Wielokrotnie nagradzany innowator, futurysta i autor Ray Kurzweil po raz kolejny uświetnił sale swojej macierzystej uczelni, Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), aby odebrać wybitną nagrodę Robert A. Muh Alumni Award. To znaczące wyróżnienie zostało mu przyznane pośród wspaniałości nowo otwartej Thomas Tull Concert Hall, podczas ceremonii prowadzonej przez MIT's School of Humanities, Arts, and Social Sciences.
In his thought-provoking lecture, titled “Reinventing Intelligence”, Kurzweil projected a future where the boundaries between artificial intelligence and human cognition blur into a singular, seamless entity. He described a reality where nanobots, tiny machines operating at a molecular level, could potentially be introduced into the human brain via capillaries – extending our neural network straight into the cloud. The concept, as Kurzweil puts it, is akin to having an internal smartphone. A paradigm shift of this magnitude, according to his predictions, could manifest as early as the 2030s.
Kurzweil poruszył również kwestię wykładniczego charakteru postępu technologicznego. Niestety, uważa on, że powszechna percepcja ma charakter liniowy, a zatem nie docenia dramatycznych zmian, które czekają nas w przyszłości. Ta błędna kalkulacja nie docenia tego, jak szybko rozwija się technologia, nieuchronnie prowadząc do przełomów w różnych dziedzinach znacznie wcześniej, niż się spodziewamy. W szczególności podkreśla potencjał transformacji w dziedzinach takich jak medycyna i długowieczność, spodziewając się rewolucyjnych postępów w ciągu najbliższych dwóch dekad.
As a key exponent of AI, Kurzweil sees the medical field as one that could undergo a complete transformation. In his view, traditional human trials could soon be replaced by highly accurate, time-efficient, digital simulations – revamping the way we develop drugs and significantly accelerating the process. He termed this potential landmark “longevity escape velocity” – a point which we may reach by 2032. At this milestone, for every additional year a person lives, scientific advances could potentially add another year to their lifespan.
The visionary’s talk was humanized by moments of personal reflection and early inspirations. Kurzweil acknowledged his parents, who fled from Nazi Europe, for fostering his strong belief in the potency of ideas to shape the future. “By the age of 7, I had decided to become an inventor,” he shared. This ambition was catalyzed by his mother’s unwavering support for his imagination and visions. With deep fondness, he also recalled MIT’s significant role in his personal and professional life. The Institute had earlier recognized his contributions in reading technology with the Lemelson-MIT Prize.
Dean of SHASS, Agustín Rayo, introduced Kurzweil as a prolific thinker, celebrating his conviction in the power of ideas to change the world. While Kurzweil’s predictions brim with optimism, he didn’t shy from considering the dual-edge of technological advancements. “A drone can deliver medicine or a bomb,” he cautioned, emphasizing the moral imperative to manage AI risks responsibly. In his closing remarks, he made a bold prediction – by 2045, AI could augment human intelligence a millionfold. This tipping point, labeled the ‘Singularity’, marks the fusion of biological and artificial intelligence – a transformation Kurzweil believes, we can navigate prudently.
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