“Over the past 20 years, the idea of singularity has become increasingly important to the technological visions of posthumanism and transhumanism. the article first introduces key posthumanist authors such as marvin minsky, ray kurzweil, hans moravec, and frank tipler. in the following, the concept of singularity is reviewed from a cultural studies perspective, first with regard to the cosmological singularity and then to the technological singularity. according to posthumanist thinkers the singularity is marked by the emergence of a superhuman computer intelligence that will solve all of humanity’s problems. at the same time, it heralds the end of the human era. most authors refer to the british mathematician irving john good’s 1965 essay speculations concerning the first ultraintelligent machine as the originator of the idea of superintelligence. individual elements of the singularity idea such as the impenetrable event horizon, the frontier and the ongoing acceleration of progress are contextualized historically and culturally. singularity, the. the techno-rapture. a black hole in the extropian worldview whose gravity is so intense that no light can be shed on what lies beyond it.”

“Anon, 2011. it growth and global change : a conversation with ray kurzweil. mckinsey quarterly, january, pp.1–6.”

“The compelling feature-length documentary film, by director barry ptolemy, chronicles the life and controversial ideas of luminary ray kurzweil. for more than three decades, inventor, futures, and new york times best-selling author ray kurzweil has been one of the most respected and provocative advocates of the role of technology in our future. in transcendent man, ptolemy follows kurzweil around the globe as he presents the daring arguments from his best-selling book, the singularity is near: when humans transcend biology. kurzweil predicts that with the ever-accelerating rate of technological change, humanity is fast approaching an era in which our intelligence will become increasingly non-biological and millions of times more powerful. this will be the dawning of a new civilization enabling us to transcend our biological limitations. in kurzweil’s post-biological world, boundaries blur between human and machine, real and virtual. human aging and illness are reversed, world hunger and poverty are solved, and we cure death. ptolemy explores the social and philosophical implications of these changes and the potential threats they pose to human civilization in dialogues with world leader colin powell; technologists hugo degaris, peter diamandis, kevin warwick, and dean kamen; journalist kevin kelly; actor william shatner; and musician stevie wonder. kurzweil maintains a radically optimistic view of the future, while acknowledging new dangers. award-winning american composer philip glass contributes original theme music that mirrors the depth and intensity of the film.”