Technological Singularity - Research Paper Example

Name: University: Course: Tutor: Date: Technological Singularity Introduction It has been projected that there is the likelihood of the occurrence of technological singularity at some point in the coming future. The implications of such occurrence have yielded debates and controversies from different quarters across the globe with each proponent in either divide speculating the implications and impacts of the concept. There are a number of contrary views on the above subject as some people have argued that the current rate of technological acceleration will stabilize and that human level will be still achieved. Since time immemorial, technological innovations and advancements have caused profound impact on our social, economic and cultural life and hence changes in the way we live. It has been speculated that technology singularity is likely to occur and emerge as a result of increase in the intelligence of machines. Such intelligence in machines has the potential of surpassing the intelligence of human beings since they will be designed in more better and sophisticated versions. It is therefore important to visualize and conceptualize the implications of anticipated new technologies that are likely to occur in the near decades. This purpose of this paper is to explore the concept of technology singularity and its potential impacts in the way people live on the globe. Technology Singularity The concept of technological singularity is premised on the hypothesis that there are high chances in the rise and advancement in computer capabilities over time and that such progression are likely to accelerate to a point where the humanity is unable to control and manage such computer capabilities. The hypothesis of technological singularity envisages a case where the ideas of the humanity will be overridden by the computer technologies and hence their inabilities to control the advancement of the computer technologies. Since the computers technologies will have more control over humanity, technological singularity therefore sees a future that will be shaped and influenced with the technologies. Technological singularity has hence been defined as the event when the rate of technological change becomes human-surpassing. The idea of technological singularity that is based on a postulation of an incomprehensible future which is anticipated in the near future was also hypothesized by earlier authors. For instance, Alan Toffler in his book Future Shock anticipated that fundamental changes in the society as a result of industrial and postindustrial developments were responsible for the creation of psychological stress and disorientation (Henderson,pg.432). The same sentiments are applicable to the current concept of technological singularity where advancement in computer is happening rapidly to appoint where it is envisaged that a moment that is coming where computer capabilities will be eventually superior to human intelligence. Technological singularity as a concept therefore arises due to the notion that it is impossible to predict what the super-intelligent technologies are likely to do when they start operating without the control of human beings. The signs of technological singularity are evidenced by the overwhelming potential of human beings to create and build artificial intelligence using technology (Santos,pg.280). There are high potential of the creation of artificial intelligence and the likelihood that future machines will have thinking abilities. For example, currently there are brain machine interfaces that have caused revolution and achievements in information technology sector. The brain interface machines have provided opportunities to paralyzed patients to communicate and also have played significant roles in the control of robotic arms, computers and other devices (Santos,280). Impacts of Technology Singularity It is evident that the occurrence of the perceived technology singularity has major implications on the way people live and that emerging technologies are often associated with several risks. The current advancement in technology that has been attributed to the accelerating computer technology has already impacted positively and negatively on various global issues and aspects. Such advancement in computer technologies have already resulted in global crisis and more disruptive or negative impacts are anticipated to occur in the near future. It is anticipated that technological singularity will result in a third revolution in human history. It is clearly emerging from that advancement in technologies has the potential of influencing the future of human evolution. The greater percentage of such technological singularity impacts are anticipated to arise from the fields of nanotechnology, biotechnology, information technology and cognitive science (Santos,pg.279). The anticipated impacts of technology singularity are therefore discussed in relation to the above disciplines. Nanotechnology The emerging field of nanotechnology has provided platform for manipulation of matter on the finer scale of atoms and molecules. Nanotechnology has led to the development of novel applications and breakthroughs more so in biological organisms. The technology has allowed the creation and development of new living systems in laboratories from the synthesis of living and non-living parts that are in turn programmed to perform specific tasks (Henderson,pg.128). Research in the nanotechnology field has shown that there is likelihood of development of programmable blood and will be achieved by replacing red blood cells, platelets and white blood cells in the human blood (Kurzweil,pg.305). The prospects in programmable blood are based on the fact that the current components of the human blood perform inefficiently hence the need for the redesigning human of blood that can work at optimal performance. It is projected that the advent of programmable blood will enhance the capacity of human biological blood to store and transport oxygen. Although the technology has not been rolled out its use in the future decades are eminent. Such advancement in human biological systems that are likely to be based on nanotechnology can pose serious impacts to the human race and the lifestyle of human beings. The fact that currently molecular nanotechnology cab be used in to construct and develop machines on a molecular scale that are used to perform various functions and roles of human should cause worries to humanity. If for instance that the robotic machines produced as a result of the advancement in molecular nanotechnology have the ability to reproduce in the near future then they might pose serious threats to the humanity. The micro-robots are likely to go out of control of human and hence cause significant damage to the human races and the destruction of the ecosystem in which they inhabit and colonize (Santos,pg.289). These micro robots are likely to grow fast and in turn consume the living matter present on the earth. The control of the micro-robots once they subdue the earth will be difficult and the likelihood of success any intervention measures that will be applied to control them is limited or non-existent. For instance human beings might resort to the use of designer genes viruses to control the robots but such actions are likely to backfire and instead end up killing the human race. This is because the robotic intelligence will be much higher than that of the human beings and therefore outpacing any form of human intelligence that will be directed towards their control and containment. As a result, such robotic intelligence will have much impacts and consequence on the biosphere and human race. The human race could be easily and quickly being driven into extinction due slight malfunction of robots or the replica of such robots. Biotechnology The field of biotechnology has also led to the creation and development of new products and organisms. One of the core breakthroughs in the field of biotechnology has the development of genetically modified organisms. Gene sequencing techniques continue to provide more forward advancement in genetically modified organisms and with the successful completion of the human genome the process is poised to increase and advanced even further. There are potential implications and dangers that might be posed by genetically modified organisms and thereby impacting on the lifestyles of human beings. The development of genetically modified organisms might results inn the development of organisms that might subdue and control the earth and drive human race to extinction. The prospects of some genetically modified organisms harming the human race are evident. This is in respect the development of genetically modified crops and foods. Genetically modified foods can cause allergy and diseases that might be beyond the comprehension of the human race and hence leading to massive health disasters. Similarly, genetically modified crops can colonize the environments in which they are grown and lead to the extinctions of other plants and organisms that are valuable to the human race. Environmental Impacts Impacts of technological singularity that are linked to the environment will be hard to deal with since previous environmental problems as a result of technological changes also underwent the same fate. It is believed that massive environmental education aimed at averting the environmental impacts will not bear fruits due to the complexity of the natural world. For example it took many years after the invention of chlorofluorocarbons, for the world to realize that chlorofluorocarbons were responsible for ozone depletion (Henderson,pg.167). The same is also likely to happen during the period of technological singularity where products and processes that have been created as a result of advancement in computer technology will cause massive destructions and it will take more years for the world and humanity to realize such impacts. Furthermore, there is no guarantee that any intervention measures that will be applied by humanity will control, prevent or manage the adverse impacts caused by such advanced technological innovations. Another point is worth noting is that the interventions measures may be a well be late and time barred and hence the human race and the whole world will be plunged into a crisis and eventually the entire human race may be wiped out due to the inability to deal and fix the impacts. Presently, the human race is shaped with the process of natural evolution process and this is a necessity for the progression of the universe and humanity. Human beings are also shaped with the process of mutations that occurs in their biological systems and mutation is responsible for the retention of genes that are crucial for human growth and survival and the elimination of genes that are likely to make the humans unfit. Due to the advancement in technology and more so new technologies in nanotechnology, biotechnology, genetic research and robotics human traits and genes are selected and only the best genes and traits are used. This concept therefore pose serious dangers to the existing human race where the emerging generations as a result of the above technologies will have more survival traits and will be more fit to live on the earth than the current generation that created them. This will in turn create a situation where the present human race finds it hard to survive and eventually they may be phased out. Conclusion There are high chances of future danger and disruptive impacts in the near future due to the advancement of technology. The convergence and advancement of technologies envisioned under technological singularity concept will lead to fundamental changes in the society. Although such changes will require other interventions measures from human being to manage them, it will not be realized. The increased artificial intelligence as a result of technological improvements and advancement will surpass the human intelligence and hence plunging the human race and biosphere into a crisis. The possibility of finding solutions to the problems and challenges caused by technological advancements will also be futile since the problems and challenges are likely to be insolvable. Technological singularity will hence result in massive crisis to the human race and biosphere. Works Cited Henderson, Harry. Encyclopedia of Computer Science and Technology. New York: Infobase Publishing, 2010. Kurzweil, Ray. The Singularity Is Near: When Humans Transcend Biology. New York: Penguin, 2005. Santos, Filipe Duarte. Humans on Earth:From Origins to Possible Futures. New York: Springer, 2011. Read More