“The Singularity” is a term coined by John von Neumann, a major figure in the history of computer science. The concept refers to a hypothetical time when computers become more intelligent than humans and can improve themselves without our input. Imagine a run-away reaction where artificial intelligence is able to improve itself. This improved self is able to further improve itself. With each improvement the rate at which improvements are made increases. Eventually, humans will no longer be able to compete.
How intelligent could it get? Where would that leave us?
A more general definition from Wikipedia is:
When technological growth becomes uncontrollable and irreversible, resulting in unforeseeable changes to human civilization
Hold up that sounds a lot like today!
What it means to be in the singularity
When it’s expressed in popular culture, in movies like “Transcendence”, “Singularity” or more recently “The Mitchells vs. the Machines”, algorithms get so smart they violently rebel from their human overseers and enact some sort of genocidal third-act rampage that our heroes must stop or escape. This would certainly be a singularity by the definition above, but it’s not what we see around us every day. Companies like Facebook…
