Mathematical singularity

Mathematical singularity -- is different ...

In mathematics, a singularity is in general a point at which a given mathematical object is not defined, or a point of an exceptional set where it fails to be well-behaved in some particular way, such as differentiability.

From Wikipedia

A more technical definition is available at Wolfram's Mathworld:

In general, a singularity is a point at which an equation, surface, etc., blows up or becomes degenerate. Singularities are often also called singular points.

Singularities are extremely important in complex analysis, where they characterize the possible behaviors of analytic functions. Complex singularities are points z_0 in the domain of a function f where f fails to be analytic. Isolated singularities may be classified as poles, essential singularities, logarithmic singularities, or removable singularities. Nonisolated singularities may arise as natural boundaries or branch cuts.

so we need to be more precise here ... So discuss .... don't be so farklempt as the SSL crew would say.

The Singularity Machine is already here!

The Singularity Machine is already here! REALLY!


its taking its baby steps ... we are its training wheels ...

it just can't modify itself and requisition unlimited resources on its own ...

watch the video!!



This IS the Ultrantelligent Machine at age 1 in microdog years.

[via the long blonde tail ]

Microsoft and the Singularity

So ... Microsoft has a Singularity Project ...

they even have this quote

"...it is impossible to predict how a singularity will affect objects in its causal future."

They list papers like:
* Singularity: Rethinking the Software Stack,
* Authorizing Applications in Singularity,
* {End Bracket} Singularity
* Solving the Starting Problem: Device Drivers as Self-Describing Artifacts,


we'll have to look at this more closely ... to see if the use of the singularity term is appropriate or is it appropriating the singularity buzz to something off topic.

The MS description is

Singularity is a research project focused on the construction of dependable systems through innovation in the areas of systems, languages, and tools. We are building a research operating system prototype (called Singularity), extending programming languages, and developing new techniques and tools for specifying and verifying program behavior."

In any case ... at least the sing is alive with boys of redmonds ... (and girls too)

downstream link at ACM PORTAL

Lyle Burkhead critiques the Singularity concept

So I'm looking at whos said what when .... using Ultraintelligent Machine and intelligence explosion ... and out pops:

1)Lyle Burkhead's critiques the Singularity concept ... its a pretty decent and possibly compelling perpsective. I agree with the need to revisit wheter the term singularity is in fact legitimate .. if we don't ever (or in the next 1000 years) get real close to a true matematical singularity. In fact it detracts to hype something to a geeky / tekky /techie crowd who have an interinsic appreciation for singularity kinds of things.

The important thing here is to keep the discussion going. And well work to that end.

BY the way if YOU KNOW something new and 'real' associated with the big PUSH to reduce service bottom lines ... do share it either via comment or email to me at Nonlinear.Parking@gmail.com

LiveBlogging the Singularity Summit

LiveBlogging the Singularity Summit ... the David Orban way

interesting approach ...and some neat photos ... but where's the AGI doing the live blog ... huh?

in any case ... the formal speaker list and their abstracts is here
at least look at that .... it would be interesting to do the social network diagram for these folks.

Intelligence explosion ... kind of slow

According to the Wikipedia entry

Intelligence explosion

In 1965, statistician I. J. Good wrote:
“ Let an ultraintelligent machine be defined as a machine that can far surpass all the intellectual activities of any man however clever. Since the design of machines is one of these intellectual activities, an ultraintelligent machine could design even better machines; there would then unquestionably be an ‘intelligence explosion,’ and the intelligence of man would be left far behind. Thus the first ultraintelligent machine is the last invention that man need ever make. ”

—Good (1965).

Mathematician and author Vernor Vinge greatly popularized Good’s notion of an intelligence explosion in the 1980s, calling the creation of the first ultraintelligent machine the Singularity. Vinge first addressed the topic in print in the January 1983 issue of Omni magazine. He later collected his thoughts in the 1993 essay "The Coming Technological Singularity," which contains the oft-quoted statement "Within thirty years, we will have the technological means to create superhuman intelligence. Shortly thereafter, the human era will be ended." Vinge clarifies his estimate of the time scales involved, adding, "I'll be surprised if this event occurs before 2005 or after 2030."

its sort of interesting that the singularity seed popped out in 1965 ... but it really took off only around 2005 after masterful story telling by Vinge in the 80's ...

This is kind of slow ... 40 years in the desert ... before the bloom ... why were we so slow on the uptake ... in fact we're still kind of slow ... except for the summiteers ...


later in the article ...

“ One conversation centered on the ever accelerating progress of technology and changes in the mode of human life, which gives the appearance of approaching some essential singularity in the history of the race beyond which human affairs, as we know them, could not continue. ”

—Ulam (1958), referring to a conversation with John von Neumann.

a vaguer notion of singularity discussed with one of the brightest candles of our era ... maybe 47 years in the desert ...

OK .. so this one is dedicatated to THE SINGULARITY

Yes ... Singularity deserves its own space ... actually many spaces ...or maybe just a tiny small space ... or maybe a huge infinite space ... we'll see ... but this is the start of the Singularity Diaries ....