The February 21, 2011 issue of TIME Magazine was entitled "2045 The Year Man Becomes Immortal*." The asterisk led to the bottom right corner of the cover, "*if you believe humans and machines will become one. Welcome to the Singularity movement." I proceeded to read about and expose myself for the first time to the concept of singularity. The cover article begins with a dictionary definition. "sin·gu·lar·i·ty n: The moment when technological change becomes so rapid and profound, it represents a rupture in the fabric of human history."
The idea that artificial intelligence (AI) will eventually outperform the capabilities of humans does not surprise me. Right now there exists artificial intelligence that outsmarts humans. For example, Watson the computer that played on Jeopardy! competed against trivia champions. As of now, what remains the same is that these AIs are being programed by man. Technology is not creating original thought nor producing innovative work. What is being suggested by singularists is that by 2015 AI will surpass the brainpower of a mouse, by 2023 surpass the brainpower of a human, and by 2045 surpass the brainpower equivalent to that of all human brains combined! Some even theorize that humans and machines will become one. Man will insert chips into their brains to function better. Eventually the line between human intelligence and artificial intelligence will be blurred.
So how does this affect me as an artist, as a person whose craft is based on creativity, on original thought?
Over the past semester I have embarked on a journey to incorporate technology into my art. My dance and technology professors alike have been warning/reminding me to use technology as a means to enhance my artistic vision, not to become the work. The artistic driving force behind the piece can not be the use of technology. So what happens when technology becomes a part of us? When there is no thought without it?
The article ends with the following thought: "Singularitarianism is grounded in the idea that change is real and that humanity is in charge of its own fate and that history might not be as simple as one damn thing after another." Whether I like it or not technology is changing at a much faster rate then I can keep up. It seems every few months another device is being launched and the current models are becoming outdated, while I struggle to find a way to stay relevant.
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