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February 3, 2009

Google and Nasa back 'singularity' school for when technology overtakes humans

Caroline Gammell:

The Singularity University will be based at the space programme's Ames campus in Silicon Valley, USA.

Its chancellor will be the controversial futurist Ray Kurzweil, whose 2005 book The Singularity is Near inspired the name of the school.

He believes that the rapid rise of technology will enable machines in the near future to use artificial intelligence to make themselves cleverer than humans.

Critics of singularity believe such sophisticated technology could end up being a threat to man.

But Mr Kurzweil said it was important to realise the potential of technological development: "The law of accelerating returns means technology eventually will be a million more times powerful than it is today and cause profound transformation."
Singularity University will accept 30 graduate students in its first intake this summer, increasing to 120 next year.

Despite its name, the college is not an accredited university but will offer nine-week courses exploring ways to ensure technology improves mankind's plight instead of harming it.

Posted by Jim Zellmer at February 3, 2009 8:16 AM
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