Written by Gabrielle Pruitt
Looking at how far we have come in such a relatively short time with the technological advancements of the computer world alone, it should come as no shock that scientists are making real predictions involving “superhuman intelligence”and that a machine may surpass man intellectually.
According to an article in Time magazine, research is being conducted and a serious hypothesis is being formulated about the future of life on earth. This hypothesis involves a transformation into “something that is no longer recognizable,” and is called the Singularity.
Raymond Kurzweil reveals his radical vision of an immortal future for man. He believes that we are rapidly coming to a point when computers will become more intelligent than humans beings. They would be capable of doing much more than mathematics; they could make ethical decisions, appreciate art and make clever remarks at parties. Intrigued yet?
The term “singularity” originates from astrophysics referring to a point in space-time in which the rules of ordinary physics do not apply, for example, a black hole. Kurzweil suggests that by the mid-2020s, we will successfully “reverse-engineer” the human brain: Computers will be capable of human-level intelligence. Kurzweil put the date of the Singularity at 2045.
After artificial intelligence, the biological boundaries that most consider permanent and inevitable, Singularitarians view as merely difficult but solvable problems. Old age and death are two examples. Aubrey de Grey, for one, sees aging as a process of accumulating damage that can be repaired.
The issues associated with aging will be sorted out as in any other illness. That brings the concept of “indefinite life extension” to a reality in which “people will die only if they choose to.”
What a powerful and thought- provoking concept.How do we go from the comical movie “The Computer Wore Tennis Shoes”starring a young Kurt Russell to IBM’s supercomputer Watson beating out two of the most knowledgeable men on Jeopardy to an “ultra-intelligent” machine that will literally crack the code of aging and death? I wonder, are there limits here? How far will God allow us to venture when it comes to such?
Kurzweil acknowledges the controversy surrounding this idea, saying, “People invested a lot of personal effort into certain philosophies dealing with the issue of life and death. I mean, that’s the major reason we have religion.”
Reaching heaven is a goal on which we, as Christians, focus. Jesus tells us and several hymns center around the idea that “this world is not my home”and we are but strangers on this temporary planet. In contrast, we hear Jay-Z singing about being “Forever Young.” Why are we so determined to stay here as long as possible and even prevent our departure altogether? Should we allow ourselves to become so attached? Will God allow man to develop the technology to do so?
I believe that certain aspects within the human brain cannot be copied electronically no matter how deep man’s studies take him. Only God is powerful and wise enough to create a fully functioning universe with organisms in it.Everything we research or develop or discover is because of him.
God alone is capable of limitless knowledge, power and wisdom. He is the one who gives us the ability to learn in the first place. The important concept to remember is that we already will live forever with the souls God has given us; it is simply a matter of where.
We will not be immortal in this body on earth because once sin entered the world in the garden, so did death. However, we will be able to be united with God forever if we keep his commandments.
