University of Kwazulu-Natal

Future Timeline Timeline Technology Singularity 2020 2050

Bonisiwe Shabane
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future timeline timeline technology singularity 2020 2050

An increasingly globalised humanity is faced with climate change, overpopulation, dwindling resources and technological upheaval. 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 2020 2021 2022 2023 2024 2025 2026 2027 2028 2029 2030 2031 2032 2033 2034 2035 2036 2037 2038 2039 The technological singularity, often simply called the singularity,[1] is a hypothetical event in which technological growth accelerates beyond human control, producing unpredictable changes in human civilization.[2][3] According to the most popular version of the...

J. Good's intelligence explosion model of 1965, an upgradable intelligent agent could eventually enter a positive feedback loop of successive self-improvement cycles; more intelligent generations would appear more and more rapidly, causing an explosive increase... Some scientists, including Stephen Hawking, have expressed concern that artificial superintelligence could result in human extinction.[5][6] The consequences of a technological singularity and its potential benefit or harm to the human race have been... Prominent technologists and academics dispute the plausibility of a technological singularity and associated artificial intelligence "explosion", including Paul Allen,[7] Jeff Hawkins,[8] John Holland, Jaron Lanier, Steven Pinker,[8] Theodore Modis,[9] Gordon Moore,[8] and Roger Penrose.[10]... Stuart J. Russell and Peter Norvig observe that in the history of technology, improvement in a particular area tends to follow an S curve: it begins with accelerating improvement, then levels off without continuing upward into...

Alan Turing, often regarded as the father of modern computer science, laid a crucial foundation for contemporary discourse on the technological singularity. His pivotal 1950 paper "Computing Machinery and Intelligence" argued that a machine could, in theory, exhibit intelligent behavior equivalent to or indistinguishable from that of a human.[12] However, machines capable of performing at or... The Hungarian–American mathematician John von Neumann (1903–1957) is the first known person to discuss a coming "singularity" in technological progress.[14][15] Stanislaw Ulam reported in 1958 that an earlier discussion with von Neumann "centered on... We analyzed 8,590 scientists’, leading entrepreneurs’, and the community’s predictions for quick answers on Artificial General Intelligence (AGI) / singularity timeline: Explore key predictions on AGI from experts like Sam Altman and Demis Hassabis, insights from major AI surveys on AGI timelines, and arguments for and against the feasibility of AGI: This timeline outlines the anticipated year of the singularity, based on insights gathered from 15 surveys, including responses from 8,590 AI researchers, scientists, and participants in prediction markets:

As you can see above, survey respondents are increasingly expecting the singularity to occur earlier than previously expected. Below you can see the studies and predictions that make up this timeline, or skip to understanding the singularity. In 2025, renowned futurist and Google AI visionary Ray Kurzweil released a major update to his predictions on the technological singularity—a moment when artificial intelligence surpasses human intelligence and transforms civilization. His new book, The Singularity Is Nearer, refines the timeline for Artificial General Intelligence (AGI), longevity breakthroughs, and the merging of humans with machines2. Kurzweil’s vision remains bold, but increasingly plausible. With exponential advances in computing, biotechnology, and neural interfaces, the countdown to the singularity is accelerating.

Kurzweil’s predictions are grounded in his “Law of Accelerating Returns,” which posits that technological progress grows exponentially—not linearly. The technological singularity refers to a future point when AI becomes smarter than humans and begins to improve itself autonomously. This could lead to: Kurzweil envisions a world where humans connect their brains to the cloud, enhancing cognition and creativity. By one major metric, artificial general intelligence is much closer than you think. Here’s what you’ll learn when you read this story:

In the world of artificial intelligence, the idea of “singularity” looms large. This slippery concept describes the moment AI exceeds beyond human control and rapidly transforms society. The tricky thing about AI singularity (and why it borrows terminology from black hole physics) is that it’s enormously difficult to predict where it begins and nearly impossible to know what’s beyond this technological... However, some AI researchers are on the hunt for signs of reaching singularity measured by AI progress approaching the skills and ability comparable to a human. One such metric, defined by Translated, a Rome-based translation company, is an AI’s ability to translate speech at the accuracy of a human. Language is one of the most difficult AI challenges, but a computer that could close that gap could theoretically show signs of Artificial General Intelligence (AGI).

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An Increasingly Globalised Humanity Is Faced With Climate Change, Overpopulation,

An increasingly globalised humanity is faced with climate change, overpopulation, dwindling resources and technological upheaval. 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 2020 2021 2022 2023 2024 2025 2026 2027 2028 2029 2030 2031 2032 2033 2034 2035 2036 2037 2038 2039 The technological singularity, often simply called the singularity,[1]...

J. Good's Intelligence Explosion Model Of 1965, An Upgradable Intelligent

J. Good's intelligence explosion model of 1965, an upgradable intelligent agent could eventually enter a positive feedback loop of successive self-improvement cycles; more intelligent generations would appear more and more rapidly, causing an explosive increase... Some scientists, including Stephen Hawking, have expressed concern that artificial superintelligence could result in human extinction.[...

Alan Turing, Often Regarded As The Father Of Modern Computer

Alan Turing, often regarded as the father of modern computer science, laid a crucial foundation for contemporary discourse on the technological singularity. His pivotal 1950 paper "Computing Machinery and Intelligence" argued that a machine could, in theory, exhibit intelligent behavior equivalent to or indistinguishable from that of a human.[12] However, machines capable of performing at or... Th...

As You Can See Above, Survey Respondents Are Increasingly Expecting

As you can see above, survey respondents are increasingly expecting the singularity to occur earlier than previously expected. Below you can see the studies and predictions that make up this timeline, or skip to understanding the singularity. In 2025, renowned futurist and Google AI visionary Ray Kurzweil released a major update to his predictions on the technological singularity—a moment when art...

Kurzweil’s Predictions Are Grounded In His “Law Of Accelerating Returns,”

Kurzweil’s predictions are grounded in his “Law of Accelerating Returns,” which posits that technological progress grows exponentially—not linearly. The technological singularity refers to a future point when AI becomes smarter than humans and begins to improve itself autonomously. This could lead to: Kurzweil envisions a world where humans connect their brains to the cloud, enhancing cognition an...