When exploring the possible futures ahead of us one sooner or
later encounters The
Singularity memeplex, a concept with multiple meanings that
people now generally associate with exponentialist Ray Kurzweil’s
definition, “technological change so rapid and profound it
represents a rupture in the fabric of human history”. He and others
argue this will come about as the result of human-trumping or
super-human-enabling artificial intelligence that fundamentally
transforms our system and ourselves. 
While the notion of a big-ass capital-S singularity is a very
important concept, especially for future interested noobs
attempting to comprehend the general ramifications of runaway
technology growth, I agree with the likes of
Eliezer Yudkowsky that it’s become a most un-scientific mash-up
of several different schools of little-s singularity thought,
something he appropriately calls “Singularity paste”.
The result is a huggable yet identity-torn memetic Frankenstein
far more reminiscent of spirituality structures than of the
scientific method which fundamentally violates the cardinal
commandment of rigorous futures studies: Thou shalt not worship
one single future, but the myriad possible futures ahead of
us. (Note the plural. There’s solid reasoning behind it.)
Thus, it should come as absolutely no surprise when blogs like
Wired Science label the Singularity a faith,
thinkers such as Ted Modis call it a myth,
and sci-fi authors including Warren Ellis dub it a religion.
Such competent voices are being forced into adopting a contrary
position to a Big-S singularity because it’s difficult for them to
find the logical middle ground that they would naturally occupy.
(cont.)
Singularity defender
George Dvorsky is spot-on when he calls for the
singularity-aware to “frame the issue as a scientific endeavor and
pitch the various scenarios as hypotheses” and in that “we need to
keep the language within the scientific vernacular”. And that’s
exactly what’s NOT happening.
Despite the efforts of organizations like the Singularity Institute for Artificial
Intelligence and the Acceleration Studies Foundation
(ASF), the singular Big-S singularity Frankenstein continues to
memetically maul and rule its various subcomponents, each of which
are valid scenarios in their own right.
Though it is hugely important to continue spreading ideas like
acceleration, powerful AI, and the potential for dramatic
intelligence increase throughout the system, it’s also important
not to lump them together and label them with a loaded term like
the big-S singularity. Mostly that means taking care with our
language and meaning when discussing and diffusing the idea(s).
Perhaps it will require dropping the singularity term altogether in
favor of something like “developmental tipping point” (which would
coincide more with ASF
President John Smart’s thinking), “epochal shift” or the
like.
Realistically, the big-S singularity is a memeplex on the rise
and so shaping the debate seems much more reasonable than shifting
the term, but I’ve gotta say that I’m a bit worried about the
forthcoming Singularity Movie,
located at singularity.com, which is being marketed with the slug:
“A true story about the future.”
Sounds like a professional futurist’s Frankensteinian nightmare
to me, chock full of pitchfork toting scientists and luddites
alike.
They will be out for blood.
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