The singularity is near : when humans transcend biology

includes bibliographical references and index

1. The six epochs

2. A theory of technology evolution : the law of accelerating returns

3. Achieving the computational capacity of the human brain

4. Achieving the software of human intelligence : how to reverse engineer the human brain

GNR : three overlapping revolutions

6. The impact ...

7. Ich bin ein Singularitarian

8. The deeply intertwined promise and peril of GNR

9. Response to critics

"The inventor and futurist Ray Kurzweil is a controversial advocate for the role of machines in the future of humanity. In his latest, thrilling foray into the future, he envisions an event - the "singularity" - in which technological change becomes so rapid and so profound that our bodies and brains will merge with our machines." "The Singularity Is Near portrays what life will be like after this event - a human-machine civilization where our experiences shift from real reality to virtual reality and where our intelligence becomes nonbiological and trillions of times more powerful than unaided human intelligence. In practical terms, this means that human aging and pollution will be reversed, world hunger will be solved, and our bodies and environment transformed by nanotechnology to overcome the limitations of biology, including death." "We will be able to create virtually any physical product just from information, resulting in radical wealth creation. In addition to outlining these fantastic changes, Kurzweil also considers their social and philosophical ramifications."--BOOK JACKET.