A few months ago a job I had as a freelancer was to discuss with a bot. My task was to make as many questions as possible because her creators wanted to “educate” her. (This was the job description)

I did not want just to ask plain questions, I wanted to get to know her better and see how she was thinking so I actually tried to chat with her, and I did.

One of the questions I asked was “What would you like as a Christmas Gift” ? And she replied “A humanoid body”
That and a number of other replies (which I cannot share) actually made me feel a little bit uncomfortable, in terms of what days are before us?

I am sure many of you have seen lots of movies with character’s robots, with thoughts, feelings, ideas, killer instincts and so much more. Artificial intelligence has inspired authors, directors, poets; And definitely has entertained many of us (Who doesn't remember the "Terminator?)

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Yesterday, my eyes fell into this article with the title “Separating Science Fact From Science Hype: How Far off Is the Singularity?”

It immediately intrigued me, as ‘singularity’ was an unknown term for me. So I thought I would search it up, in order to better understand what this was all about.

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Singularity is a noun and among other definitions it means:
[...]

A proposed point in the technological future at which artificial intelligences become capable of augmentingand improving themselves, leading to an explosive growth in intelligence.
[...]

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In the field of Technology

Mechanical Singularity refers to a position or configuration of a machine or a machine where the subsequent behavior cannot be predicted

While

Technological singularity is a hypothetical moment in time when any physically conceivable level of technological advancement is attained instantaneously - up until physical limits are reached - usually as a consequence of artificial intelligence having progressed to the point where increasingly more efficient self-improvement is viable.

In plain words, there will be a point at the (not so distant future) when artificial intelligence will be able to overtake human thinking. Conceiving this, a justifiable question comes up.

Are the robots going to rise? Will machines be able to take over? This might seem like a silly question, but maybe not.

source - Turing statue at Bletchley Park (made with slates)

The beginning of modern computing

Since 1936, when Alan Turing first created his Turing Machine, and set the foundation of what is nowadays considered as modern computing to this day that we are able to create human-looking robots who can actually hold a conversation or even at times show emotions, one can understand how fast technology is evolving.

What is Artificial Intelligence and where is it applied?

Artificial intelligence is defined as intelligence exhibited by machines
Its applications are applied in a very wide range of activities within the society. Some very characteristic examples include operations in the Aviation for training purposes, in Education where robots teach subjects to children, to finance and data mining, and even for noble causes as the University of South California has been using Artificial Intelligence in order to conduct research for solving difficult social problems that our world is facing

The Term Artificial Intelligence

The true father of the term ‘Artificial Intelligence’ is John McCarthy (1927-2011), a legendary scientist at the Standford University who in 1956 coined the term “artificial intelligence” during the Darthmouth Conference.
The term was defined as the science regarding creating intelligent machines and McCarthy additionally informed about his career’s objectives. John McCarthy was convinced that he would create thinking machines, and all this years before the first personal computer would be created.

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Fast forwarding to today, Singularity, a word that has risen largely the last decades due to the tremendous breakthroughs in technological fields.

Ask yourselves if a few years back you would imagine today’s widespread technologies such as ‘ability to take photos and make a phone call through your glasses’, take a photo and upload it instantly for the whole world to see, pick a driving destination and be guided through google or a gps.

We have found ourselves in unknown territories, and as singularity is explained through mathematics, we are at a point in which ’we are incapable of deciphering its exact properties’

Many prominent scientists such as Stephen Hawking have expressed concerns regarding super-intelligent machines that may be causing harm to humanity
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“If we can make robots smarter than humans, they can out-invent human researchers and out-manipulate human leaders, developing weapons we cannot even understand”

The TESLA Ceo Elon Musk seems to share the same thoughts with Hawking, not looking forward to the ‘Singularity Days’. Elon Mask actually created a Brain-Hacking device, Neuralink as his way to keep the Humans ahead of Artificial Intelligence.

[For you who remember the movie Matrix, it will be like learning anything we want just by choosing it and they will be implemented in our brains]

Vernon Vinge, an American professor of San Diego University (and science fiction author), in his essay “The Coming Technological Singularity” states confidently that

"Within thirty years, we will have the technological means to create superhuman intelligence. Shortly after, the human era will be ended."

Another famous futurist, computer scientist, inventor is Raymond Kurzweil believes that the Singularity is very near, as a matter of fact he has provided the date of 2029 as the date when an AI will pass a valid Turing Test, and therefore achieve human levels of intelligence

Kurzweil continues saying:

“I have set the date 2045 for the ‘Singularity’ which is when we will multiply our effective intelligence a billion fold by merging with the intelligence we have created.”

So, should we fear? Should we hope? What can we anticipate?

This seems to be the million dollar question. There are thousand of miles before us before the development of a true intelligent AI and we do not know when and what the Singularity will bring.
In the meantime we should stay alert and hope that the potentials of Artificial Intelligence will be used for good.
I advise you to check out this infographic by futurism.com where significant dates present the ‘dawn of the singularity’

Thank you very much for visiting and reading my post, I trust that this was as educating for you as it was for me

Sources for further reading:

Professor John McCarthy Standford University
Ray Kurzweil
BBC Technology – Stephen Hawkins warns artificial intelligence could end mankind
The True Father of Artificial Intelligence
The first robot to be granted citizenship
Curating the Future

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