Unicron and the Kurzweil Model of Universal Awakening Part 2
Enter Raymond Kurzweil, an inventor, author and futurist who has developed some very interesting possibilities for the evolution of technology and intelligence. One idea in particular may shed a new perspective on what a real Unicron may want to do. In Kurzweil's book The Singularity Is Near: When Humans Transcend Biology he divides time into six Epochs each one characterized by a paradigm shift which greatly affects the course of reality to follow.
Here are the basic description of these 6 Epochs Epoch 1. Physics and Chemistry This epoch starts at the beginning of the universe (for example, the Big Bang). In this epoch, information is mostly held in subatomic structures such as particles and atoms. That is, the most complicated stable objects in the universe do not exceed the molecular scale in size or complexity. Epoch 2. Biology and DNA This epoch starts with the beginning of life on Earth (or elsewhere), suddenly giving rise to more complicated, yet stable, organisms that are capable of growth and self-sustainment. However, in this epoch organisms do not change within their lifetimes as evolution takes thousands of generations. Moreover, in this stage, genetic information is stored in DNA molecules. Epoch 3. Brains The evolution of life gradually produced more and more complex organisms, necessitating the need for fast central control and thus giving rise to the evolution of brains. With brains, organisms can now change their behavior dynamically to suit changes in the environment and can also learn from past experiences. Evolutionary information is, in this stage, stored in neural patterns, with the meme emerging as the primary information unit. Epoch 4. Technology Evolution of brains culminates with the evolution of humans, which possess the ability to create technology. In this stage, technological designs are also subject to evolution and information is held in hardware and software designs. Epoch 5. The Merger of Human Technology with Human Intelligence This epoch, which Kurzweil argues we are in the process of entering, is where technology reaches a level of sophistication and fine-structuring comparable with that of biology, allowing the two to merge to create higher forms of life and intelligence. Epoch 6. The Universe Wakes Up After mastering the methods of technology and biology, Kurzweil predicts that human/machine civilization will expand its frontiers into the universe, gradually (or perhaps explosively) consuming the contents of the cosmos until the universe reaches a 'saturated' state where all inanimate matter has been converted to substrates for computation and intelligence, and a truly universal super-intelligence takes form.
You may ask what does this have to do with Unicron. Well, in theory the agent or agents of this expansion into the galaxy could be like Unicron. Large mechanical entities traveling interstellar space or through created wormholes to find more matter to build the galaxy-sized super computer. In this way Unicron wouldn't be eating the planets per se. Maybe just using them as a foundation for complex planet-sized computers. All these world-sized PCs would then be connected over some kind of network allowing for instantaneous connectivity. The need for this large scale is actually due to limitations in the smallest scale. Computer processors are getting smaller and smaller. The switches used in computer chips are being manufactured molecule by molecule. But at a certain point the size of transistors becomes limited by the laws of physics. At this point there will need to be a new form of computer or the existing forms will have to expand in order for the processing ability to continue increasing. This would be why a Unicron-like entity would be useful. He could be a functionary component in the expanding consciousness of the post-singularity reality. Wow, say that five times fast!
And to those who dare doubt Unicron, all he has to say in his deep slow cadence is, "you underestimate me..." Who knew that a toy-line of plastic robots and a hard-rock fantasy cartoon movie from the 80's had any relevance to contemporary futurists. I did, that's who. In any event, I suggest that you look up Raymond Kurzweil. He has some great books out there. I only scraped the surface of just one of his ideas. Also, if you can find a copy of Transformers: The Movie I recommend it for some trippy anime fun. -Dan |
Search X-tropia.com
|
In Transformers: The Movie the character Unicron ate planets, by grinding them up and converting the matter into energy. But what if there was a real Unicron? Would he just go around eating everything or would there be another purpose?
As one can see, four of the 6 Epochs have occurred. And the last two theorized Epochs are accelerated rapidly by intelligence, particularly the creation of the Singularity. Here the term Singularity is used to describe the creation of an artificial intelligence that is far beyond the capabilities of the human brain. By the 6th Epoch this intelligence (perhaps a collective of human and machine minds) goes to work improving itself at blazing cycles of evolution perhaps only taking a nanosecond each. Utilizing self-manufacturing technologies it would improve itself, expanding the processing ability by converting the earth into a living computer. From this point it would span out into the galaxy converting what matter it finds into more computing power expanding its intelligence. Eventually this would expand across the universe essentially making everything come alive in a great "Universal Awakening!"