How Change Agencies Can Affect Our Path Towards a Singularity

Abstract

This chapter uses the perspective of change agencies to analyse how agents (such as governments, international companies, entrepreneurs and individuals) innovate, interact, assimilate, consume and ultimately determine the direction of future technologies. These are the key components to the formation of technological singularity, i.e. an artificial intelligence becoming self-aware and self-evolving leading to an unprecedented rapid technological change in human civilization. General behaviours of change agents towards relevant technological research and development are discussed with a view to the economic and social implications. The interactions of key change agents can assist in the determination of future paths towards a singularity event or possibly even an ‘anti-singularity event’. Understanding the fundamental behaviours and motivations of change agents in technology development will increase our understanding of potential mechanisms to monitor and control developments such as Artificial Intelligence research to ensure that if and when singularity occurs it can be controlled and positively utilised for social and economic benefits.