Every futurist (and science fiction reader) knows that the Singularity is a point in the development of technology when intelligence becomes unbounded by mere flesh and the result, whether powered by pure AI or enhanced humanity, moves so far beyond our understanding as to make us totally obsolete. Recently I missed the "Singularity Summit at Stanford" where a number of bright folks, some of them friends of mine, others people I've always wanted to meet, hashed out the state of the singularity. I wasn't surprised that the consensus was that it's still a way off, but I can't help but wonder if when it does arrive we'll find that we missed it. Like a frog swimming in water that gets warm too gradually for it to notice its being cooked, the future keeps on coming at us one day at a time. If the end of the "human age" is coming, I'd like to know when it arrives. Though I'm of a sneaking suspicion that it may have come a while ago and be suffering an identity crisis.

(Source: SFRevu)