Credible or Crazy…

… or a little of both…?  That’s what I was left feeling after reading The Singularity is Near (at least most of it), Ray Kurzweil’s most recent book and NY Times bestseller.  I normally wait until I finish a book before I comment on it, but it’s as if the author intentionally uses his bold predictions to prod the reader,… forcing one to have an opinion.  The book lays out in fascinating detail how the power and capacity of technological innovation will continue to escalate, at an ever increasing rate (Moore’s Law on steroids).  This acceleration is rapidly approaching what Kurzweil labels as ‘singularity’,… an exponential event with seemingly no limitations.  And we’re not talking a long ways off.  Kurzweil predicts that by the end of the 2020’s, we will have hardware/software systems capable of emulating human intelligence.  But then it really gets interesting.

It’s then that Kurzweil says we will, literally and figuratively, merge with machines,… and machines will “transcend the limitations of our biological bodies and brains.”  I agree we humans have limitations, lots of them.  We get old and don’t move as well, and we are forgetful to just name a few.  And a machine can run forever (assuming you have power), and memory can be virtually unlimited.  But it is interesting how Kurzweil suggests machines will eventually outperform us.  They will learn what our brains and bodies do well today, such as pattern recognition and DNA replication, copy it, and improve on it.  Kurzweil promises a world that is beyond what we can possibly imagine, one that is “human but that transcends our biological roots”,… a world in which we will be able to live as long as we want.  Kurzweil himself takes 250 supplements a day to turn back his own biological clock!

This is where I start to have problems with the book.  I’m not so sure that imbedding thousands of nanobots in our brains is going to make us more human, as Kurzweil claims.  I can see where technological capability will continue to advance, and I totally agree these advancements will allow mankind to achieve more than he can today,… I just wouldn’t say this makes us more human.  Technology is and will always be basically a tool, a tool to be leveraged by humans, no different than a hammer or a wheel.  Kurzweil himself invented some of these powerful tools – like the first reading machine for the blind.  But, the difference is it didn’t try and eliminate the person, it merely gave them an ability they did not have before.  Now Kurzweil’s singularity suggests we take our extensive knowledge of biochemistry, neurology and cybernetics and remake our bodies,… as in what we started with is not good enough.  I actually don’t mind that I forget the name of that old school mate that is approaching me on the street.  It’s a little awkward for sure, but something you get over and even laugh about it later that evening.  Missteps and mistakes are human.  To never make them because we have unlimited reference banks and operate under control of AI processors, doesn’t add to my experience,… it actually shortchanges it.

The book does an excellent job defending the value of technological evolution.  To be able to cure diseases like cancer would be wonderful.  To be able to provide natural forms of energy to satisfy the world’s growing demands, and bring life-giving resources (fresh water, electricity) to remote corners of the world, is phenomenal.  In my view, that’s leveraging the tools of technology to satisfy our human desire for compassion and caregiving.  But if machines take away the need to extend our hand in assistance to another, because it can solve the problem before we have a chance to form an emotional response,… then I think we all lose.  I also believe that placing machines as the end all, be all, solution for big global issues like the environment, somewhat minimizes the urgency to take personal responsibility now to do what is right.

I do plan to finish the book, as I said Ray Kurzweil gives a brilliant account of the potential within our grasp with technology.  My only hope is that we won’t have to become one with it to benefit from it.  Hardwired or Human…?