Ray Kurzweil Joins the Singularity Institute's Board of Directors and Supports $400,000 Online Matching Challenge

With the public announcement of the $400,000 Online Matching Challenge via http://www.singinst.org/challenge, the Singularity Institute for Artificial Intelligence (SIAI) plans to greatly expand its research program.

The ideas of a singularity scenario and Friendly AI are powerful, but more importantly, relevant now. I support SIAI because they are making unique contributions to these critical areas of knowledge. I have pledged $200,000 in matching funds to the Matching Challenge to help grow the Institute, with an additional $50,000 available if half of the Challenge is matched by May 21st, 2007

Palo Alto, CA (PRWEB) May 20, 2007 -- "The Singularity Institute for Artificial Intelligence (SIAI) is playing a critical role in advancing humanity's understanding of the profound promise and peril of strong AI," says Ray Kurzweil, author of The Singularity Is Near. "SIAI is the premier nonprofit in the world focusing on its safe realization, which is critical to ensuring that the vast potential benefits of the singularity can be enjoyed by all of humanity." At the beginning of 2007, Kurzweil joined the Singularity Institute's Board of Directors.

With the public announcement of the $400,000 Online Matching Challenge via http://www.singinst.org/challenge, the Singularity Institute plans to greatly expand its research program to create artificial general intelligence (AGI). Challenge funds will go toward the SIAI R&D Program, the SIAI Research Fellowship Program, and The Singularity Summit 2007 to be held September 8-9th at the Palace of Fine Arts Theatre in San Francisco: http://www.singinst.org/events/speakers

"The ideas of a singularity scenario and Friendly AI are powerful, but more importantly, relevant now. I support SIAI because they are making unique contributions to these critical areas of knowledge. I have pledged $200,000 in matching funds to the Matching Challenge to help grow the Institute, with an additional $50,000 available if half of the Challenge is matched by May 21st, 2007," says Peter Thiel, PayPal Founder and SIAI Advisor.

Tyler Emerson, Executive Director of the Singularity Institute, says, "The recent success and number of pledges received from individuals toward our $400,000 Online Matching Challenge Campaign is evidence of the value placed on our research toward a friendly, artificial general intelligence. People today realize that the singularity scenario is not just a concept, but a reality that may occur in the coming decades. Our philanthropic mission at the Singularity Institute is to prepare and ensure a safe and beneficial outcome for future generations to come."

The Singularity Institute's mission video (free): http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0A9pGhwQbS0

For More Information Contact:
Tyler Emerson
Executive Director
(650) 353-6063
emerson @ singinst.org

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Bruce Klein’s Novamente Weblog » Singularity Institute video, Dugg from www.novamente.net on May 22, 2007

http://www.prweb.com/releases/2007/5/prweb527704.htm

SIAI News - May 20th, 2007 | A Modest Opinion from amodestopinion.com on May 21, 2007

Annoucement: News sheet from the Singularity Institute for AI « Identity Unknown from ryanlanham.wordpress.com on May 21, 2007

http://www.prweb.com/releases/2007/5/prweb527704.htm

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