Student Name: Matthew Chrobak
Student ID: 27381794
Singularities Have Already Happened
In the piece “The Coming Technological Singularity” by Vernor Vinge, the topic of a technological singularity is discussed. The term ‘singularity’ refers to the edge of a black hole where current theories of physics no longer hold true. Behavior occurring in the singularity is unpredictable. The technological singularity, as discussed in this piece, is a moment in the future where humans, through the use of technology, create intelligence that surpasses our own human intelligence. The result of such a technological advancement will radically shape society in unpredictable ways. A quote from Stan Ulam is given in the piece:
“One conversation centered on the ever accelerating progress of technology and changes in the mode of human life, which gives the appearance of approaching some essential singularity in the history of the human race beyond which human affairs, as we know them, could not continue.”
In this reflection essay, I will argue that, despite the concerns for the particular singularity discussed in this piece,at least onetechnological singularity falling under the given loose definition has already taken place.This singularity is the computer and internet revolution.
One component of a technological singularity is that it radically changes the way societies operate. This has been achieved with the creation and improvement of the general purpose computer.
The general purpose computer greatly affected all domains in all societies that adopted it. The professional field saw an increase in the proficiency and automation of tasks in the workplace [1]. Computers were also being purchased for recreational use as well, and radically changed the way people engage in traditional forms of entertainment. Music and films were starting to be stored and consumed digitally, forcing many video rental stores and music shops to go out of business.Traditional forms of calculation and entertainment were being replaced by the general purpose computer.
Thelast core component of a technological singularityis that it brings unpredictable futures.The internet and its revolution brought exactly this through the use of high-speed data transferring.
The internet itself is merely a network of cables that allow the transferring of data. The more the cables are dispersed, the greater the network is dispersed, and the more people have access to it. By increasing the speed and the bandwidth of the cables, more information can be sentmore quickly from two endpoints in the network. This allows people to, for example, stream high definition audio and video across the globe for communication or entertainment purposes, orto simulate incredibly complex virtual realities to millions of users across the world.This high-speed data transferring also allows for people across the world to buy and sell products, allowing business to thrive off the internet. Notions of technology as this was only thought of as science fiction, prior to the invention of the internet.
While the result of the artificial intelligence singularity discussed in the piece by Vernor Vinge may suggest a potentially frightening future, humanity has gone through technological singularities before. The computer and internet revolution is classifiable as a technological singularity because it too radically changed the way societies operated, and it had an unpredictable future.
References
[1] Browne, Clayton. “How Have Computers Changed the Workplace?”. 2017. Available:
I certify that this submission is my original work and meets the Faculty's Expectations of Originality.
-Matthew Chrobak (27381794)June 12, 2017