There is a fascinating series of articles about the singularity in latest issue of IEEE Spectrum magazine. Read them all. Very interesting. Intuitively I believe in the possibility of “thinking machines” that exhibit some characteristics of human consciousness. However, when and how sophisticated these machines will be is very unclear to me. In terms of these machines being able to extend life (or person X’s consciousness), while that may be possible, this quest for immortality seems at odds with one of the unique characteristics of humans, that we are indeed mortal. I believe this mortality is a key part of the human experience. Take that away and the human experience becomes something very different.
This is the second IEEE spectrum article I have referenced in the last couple of weeks. Not sure if the magazine is getting better or what.
