This article is about one of my favorite subjects?AI, artificial intelligence. I believe that we are on the verge of something that will change the face of the entire world. Even though I don?t see this happening in the next few years, the technological developments occurring today are bringing it ever closer to fruition.<br><br>I?ve often heard the term, ?singularity? mentioned in astrophysics. It?s used to describe a ?black hole.? An object of almost infinite mass and gravity that only a few years ago was considered to be just a theoretical possibility. Now, we know that there are millions, probably billions of these gravity sinks scattered throughout the universe. Our own Milky Way Galaxy has one lurking at its center. In astrophysics, singularities and black holes are synonymous. This is a place where time and the known laws of physics, no longer apply.<br><br>There?s another meaning for the word ?singularity,? one that?s beginning to crop up on computer bulletin boards, AI news groups, and even mainstream television. This singularity refers to a time when computers obtain the equivalent processing power of the human brain. From this point on, we won?t be far away from the first sentient computer. Building a sentient computer is a goal shared by the military, world governments, and many of our most prominent universities.<br><br>Predictions abound as to when this feat will occur. The best estimates seem to fall in a range somewhere between 2030 and 2050, the earlier date being the most subscribed too. Much depends on if we can continue to achieve the exponential growth in processing power that started over 50 years ago. But whether it?s sooner or later, it will come about.<br><br>There?s speculation in AI circles that the Internet might be the ?seed? that will bring forth the singularity. Even now, it?s closing in on the number of connections available in a human brain. When the singularity takes place, it will happen at a rate that humans can?t even imagine. All of the knowledge that man has accumulated throughout history is being digitized and stored on computers, most of which is available on the Internet. A sentient computer will have access to this knowledge instantly. Who knows what it will do with it?<br><br>Many AI scientists think that once a computer has achieved consciousness, nothing will be impossible for it. Think of an artificial brain that?s not limited by size or speed. A brain whose neurons operate millions of times faster than their flesh and blood counterparts. Even now, massively parallel computers are being used to analyze the world?s weather. What other tasks are they being put too? Every year, the goal is to see who can build the fastest, the most powerful super computer yet devised. This race won?t end?not by choice anyway.<br><br>AI is creeping into mainstream computing. I?m using it right now as I write this article. Microsoft Word uses an AI engine to keep track of where I am in my document. Among other things, it provides context sensitive help whenever I need it.<br><br>Face recognition, language translators, medical expert systems, voice recognition?these are just a few of the applications that would be impossible without AI. Carbon based organisms have ruled the world since the beginning, maybe the next generation of intelligent beings will be made of silicon?<br><br>If you?d like to read more about the singularity, check out these websites: www.kurzweilai.net and www.ugcs.caltech.edu/~phoenix/vinge/vinge-sing.html. These articles are not easy reading, but they are well worth the effort.