interactive Week, Ray Kurzweil argues that these developments are inevitable and advocates ethical guidelines and responsible oversight.… read more
Singularity Math Trialogue
March 28, 2001 by Ray Kurzweil, Vernor Vinge, Hans Moravec
Hans Moravec, Vernor Vinge, and Ray Kurzweil discuss the mathematics of the Singularity, making various assumptions about growth of knowledge vs. computational power.… read more
Kurzweil vs. Dertouzos
March 7, 2001 by Ray Kurzweil, Michael L. Dertouzos
In this Technology Review article, Raymond Kurzweil and Michael Dertouzos debate Bill Joy’s Wired article urging “relinquishment” of research in certain risky areas of nanotechnology, genetics, and robotics.… read more
The Law of Accelerating Returns
March 7, 2001 by Ray Kurzweil
An analysis of the history of technology shows that technological change is exponential, contrary to the common-sense “intuitive linear” view. So we won’t experience 100 years of progress in the 21st century — it will be more like 20,000 years of progress (at today’s rate). The “returns,” such as chip speed and cost-effectiveness, also increase exponentially. There’s even exponential growth in the rate of exponential growth. Within a few decades, machine intelligence will surpass human intelligence, leading to The Singularity — technological change so rapid and profound it represents a rupture in the fabric of human history. The implications include the merger of biological and nonbiological intelligence, immortal software-based humans, and ultra-high levels of intelligence that expand outward in the universe at the speed of light.… read more
Dear PC: R.I.P.
February 21, 2001 by Ray Kurzweil
Ray Kurzweil’s vision of the post-PC future includes nanobots and fully immersive virtual reality.… read more
The Coming Merging of Mind and Machine
February 21, 2001 by Ray Kurzweil
Ray Kurzweil predicts a future with direct brain-to-computer access and conscious machines. From Scientific American.… read more
The Web Within Us: Minds and Machines Become One.
February 21, 2001 by Ray Kurzweil
Ray Kurzweil’s vision for the 21st century and beyond includes reverse-engineering the human brain and non-biological intelligences.… read more
Human Cloning is the Least of It
February 21, 2001 by Ray Kurzweil
In this message posted to the WIRED Future List, Raymond Kurzweil asserts that cloning–replicating animals, organs, and cells–has profound implications for health and well-being of both humans and animals, including a possible solution for world hunger. He also sees no problem with human cloning.… read more
The Library Journal | The virtual book revisited
February 1, 1993 by Ray Kurzweil
An addendum to predictions that appeared in The Age of Intelligent Machines, written for “The Futurecast,” a monthly column in The Library Journal.
One of the advantages of being in the futurism business is that by the time your readers are able to find fault with your forecasts, it is too late for them to ask for their money back. Like the sorcerer who predicted he would live forever, he was never proven wrong – at least not during his lifetime.
Nonetheless, I like to monitor the progress of my predictions. I take satisfaction when projections that seemed so startling when first proposed become progressively less so as the world accommodates ever accelerating change.