13.1 - The Singularity and The Future
 Prof. Jack Reilly
 S2026

🧠 Think:
•	What does the future hold? Is there an AI Singularity on the horizon?
•	Are current AI paradigms, products, and tools sufficient to bring about substantial technological and societal change? Do we need a new paradigm for AI to continue to advance? Is there another AI winter on the horizon without substantial new scientific and technological invention?
•	Is AI a greater or lesser exisential risk than other threats (nuclear, climate, disease, etc) facing humanity? Or is AI not really about threat at all, and more about promise? Can we build a better future for us all with technology?
📖 Read:
•	Blili-Hamelin et al, 2025. “Stop Treating AGI as the North Star of AI research”
📺 Watch:
•	Mitchell, 2025. “The Past, Present, and Uncertain Future of AI”
🎧 Listen:
•	Optional: Complexity* podcast, Season 2, Episode 6: “AI’s Changing Seasons”
🌐 Browse:
*new FB guy venture - Wait But Why (Urban), 2015. “The AI Revolution: The Road to Superintelligence” - Part 1 - Part 2 - “AI 2027”
📚 Additional Resources:
•	Kurzweil, The Singularity is Near and The Singularity is Nearer
📝 Submit:
•	Discussion question to course chat
Tip
•	“📖 Read”, “🎧 Listen”, and/or “📺 Watch” items are required content for the day, and should be read/heard/watched before class on that day.
•	“🌐 Browse” items should be briefly looked at but do not need to be read deeply unless you want to
•	“📚 Additional Resources” do not need to be looked at; they are there to serve, if useful, as further references for your debates, final projects, and general edification later.