Due to his reputation, the AI Insider has covered the great Ray Kurzweil often as he is one of the most influential and visionary voices involved with artificial intelligence (AI). His predictions and insights have shaped discussions regarding AI for several decades. He recently shared his perspective during a TED talk about the development of AI and its implications for humanity.

As Kurzweil reminisced about the six decades of AI, he highlighted the great strides it has made: “We’ve gone from computers that could barely play checkers to machines that can now beat the best human players at chess and Go.” This evolution represents the growing AI prowess within various domains.

Kurzweil does not conceal his enthusiasm for the enhancement by AI of human abilities instead of their replacement.

“AI will amplify human intelligence,” his said. This is in general coherence with what he believes: that AI shall extend human intelligence and bring forth new cognitive abilities never before experienced by the world.

The futurist further allays fears about AI and employment by saying that “AI is not going to displace jobs; it’s going to create new ones.” Kurzweil imagines this brave new world of the future, where instead of taking jobs away, AI is creating new kinds of opportunities and industries.

Among other things, he describes the idea of the singularity as an incredible merger of human and machine intelligence. He defines this as “a future period during which the pace of technological change will be so rapid, its impact so deep, that human life will be irreversibly transformed.”

Much of what he has done has been to argue for this vision of the technological future. Looking ahead, Kurzweil foresees AI playing a crucial role in solving global problems.

“AI will help us solve some of our biggest problems, from climate change to disease,” he said.

This optimistic view, therefore, realizes AI’s enormous positive power in contributing to human progress and well-being. Through this statement, one learns much about what Kurzweil seems to be projecting in a world that promises both artificial and human intelligence. As bold as it may sound, Kurzweil’s record of prediction in the past says volumes about this vision of AI.

Featured image: Credit: TED