Kurzweil predicts our computing power is likely to make a 'billion-fold' increase in power over the next 25 years which will "unlock a solution to global warming, unmask the secret to longer life and solve myriad other worldly conundrums."
Ray Kurzweil proposes a strategy for dealing with the dangers from Genetic Engineering, Nanotechnology, and Artificial Intelligence. The strategy includes "a streamlined regulatory process, a global program of monitoring for unknown or evolving biological pathogens, temporary moratoriums, raising public awareness, international cooperation, software reconnaissance, and fostering values of liberty, tolerance, and respect for knowledge and diversity."
We can meet the hardware requirements for "strong" AI -- machine intelligence with the full range of human intelligence -- by 2020, says Ray Kurzweil.
Ray Kurzweil has proposed a nanobiotechnology research program to replace the cell nucleus and ribosome machinery with a nanocomputer and nanobot to prevent diseases and aging and another program to create defensive technologies against rogue designer viruses.
In the foreword for a new book on Virtual Humans, Ray Kurzweil argues that "by the end of this decade, we will have full-immersion visual-auditory environments, populated by realistic-looking virtual humans."
Kurzweil argues that of all the applications of theraputic cloning, human cloning is the least interesting and least worrisome.
Ray Kurzweil argues that "the union of human and machine is well on its way" through developments in nanotechnology, virtual reality, and brain-machine interfaces. He predicts that humanity will soon "vastly expand our intellect as we merge our biological brains with non-biological intelligence."
Inventor-author Ray Kurzweil has proposed a major new national program to develop defensive strategies, technologies, and ethical standards to address the dangers of emerging genetic, nanotechnology and robotics technologies.
Ray Kurzweil gives a speech at SIGGRAPH arguing that the exponential growth in computing power will bring fully immersive virtual reality within reach in the next 10-15 years. He also discusses nanotechnology, the "singularity", and the use of artificial life avatars.