Tech Media, Philosophers and Scientists go Cell-to-Chip on "The Singularity"

Professor Arthur Ramer, a world authority on fuzzy logic from the Computer Science Engineering unit at the University of New South Wales and Dr. Dominic Murphy, a neuroscience and bioethics expert from the University of Sydney join Cosmos editor Wilson de Silva, MIS columnist Simon Sharwood and Australian Life Science editor Tim Dean to cover this complex concept.

The notion of a technology ‘singularity’ has many branches of thought in science, technology, philosophy, and even economics.  In layman’s terms most technology ‘singularitarians’ would say they believe in a time when technology advances to such a degree that the very essence of humanity changes and perhaps the concept of what is ‘human’ or ‘conscious’ is redefined. Anti-singularitarians argue that not only is it improbable, it is also undesirable to develop artificial intelligences beyond ability to understand or to seek ways to merge with technology and become ‘trans-human’. 

There are a plethora of references to this form of singularity in popular culture – we only have to look at film franchises like The Matrix, Transformers or Terminator to see there is no end of fascination for the notion that human beings may one day develop artificial intelligences that far exceed our own.

These concepts and many more will be explored as part of the next e-CLUB event, hosted by Virtual Offis at the CBD Hotel, Level 3/52 King Street in Sydney on July 29th.  The event kicks off at 4pm.  Journalists interested in attending, (witness the result of Tim Dean squaring off against Simon Sharwood!) can register by emailing eclub@offis.com.au or by contacting Samantha Marks at Sliced Marketing, 0423 526 115.