7. The Singularity

Abstract

AI’s future has been hyped since its inception. Today, the prime example is the Singularity: the proposed point in time at which machines become more intelligent than humans. First, AI would reach human-level intelligence. Soon afterwards, AGI would morph into ASI—‘S’ for superhuman, with systems intelligent enough to copy themselves to outnumber us and improve themselves to out-think us. The most important problems and decisions would then be addressed by computers. ‘The Singularity’ explains that this notion is hugely contentious. It considers competing predictions, concluding that even if the probability of the Singularity is extremely small, the possible consequences are so grave that we should start taking precautions now.