Artificial intelligence will enhance human intelligence by millions of times.

Ray Kurzweil has painted a dramatic vision of the future, where AI connected to the human brain not only dramatically enhances our thinking ability but also helps us overcome most diseases and even extend our lifespans by up to 500 years. This is an extraordinary prospect, forcing us to rethink our understanding of life and the meaning of existence.

Kurzweil, the brilliant scientist and pioneer behind groundbreaking technologies like optical character recognition and text-to-speech, is also known for his bold predictions about the future of AI.

Around 2000, Kurzweil first vigorously defended his bold prediction that the “singularity,” the moment when AI surpasses the total intelligence of humans and begins to evolve at an exponential rate, would occur in 2045. This revolutionary prediction sparked heated debates among scientists and experts around the world.

Kurzweil recently had an insightful conversation with Nikkei, where he shared his vision for a potential future for humanity powered by AI. During the discussion, he analyzed how AI could not only enhance human cognition and creativity, but also help solve global challenges, from healthcare to energy to climate change, opening up unprecedented possibilities for shaping human life and society.

Kurzweil told Nikkei that AI will soon be able to develop more advanced versions of itself. When we connect the human brain to AI, "our intelligence will be enhanced millions of times," he stressed. "Human intelligence will no longer be confined to the skull, but will interact directly with the 'cloud, where it can grow and expand infinitely."

A futurist by nature, Kurzweil boldly declared that by 2029, AI will surpass humans in every field. This statement reflects his deep belief that technological evolution is entering a completely new era, where AI will not only catch up but also surpass capabilities that were once considered the exclusive domain of humans.

Indeed, traditional norms are being turned upside down. The emergence of sophisticated conversational AIs like ChatGPT has marked a turning point, ushering society into an unprecedented period of profound transformation, reshaping the way people interact, work, and think.

When Kurzweil first predicted that AI would surpass humans by 2029, the prediction was considered "shocking" and extremely "optimistic." According to him, at the time, most scientists, including future Nobel Prize winners, believed that it would take "at least 100 years" for this to become a reality.

Today, however, he says even the 2029 date is considered a “conservative” prediction, reflecting the incredibly rapid pace of AI development.

How will society change when it crosses the “singularity”? According to Kurzweil, the most far-reaching impact will be in the healthcare sector. He notes that AI has already made significant contributions to scientific discoveries, such as identifying protein structures that are important for treating diseases.

Kurzweil believes that AI “will revolutionize every aspect of what we care about,” bringing “a real revolution in our ability to maintain and improve human health.”

Kurzweil even envisions a future where “we will have a cure for most diseases” and slow or even reverse the aging process. “Right now, every year that goes by means you lose a year of life,” he explains.

However, with the rapid advancement of medical technology, fueled by AI, he predicts that we will reach a point where every year that passes will be accompanied by an additional year of life expectancy, a dramatic step towards longevity.

"By around 2032, you could actually regain a year of your life expectancy. Although you still lose a year every year, thanks to the great advances in science, you will gain back that same year, preventing you from actually aging," Kurzweil predicts.

If this becomes a reality, it would mean that humans could actually stop aging. Kurzweil calls this phenomenon “lifespan acceleration,” where human lifespans are extended at a faster rate than time passes. He predicts that, eventually, humans could live to 500 years old, ushering in a new era of existence unbounded by aging.

However, a longer lifespan does not necessarily bring meaning or purpose to human life. While Kurzweil acknowledges that this is a controversial issue, as not everyone wants to live that long, he remains confident in the immense potential of a long life. "We will have the opportunity to do things that previously seemed impossible," he says, expressing optimism about the endless possibilities that an extended lifespan could bring.

“I understand that there are people who say they don’t want to live anymore, but when they turn 95, they want to wake up every morning,” Mr. Kurzweil said.

Some researchers now claim that Artificial General Intelligence (AGI), which is capable of solving any problem rather than just completing specific tasks, will become a reality within the next two years. However, the question of whether AGI can possess consciousness and function like humans has been a controversial and controversial topic among researchers for many years.

On this issue, Kurzweil argues that "whether an AI is conscious or not is a philosophical question" and he refuses to make any judgments, asserting that "there is no scientific way to determine whether an AI is conscious or not".

While Kurzweil expressed doubts about the possibility of testing to determine whether an AI-powered machine could be conscious, he believes that "eventually we will believe that they are truly conscious."

Even within the community of leading AI researchers, there is growing concern about the potential dangers of this disruptive evolution of the technology, although Kurzweil acknowledges that “we have a moral obligation to harness the promise of the technology while managing the risks.”

"Risk is a real thing, but it's always been an integral part of history, and I don't think we want to go back to 8,000 years ago, when the average human lifespan was 20," Kurzweil said. "I mean, we've made significant progress despite all the risks."

Kurzweil turned 76 last year. He has about 20 years to go until the “singularity” he predicts will occur, and he hopes to live long enough to see how AI transforms civilization in an increasingly divided and chaotic world.

He believes the world will be better off when humans merge with AI. "We will be led by a combination of humans and AI. I believe we will actually be better off relying on AI, rather than just letting humans make decisions."