Responce to "Singularity" article

           

                Lev Grossman’s article on Singularity, the hypothesis of humans and machines becoming one, raises plausible statements on how our society is slowly succumbing to the will of machines.

            The article discusses the topic of how machines are slowly becoming smarter than humans. As we continue to create new technologies for our demanding society, the technologies grow more intricate and advance. The article claims that as technology continues to grow, it will eventually outsmart humans and thus “take over” life as we know it. To prove that he knows what he’s talking about, Grossman describes Raymond kurzweil’s invention of a computer that can compose its own music. His opinion is cautious as he comments, “To see creativity…..usurped by a computer built by a 17-year-old is to watch a line blur that cannot be unblurred, the line between organic intelligence and artificial intelligence” (Grossman). Keep in mind that kurzweil built his “super-computer” in 1965, so imagine what kind of machines our society is making today.

            In chapter 6 of Brave New World, Bernard feels similar emotions with Grossman because he dislikes how his society expects him to follow the rules and laws set. These rules and laws help run societies in the world such that the society itself becomes a machine, always growing and looking for new ways to improve on its processes. Bernard wishes that he wasn’t,” enslaved by….conditioning,” and would rather be able to do as he pleases instead of always maintaining the social order (Huxley 91). His situation could be the result of singularity in the real world, as societies in reality may be forced to maintain the technologies they create (which is already happening). However, it would be on a much larger scale than our current level.

            Moreover, both pieces propose a future in which a society must maintain the technologies it has created. If left unchecked, technology will surpass human intellect and will become a more involved within our societies. After all, to see a computer mimic human creativity, the exclusive domain of humans, is already bringing us a step closer with machines. Singularity may be upon us already and we may not know of its presence.