Singularity Summit at Stanford

For those of you who live near Stanford U, on May 13, 2006 (9am-5pm) there is an upcoming Singularity Summit at Stanford which is open for free to the public. Check it out then give us the scoop! :)

THE SINGULARITY SUMMIT AT STANFORD

The Symbolic Systems Program and CSLI are pleased to host the Singularity Summit at Stanford, a rare gathering of thinkers to explore the rising impact of science and technology on society. The summit has been organized to further the understanding of a controversial idea – the singularity scenario.

WHAT IS THE SINGULARITY?

For over a hundred thousand years, the evolved human brain has held a privileged place in the expanse of cognition. Within this century, science may move humanity beyond its boundary of intelligence. This possibility, the singularity, may be a critical event in history, and deserves thoughtful consideration. More

With his new book, The Singularity Is Near, Ray Kurzweil has taken all the strands of the singularity meme circulating in the last decades and has united them into a single tome which he has nailed on our front door. I suspect this will be one of the most cited books of the decade. Like Paul Ehrlich's upsetting 1972 book Population Bomb, fan or foe, it's the wave at the epicenter you have to start with.

— Kevin Kelly

Senior Maverick, Wired

BoingBoing entry on the Singularity Summit at Stanford

Speakers include

- Ray Kurzweil, inventor, futurist, author of “The Singularity Is Near”
- Douglas Hofstadter, cognitive scientist, author of “Gödel, Escher, Bach”
- K. Eric Drexler, nanotechnology pioneer, author of “Engines of Creation”
- Nick Bostrom, director of the Oxford Future of Humanity Institute
- BoingBoing's own Cory Doctorow

and many more.

Another BoingBoing Singularity post today - Vernor Vinge

“We talk to him about the Singularity – and how it may come from the superhuman “ensemble behavior” of ordinary humans with powerful computers linked via the Internet rather than through the development of superhuman artificial intelligence – about signposts indicating how we're doing, about humanity's prospects for utopia or extinction, and related minor issues. ”

http://www.boingboing.net/2006/04/27/glenn_instapundit_re.html

Re: BoingBoing entry on the Singularity Summit at Stanford

those Boing Boing folks are avant-gardes on technology stuff. thanks for the links!

Re: BoingBoing entry on the Singularity Summit at Stanford

Thanks Bill,

My brother has been talking about Gödel, Escher, Bach for several years because it stimulated him intelectually. Initially he just blew off the Singularity, but after see that Ray Kurzweil will be speaking along-side Hofstadter, he might take it a little more seriously.

I took The Singularity is Near with me and introduced my family to the concept about a week ago. Interesting conversation result when people actually want to think about this stuff. It was a good visit.

Re: BoingBoing entry on the Singularity Summit at Stanford

“I took The Singularity is Near with me and introduced my family to the concept about a week ago. Interesting conversation result when people actually want to think about this stuff. It was a good visit.”

exactly. too bad it has yet to happen on this pod since only a few of us care, or are willing, to discuss this very important matters.