This is a summary from an interview between Ray Kurzweil, a leading inventor and futurist, and the host, Reinhard Scholl, co-founder and Managing Director, AI for Good. Kurzweil is known for making predictions about the future of artificial intelligence.
The Singularity is Near
Kurzweil stands by his prediction made in 1999 that computers will pass the Turing test by 2029. The Turing test determines whether a machine can exhibit intelligent behavior equivalent to or indistinguishable from that of a human. Kurzweil believes recent advances in large language models are a precursor to passing the test.
Speech Recognition
Kurzweil invented a reading machine for the blind that could convert text to speech. He notes that speech recognition has become quite accurate, so technologies exist to provide automated closed captioning for the hearing impaired.
Future of Language Models
Kurzweil foresees large language models going beyond just language and incorporating pictures, videos, and more. He provides the example of large language models being used to simulate biology, which aided in the rapid development of the Moderna COVID-19 vaccine.
The Superiority of Human Thinking
Kurzweil clarifies past statements, noting machines will eventually have emotional intelligence on par with humans. He reiterates that artificial intelligence will amplify human intelligence, not replace it.
The Next Step to Enhance
Kurzweil predicts that by the 2030s, humans will be merging with artificial intelligence by using nanobots or other non-invasive methods to connect our brains to the cloud. This will exponentially increase the number of connections available.
Invasive Technologies
Kurzweil describes potential future invasive technologies like electrodes in the brain, as well as non-invasive methods like ingestible nanobots that travel through blood vessels to link up with our brains. The cloud provides redundancy that makes connections more resilient.