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3.68 AVERAGE
3.68 AVERAGE
5/10
The first third of this book was really cool and thought provoking. The last 2/3 seemed like it would never end. It was mostly arguing that we'll be able to compute at brain level relatively soon.
I wish it had been split into 2 books. I never would have finished this is not on an audiobook. The arguments for the singularity are very good, and there were good little bits spelled throughout the slower part
The first third of this book was really cool and thought provoking. The last 2/3 seemed like it would never end. It was mostly arguing that we'll be able to compute at brain level relatively soon.
I wish it had been split into 2 books. I never would have finished this is not on an audiobook. The arguments for the singularity are very good, and there were good little bits spelled throughout the slower part
challenging
informative
inspiring
reflective
slow-paced
I almost always finish the books I read, and I had been looking forward to this one. Yuval Noah Harari, who is deeply skeptical of AI, cites kurzweil as a more optimistic voice on the subject. So, between wanting to know more about AI from an optimistic perspective; kurzweils indubitably impressive resume; and the sterling reviews, I was excited to read it. I was disappointed to find it so poorly structured as to be difficult to parse, and distractingly smug and self aggrandizing. I’m no stranger to reading books by people I disagree with, and I honestly like getting a fresh perspective even if I do a fair bit of eye rolling while doing it. But I just could not get through this book, and DNF’d it about halfway through. This was shortly after the author noted his 250 pill per day and multiple IV infusion per week supplement habit as being key to reducing his genetic age. Yeah…… pass.
challenging
dark
informative
reflective
tense
slow-paced
challenging
dark
hopeful
informative
mysterious
sad
medium-paced
challenging
informative
inspiring
reflective
slow-paced
It’s pretty easy to slag a book like this, full as it is with thousands of predictions about the state of future society. While many of these predictions seem far-fetched, even now 12 years after the book’s publication, I’m giving the book 5-stars simply for its audacity, which I can’t help but appreciate. I would very much like to read its sequel, which doesn’t yet exist, so that he could reflect on what hasn’t yet come to pass, what has that has surprised him, and what he thinks about the 2045 Singularity date he’s set.
A little Dated
Ray had some interesting ideas about the future and uses (at the time) cutting edge developments in technology to back up his claims. However nearly two decades later these discoveries are old hat.
I am pleased to know that Ray is working on a follow-up book which should be more modern. I would love to read his insights into modern AI.
Ray had some interesting ideas about the future and uses (at the time) cutting edge developments in technology to back up his claims. However nearly two decades later these discoveries are old hat.
I am pleased to know that Ray is working on a follow-up book which should be more modern. I would love to read his insights into modern AI.