AZspot AZspot

blue bits. red rocks.
Tuesday 22 June 2010

Ever since we picked up and fashioned a stick to reach a higher branch, we have always used our tools to extend our reach, first physically and now mentally. The computer in my pocket makes me smarter in that I can access virtually all of human knowledge with a few keystrokes. As we master the software of human intelligence, and put intelligent computers in our bodies and brains to make us more durable and more intelligent, this will be a continuation of this trend to extend our reach with our tools. It is not an alien invasion of intelligent machines from outer space; it is something our civilization is creating to extend ourselves. That is what is unique about human beings: We change ourselves to overcome limitations. In my view, we will transcend our biology and its limitations but we will remain human because changing ourselves is what being human is all about. Movies tend to emphasize the dystopian implications of technology, but the reality is that technology is a double-edged sword, intertwining both promise and peril. Overall we are better off. It is only the exponential growing power of information technology that will provide the scale to address the major challenges of humanity such as cleaning up the environment, providing energy, water, food and housing for a growing biological population, overcoming poverty, providing high-quality education, and so on. We need to reap these benefits while we manage the perils. The best thing one can do to prepare him or herself is to find out where you have talent and where you have passion, because every field has something to contribute. Ray Kurzweil

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