Ray Kurtzweil's "The Age of Spiritual Machines"

[ChanceSchmerr]

has anyone else read this book? I'm currently about 1/3 of the way through, presently having my mind blown away by this book.

Anyone have any thoughts on it? It deals with the explosion of computer advancement and makes very convincing arguments for the future, the next 100 years of human history, where we will have become capable of reverse-engineering the human brain, and thus have become capable of preserving our consciousness in a machine/computer.......

Fascinating!!!

[MIKA27]

It sounds interesting yet scary because such technology in reverse engineering can be used for good or bad.

Robotics and or computers that can think and make their own decisions...?

[Alberto_Magnus]

I am accustomed to Kurzweil's theories but I am very sceptical.

Not because of the themes he deals with, but mostly because of Kurzweil's attitude to the subject.

1. He is obsessed with the immortality of the body. So most of his research his done because he sees biological death as the source of all evil. In my view one should better try to improve living standards than anything else.

2. He has an almost religious faith in science. Sounds quite a contradiction but that's what I perceive from his books.

He looks like having this "apocalyctic-end of days" view on that "singularity" event that should change humanity forever.

In my opinion things are changing. But uniting mind and machine doesn't look like a viable alternative to me.

I am not a 100% science nerd neither I am a 100% religious fanatic. I am a rational and a spiritual person and Kurzweils theories sounds a bit creepy to both sides of "me"

[LateApex]

There is a very interesting show on a related subject, and I believe Kurtzweil makes an appearance. I just got done watching it DVR'd from the Science channel, but it looks like it's available here:

http://www.veoh.com/browse/videos/category...4186491SfZ3ph6D

"The Dark Secret Of Hendrik Schon"

You guys might enjoy it.

[LeafLover]

Mika, exactly what I was thinking. I want my cyborg to look like Charlize Theron.

[MIKA27]

Mika, exactly what I was thinking. I want my cyborg to look like Charlize Theron.

Well if you put it that way, can I have one of those too?!

[Stalebread]

An article about Singularity University, Raymond Kurzweil and other related stuff.

LINK