Wikipedia describes technological singularity also known as “the singularity” as a hypothetical future point in time at which technological growth becomes uncontrollable and irreversible, resulting in unforeseeable changes to human civilization.

The most popular version of the singularity hypothesis called intelligence explosion, an upgradable intelligent agent (such as a computer running software-based artificial general intelligence). This will eventually enter the self-improvement cycles and cause an “explosion” in intelligence resulting in a powerful super-intelligence computer that surpasses all human intelligence.

The first use of the concept of a “singularity” in the technological context was by John von Neumann. 

Stanislaw Ulam reports, further had a discussion on John von Neumann’s concept and centered his piece on “the accelerating progress of technology and changes in the mode of human life, which gives the appearance of approaching some essential singularity in the history of the race beyond which human affairs as we know them, could not continue”.

Subsequently, authors like Ray Kurzweil,  in his book “The Age of Intelligent Machines” was published in 1990, which echoed the growth of intelligent machines. For example,  he looked at the use of technology in music production. Indeed, Steve Wonder was one  such person that leveraged on technology to produce music. He later follows up with another book called “The Age of Spiritual Machines” in 1999. 

In 2005, he published “The Singularity Is Near: When Humans Transcend Biology”.  He explained the “law of accelerating returns” and predicted an exponential increase in technologies like computers, genetics, nanotechnology, robotics, and artificial intelligence. He  also argued that  “law of accelerating returns”, would lead us to the singularity. He farther argued that once the Singularity has been reached, machine intelligence will be infinitely more powerful than all human intelligence combined. The singularity is also the point at which machine intelligence and humans would merge.

From the above, it’s clear that exponential growth/change in technology is impacting human civilization. For example, crop production in the fields has moved into vertical farming. 

The future of protein is now plant based and not meat. Examples of such are ”Impossible foods” and ”Beyond meat”.  Lab-grown meat is also in the upsurge.  

The production of vehicles has moved not just from combustion engines to electric vehicles, but electric vehicles which are powered by Artificial Intelligence. An example is Tesla. In fact, Local  Motors CEO,  Jay Rogers Jr. argues that, the future of vehicle production is now said to be the ”DVM concept” (Digital Vehicle Manufacturer), which is a sign of a Digital OEM (original equipment manufacturer).

Jay Rogers Jr. describes this concept as an OEM that takes a product from concept to commercialization in less than a year and underpinned by 3 elements.

1. Global community 

2. Direct Digital Manufacturing with 3D

3. Microfactories 

At this point, it’s important to note… in the next 20 years human existence is going to be incredibly transformed, than we have ever seen in the last 200 years. All this would be due to the exponential change in the evolution of technology.

Indeed, our ways of work, communication, education, etc. will not only be made smarter but would become extremely intelligent. 

These technologies are not only exponential but also combinatorial. For example, your smart speaker is not only voice-powered but has machine learning and artificial intelligence powered assistance and is even making grocery shopping on your behalf.

Driving a car,  as we know it today will change, as we have self-drive or autonomous vehicles powered with artificial intelligence. For example, the Tesla car and Olli from local motors 

Manufacturing would be totally transformed by 3D printing and software.  

Online and offline retail experience will have a thin line. In fact, the offline retail experience will evolve to become more like an online shop. Indeed, a combination of machine learning and artificial intelligence, cloud computing, 3D, big data, drone, etc will impact the retail and evolve it.

In conclusion, whatever that use to be science fiction is now a science fact. For example, today CRISPR technology is being used to edit genomes. It has the potential of been used to correct genetic defects, treat and prevent the spread of diseases in humans, animal and plant (crops).

The future is here but it’s not evenly distributed, to remain relevant we need to have 

1. A Growth mindset

2. A Shift to exponential thinking 

3. Enriching your digital skills and abilities.

Credit

This article was written with the inspiration and content from

• Singularity University

• Wikipedia