Word
singularity
Phoneticssin·gu·lar·i·ty
US/ˈsɪŋɡjəˈɫɛɹəti/
UK/sˌɪŋɡjʊlˈæɹɪti/
Definition
n. a point where a rule breaks down, or a hypothetical future moment when AI becomes smarter than humans and triggers runaway growth.
n. a mathematical point where a function is undefined or infinite; in technological futurism, a hypothetical event horizon triggered by recursive self-improving artificial superintelligence.
Examples
“At the center of a black hole lies a gravitational singularity where physics equations break down.”
“Futurists often debate whether a technological singularity will occur within our lifetimes.”
“In loss surface geometry, an isolated parameter singularity can cause training dynamics to decelerate sharply along degenerate manifold valleys.”
Examples
simple
“At the center of a black hole lies a gravitational singularity where physics equations break down.”
contextual
“Futurists often debate whether a technological singularity will occur within our lifetimes.”
complex
“In loss surface geometry, an isolated parameter singularity can cause training dynamics to decelerate sharply along degenerate manifold valleys.”
Usage
The noun is often used with the definite article 'the' when referring to the hypothetical moment of artificial intelligence surpassing human intelligence.
Real-World Examples
“On Saturday, OpenAI boss Sam Altman declared that this moment has come. AI has reached “the singularity”, he said.” Etymology
From Late Latin singularitas ('singleness, unity'), from singularis ('alone, single'). Transferred to technological self-improving machines by mathematician John von Neumann and author Vernor Vinge.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Domains
Scan code
englishreference.com/q/singularity