The Singularity Is Near
In his New York Times best seller The singularity is Near, Kurzweil explains and supports with facts, in 652 fascinating pages, how science and technology are constantly compounded in evolutionary fashion.
The subject of this book is ?when humans transcend technology.? In simplest terms, it describes when computers will be smarter than humans, an event the author contends is inevitable.
This is not science fiction, as entertaining as that is. It is a scientifically authenticated explanation of the state-of-the art in artificial intelligence and where it is headed, written by a distinguished scientist inventor.
When Humans Transcend Biology
Here?s what Bill Gates had to say about the book. ?Ray Kurzweil is the best person I know at predicting the future of artificial intelligence. His intriguing new book envisions a future in which information technologies have advanced so far and fast that they enable humanity to transcend its biological limitations transforming our lives in ways we can?t yet imagine.?
The first part of the book establishes in scientific detail the evolutionary process that shatters the assumption that the pace of change will continue at the current rate, what the author describes as ?the intuitive linear view of history.? Historically, he contends, science and technology are advancing exponentially.
The remarkable aspect of this book is not only its indisputable facts about how science and technology have brought society to where we are, but also its knowledgeable insights into where it will carry us.
Here is a breathtaking observation for every businessperson to consider. ?New Models based on direct personalized communication with the customer will transform every industry, resulting in massive disintermediation of the middle layers that have traditionally separated the customer from the ultimate source of products or services.?
Here?s another example, ?Once we have full-immersion virtual-reality environments incorporating all of the senses, which will be feasible by the late 2020s, there will be no reason to utilize real offices. Real estate will become virtual.?
The book?s more than 600 pages may be intimidating, but shouldn?t be. Quite a bit of it is supporting documentation that can be skipped over to discover the points that are relevant to the non-scientist management person.
Kurzweil is one of the world?s leading inventors, thinkers, and futurists. He has 13 honorary doctorates, and awards from three U.S. presidents. He has numerous inventions to his credit and has been described as the ?rightful heir to Thomas Edison.?