Technological Singularity
Objectives
- To explore the concept of the technological singularity.
- To identify the driving forces driving exponential growth leading up to a singularity.
- To highlight the basis of predictions made by technologists like Ray Kurzweil.
Key Concepts
- Technological Singularity
- Exponential Growth
- Artificial Intelligence
Module overview
The technological singularity is a point in the future where exponentially growing technologies will usher in an age of greater than human intelligence and increasing merger between biological and artificial intelligence.
Is such a future really possible? Is our technology really advancing that rapidly? If so, what are the driving forces behind it? What is the basis of predictions made by technologists like Ray Kurzweil? How can we understand what the Singularity will lead to? This module will answer these questions and many more.
Details
Skills
Critical Thinking
Futures Thinking
Citizenship/Stewardship
Big Picture Thinking
Cross Curricular programs and links
In today’s digital world, we are all constantly exposed to vast amounts of information online. Yet, we are also exposed to a significant amount of misinformation, disinformation, propaganda and “fake news”. Now, more than ever,...
When thinking about the future, many fear that our world will experience a scarcity of resources and opportunities with the growing population. However, what we need to realize is that exponential technologies have actually been...
Exponentially growing technology is disrupting traditional industries at an unprecedented rate. How can we better understand the process in which emerging industries challenge existing ones? This growth cycle of any new exponential technology takes place...
We’ve all read the headlines: the robots are coming, and they will take our jobs. But the reality is more nuanced. Exponential growth in technology will disrupt entire industries but also create new ones. Many...
We’ve seen enormous strides in technology. We used to think only humans could do maths, create art, make music, and drive cars. Today we have AI that can do it better than most humans can....
Big data has the power to transform education and educational research. Governments, researchers and commercial companies are only beginning to understand the potential that big data offers in informing policy ideas, contributing to the development...
Blockchain is a unique record storage technology which allows contributors to directly enter information into the chain before it is locked in by other computers who are also contributing to the chain. Originally used to...
Virtual Reality and Augmented Reality are examples of emerging technologies that are growing exponentially. They represent a fundamental shift in how information is presented and how we experience reality. We are now at the nascent...
In today’s’ technology-driven world, it’s important now more than ever to prepare students for the future. Teaching robotics to young students throughout their schooling can increase their ability to be creative and innovative thinkers and...
Artificial Intelligence is displayed by machines, in contrast with the natural intelligence displayed by humans and other animals. AI is growing at an exponential rate and is already having a disruptive impact on all aspects...
We live in a world where technology is growing at an exponential rate. We have seen more change in the last 50 years than in the previous 1000 years. In the near future, computing power...
