Trailer for new film by Doug Wolens The Singularity
January 24, 2013
Doug Wolens | The Singularity is defined as the point in time when computer intelligence exceeds human intelligence. This notion of superhuman machines has long served as fodder for tales of science fiction. Yet most scientific leaders argue that these changes are inevitable, based on the accelerating rate of technological progress.
Clearly, some emerging technologies could have unknown consequences that could lead to catastrophic events or be abused for malicious purposes.
While we cannot be certain of what our future brings, it is nonetheless important to understand the great strides being made in fields such as nanotechnology, artificial intelligence, and molecular biology, and how these technologies will radically alter the way we live. Inevitably, the question arises: what kind of humans do we want to become?
Director Doug Wolens speaks with leading futurists, computer scientists, artificial intelligence experts, and philosophers who turn over the question like a Rubik’s Cube. Those who insist this paradigm shift is only decades away emphasize that we’re on the cusp of creating nanotech machines that patrol our bloodstream and repair cellular damage, athletes with jacked-up genetic code who sprint like gazelles, an Internet that downloads directly to the mind, and medical labs with computer-replicated brains working by the thousands to cure disease.
Ultimately, if we become more machine-like, and machines more like us, will we sacrifice our humanity to gain something greater? Or will we engineer our own demise? Even if the answers are impossible to know, THE SINGULARITY makes clear that we cannot postpone addressing the questions.
The down-to-earth and visually fun animations created by Jerry van de Beek and Betsy de Fries of Little Fluffy Clouds, illustrate the complex ideas with clear and simple artistry. These animations build upon our past notions of the future and playfully complement the talking-head interviews.
The film’s score, composed by renowned cellist Chris Lancaster, resonates to the viewer’s core. Wanting to stay away from heavy-handed music and sound cues, Wolens and Lancaster collaborated to create a cohesive sound that reflects the film’s sensibilities and aesthetics.
THE SINGULARITY is a comprehensive and insightful documentary that examines technology’s accelerating rate, and deftly addresses the resulting moral questions.
— Doug Wolens
Related:
The Singularity film
Video Source: Doug Wolens
Comments (27)
by Jesse
Is there a way to purchase/rent this film outside of iTunes?
by Doug
Yes! It will be available through Amazon in a couple of days. Google Play in another 2 weeks. Or you can email me directly and I’ll set you up. doug@thesingularityfilm.com
by Nerd
I will definetely check this one out. I so wish to see some kind of singularity in my lifetime. And I even think chances are good that I will… Interestingly though, no matter what moral issues or imagined consequences, good or bad, might be involved in bringing a singularity of any kind into existence, men WILL DO it. Its just part of what we are. Its what fascinates and deeply terrifies me at the same time. Any kind of crazy scifi-horror-flick could become quite real. But I’ll try to look at the bright side of things. Because I REALLY REALLY want to have these erotic adventures in my virtual reality… ;)
by Bernard Garner
I was interested enough to order this film. Then I discovered that “shipping and handling” was $28. That left me with a distinct feeling that I was being ripped off. If Smartflix can do their shipping and handling for three bucks whoever is selling this video is a sleazebag.
by Doug
Wow, $28 is way too much for shipping for sure! That’s more than the cost of the film. You must be outside of the US. The shipping charges are set by the US Postal Service and I do not add a handling fee. I use priority mail service for speedy shipment, unfortunately the international shipping the rate is quite high. If you want to email me directly I can work out a different shipping method. Thanks! Doug@thesingularityfilm.com
by Mr. Kirk
Is this film currently available on Netflix or will it be in the future?
by Doug
Not Netflix, but it will be available on Amazon in the next few weeks. Hang tight!
by Jarek
Hi, I wanted to purchase a copy, however the iTunes store restricts it to the US market only, at least it is not available in the polish iTunes store, to purchase it from the US store I would need to a have US adress and a US credit card, dissapointing.
Best Regards
JL
by Doug
Hi JL. I know this is a problem. iTunes will not let me release the film on the Polish store because English is not the first language. And at this time I can’t afford subtitles.
Amazon is very close to releasing the film; perhaps another week or two.
If you email me i may be able to help you in the meantime. doug@thesingularityfilm.com
Thanks for your patience!
by Jarek
I’ll wait for the Amazon release then, thanks very much.
JL
by seeker
How long to premiere ?
by Bernard
It occurs to me that the realm of computer hacking and malware will undoubtably extend into the minds of people linked into the cloud promised by the singularity.
by Gabriel
Of course – the potential for misuse as tech goes further will only to continue to go up….but so too will the ability to defend ourselves, as well as the overall benefits of having it to begin with.
We have the threat of software viruses, but no one is saying that we should get rid of the internet.
by Michael McAnally
This is one of the most condensed videos on the Singularity in the last 3 years… the message is ready for the general public, however are the message givers ready to deliver? The answer to that is no… certainly not yet. Messages relating to management of “expectations” should now begin to be delivered as a balance to movies, shows. Hollywood will and has begun to present, Fringe, Avatar, Cloud Atlas, etc. If disillusionment occurs, as it always does, it may slow, stall or modify the curve of the Singularity. Transhumanism and Singularity movements have begun integrating, XFF LA Dec 21, 2012. Maybe all this is a good thing? Let’s be careful with our message.
by GatorALLin
Love the picture of the plug in jacks and electronics under the skin, but I would have to argue it would all be wireless, so no need for plug in jacks…that is so 2012… Geesh (and if there were plug in spots wouldn’t be done on the back of the neck to access the spinal column or brain stem, or in the fingertips with inductive charting or sending of data. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Inductive_charging )
by Doug
As we designed the poster my friend and i discussed this very issue and I chuckled. I like the poster because it does show rapid change. But more subtly, it alludes to obsolescence.
by Gabriel
I can understand that….I think Gator’s remarks was because it looks so crude; it projects the wrong kind of image given that tech will become only more supple (and effective) over time….you won’t be able to tell if someone had nanobots in them.
by GatorALLin
…I did think the poster was cool…. also thought the fingerprint of David in Prometheus was clever http://www.google.com/imgres?hl=en&safe=off&tbo=d&biw=1261&bih=868&tbm=isch&tbnid=ugr4nA4e9My5RM:&imgrefurl=http://www.prometheus2-movie.com/replies.php%3Fid%3D10967&docid=rtyOxq-Nx-RJcM&imgurl=http://i1150.photobucket.com/albums/o612/Nephilim-LV426/Prometheus/David8_finger.png&w=587&h=540&ei=hnQEUcHLKuOz2QW994DoDA&zoom=1&iact=rc&dur=435&sig=102229218371519488104&page=2&tbnh=136&tbnw=143&start=26&ndsp=35&ved=1t:429,r:60,s:0,i:268&tx=76&ty=35
by GatorALLin
another pic of the finger…. slightly different.
http://images4.wikia.nocookie.net/__cb20120701160942/avp/images/6/6c/Prometheus_pathogen.jpg
by Gabriel
What I’m curious about when it comes to these videos, is whether or not people’s opinions or feelings of something has changed…once you are knowledgable about the Singularity and all the related material, everything starts to look like the same thing simply repeated over…it’s the deeper questions and insights that are not often said, that really get my attention.
As before, perhaps people’s feelings on subjects have changed…perhaps Bill Mckibbin is supportive of the concept now, or disagrees more then ever; whatever the case, what I hope to see are new reflections as time goes on, rather then the same articulations and opinions from the same people repeated over and over.
by Bri
It would be nice if the trailer actually presented some of the moral issues. They are more important than any advance. Humanity is supposed to be humane. It talks the talk, but has a hard time walking the walk. Morals and ethics can be reduced to fundamental principals that are independent of religious influences. It’s not an easy topic though. Very hard to find consensus. To some extent the question is what is humanity up to? At times it appears schitzsphrenic but it does have definable goals. Morals end ethics. I’d like to see that discussed much more openly.
by Gabriel
Well, mind you, it IS just the trailer….their probably will delve into that; heck, you already get a sense of the whole moral issues by the text and the headline “will we survive our own technology?”
Personally, when I read this “Ultimately, if we become more machine-like, and machines more like us, will we sacrifice our humanity to gain something greater?”, it seems like an oxymoron to me….because, for goodness sake, if humans are to become more like machines (which is a worthless distinction if you already have the understanding that we are ‘already’ machines, merely biological), and machines more like humans, then the status quo doesn’t change.
Alot of the moral issues simply depend on how narrowly you view humans…the broader your views, the more alot of the ethical issues seem ego-centric and ultimately illogical; of course, people will argue against that and they have a right to that.
by GatorALLin
..I guess when I think of becoming more machine like…I think of the big stuff like the ability to plug in repair parts (or grow a new organ)…or live forever (upgrading or using repair parts as we go), and I also think about this change from 100% human to some ratio of man made biological or machine made Human2.0 and that just with the use of cars/phones/internet/computers that we are well on our way… maybe we are 1% there with some form of More’s law already in place. (remember the time frame for decoding the human genome was 1% done 7 years on 14 year plan and they were right on track, so maybe we are in the same spot now for this). For us in the moment, I think the switch over will be perceived as happening slowly or it is just as obvious a choice to use email vs hand written letters, or FB or cell phones… or gogle glasses, then with medical advancements it just makes sense to get a dental implant to replace your tooth…or that new hip ball joint, etc… then each tiny step is not perceived as some switch to being non human…but it is. Suddenly we are 20% non human….then 30%… and those that adopt it faster may have some slight advantages at work (read your email faster, search the internet faster at the sports bar for trivia night…, then for work, then you invent the next big thing, or download your memories, etc). Not knowing exactly where this is all going it is fun to stand back and guess…and ask the morality questions… if the idea is 50% non human or 100% non human at some point… but for now I see us all easing into high tech choices one tiny (almost imperceptible) step at a time.
by Pete
There exists many different meaning of the word “Machine”:
It may mean cold, inpersonal, unaffectionate.
Or it may mean fast and effective.
Everyone strives to become the latter, so I assume “fast and effective” is the correct meaning.
Allowing people to Become faster-working, more productive and more intelligent is what transhumanism promises.
by Doug
Hi Bri -
The film does address a number of deep questions and moral issues. Check it out.
by Bri
Hi Doug-
I appreciate your response. I lean toward a larger understanding of all the basic issues, so I try to instigate a deeper level of moral questions..It all stems from the fact that everything is interdependent to everything else. There are a lot of tricky issues that result. Tricky in the sense that humanity tends to be obtuse to them. We all have a responsibility to each other.
by Doug
yes, i agree bri.