August 15, 2006
[ return to the news list ]
Stanford Daily (05/16/06) Cox, Katherine
Artificial intelligence technology inventor, author, and businessman Ray Kurzweil recently gave a talk at Stanford University predicting the "Coming Merger of Human and Machine," as his lecture was partially titled. Kurzweil believes information technologies will continue to experience exponential growth. Kurzweil also believes that artificial intelligence will match levels of human intelligence in the decade of 2020. Overall, Kurzweil noted that world-changing technological inventions--paradigm shifts--are happening in quicker succession in the modern and contemporary ages. Kurzweil says each invention helps make the next one possible at a quicker rate. For instance, while original computer designers designed using paper and pen in the 1950s, today computer engineers have computers themselves to abet and accelerate the design process. He says that analysts underestimate how fast technology can change, plotting future progress in constant terms rather than exponentially. He asks, "How can we make accurate predictions overall when any specific project is completely unpredictable." Wired magazine contributing editor Gary Wolf, reacting to the lecture, said, "If you hear about [Kurzweil] second-hand he sounds like an extremist, but his presentation is so rational and well supported by evidence that it really makes you question your own conservatism and caution."
For the complete article, see http://www.stanforddaily.com/article/2006/5/16/futuristSeesWorldChangedByTechnology
Posted by rab5 at 09:17 PM
[ return to the news list ]
