Kurzweil's predictions at nanotech conference

from the blunt-talk dept.
Senior Associate John Gilmore forwarded a message from Politech about a Wired News story on Ray Kurzweil's talk at the Foresight Conference on Molecular Nanotechnology: "If he's right, exponential progress in science and engineering will allow us to merge with machines. We will become resistant to diseases, think faster, live better, and become transhuman in ways that would make even Superman green with envy…Identifying himself only as a graduate student in quantum computing, a bearded fellow questioned Kurzweil's commitment to humanity, saying 'this is the most hideous message that has been proposed in human history.' But most of the audience — if the widespread giggles during the question were any indication — seemed unalarmed."