Ray Kurzweil, a former Google engineer has made a bold prediction that humans will achieve immortality in just seven years. With an impressive track record of nearly 86% accuracy in his 147 predictions, Kurzweil has gained a cult following among future thinkers. The prediction of immortality has reignited the debate on social media about the possibility of humans achieving eternal life.
In his 2005 book, “The Singularity Is Near,” Kurzweil predicted that technology would enable humans to enjoy immortality by 2030. He discussed advances in genetics, nanotechnology, robotics, and other fields that would contribute to this development. In a 2017 interview with Futurism, Kurzweil said, “2029 is the consistent date I have predicted for when an AI will pass a valid Turing test and therefore achieve human levels of intelligence. I have set the date 2045 for the ‘Singularity,’ which is when we will multiply our effective intelligence a billion-fold by merging with the intelligence we have created.”
Kurzweil believes that nanotechnology and robotics will give birth to age-reversing ‘nanobots’ capable of constantly repairing damaged cells and tissues that deteriorate as we age. This would make us immune to lethal diseases, thus achieving immortality. The concept of nanobots flowing through our veins to maintain our health and vitality has captured the imagination of many.
In 1990, Kurzweil predicted that the world’s best chess player would lose to a computer by 2000. This came true in 1997 when IBM’s Deep Blue defeated Gary Kasparov. In 1999, he predicted that by 2023, a $1,000 laptop would have the storage capacity and capabilities of a human brain. Kurzweil also foresaw that by 2010, most of the world would have access to high-bandwidth wireless internet.
Singularity is a hypothetical future point when advances in technology, particularly in artificial intelligence (AI), lead to the creation of machines smarter than humans. Kurzweil is not the only one who has talked about the singularity. Softbank CEO Masayoshi Son has also predicted the rise of super-intelligent machines by 2047.
As big tech companies like Google and Microsoft introduce their AI-powered chatbots, concerns about the future arise, prompting the question: Is humankind truly ready for AI? On March 30, prominent tech figures, including Elon Musk, called for a halt to AI labs, citing “profound risks to society and humanity.” Dozens of tech leaders, researchers, and professors signed a letter that highlighted the dangers of an “out-of-control race” to develop increasingly powerful digital minds that no one can understand, predict, or control.
