AI Could Stop Aging by 2032, Kurzweil Predicts

Famed futurist Ray Kurzweil, known for his bold predictions about artificial intelligence, believes AI will soon enable humans to effectively stop aging, Nikkei Asia reports. In an interview, Kurzweil told Nikkei that AI will become so advanced that it will be able to reverse the aging process, potentially extending human lifespans to 500 years.

Kurzweil, a scientist and pioneer in technologies such as optical character recognition and text-to-speech synthesis, has long predicted that "the singularity" – the point at which AI surpasses human intelligence – will arrive in 2045. This prediction has sparked debate among scientists and experts.

In his interview, Kurzweil outlined his vision for a future where AI-connected brains vastly increase human intelligence. "Our intelligence actually can go outside our skull and interface with the cloud; it will be able to expand without limit," Kurzweil said. He believes this integration will lead to a "millionfold" increase in human intelligence.

Kurzweil argues that AI will surpass human capabilities by 2029, a prediction that has gained greater acceptance in light of recent advancements in conversational AI such as ChatGPT. He notes that when he first made this prediction, it was considered "shocking" and "optimistic," with most scientists believing it would take 100 years. Now, even the 2029 prediction is seen as "conservative."

Kurzweil sees the most significant impact of the singularity in healthcare. AI is already playing a role in scientific discoveries, such as identifying proteins useful for disease treatment. He believes AI will revolutionize healthcare, ultimately leading to cures for most diseases.

Perhaps Kurzweil's most striking prediction is that AI will enable humans to effectively stop aging. He believes that advances in medical technology, driven by AI, will extend lifespans by one year for every year that passes.

"By around 2032, you'll be able to actually get back a full year. You'll use up a year of your longevity, but you'll get back a year from scientific progress so you won't actually age," Kurzweil told Nikkei. He calls this phenomenon "longevity escape velocity" and predicts that humans could eventually live for 500 years.

While acknowledging the ethical considerations of such a long lifespan, Kurzweil remains optimistic about the potential benefits.

Despite the potential dangers of rapidly advancing AI, Kurzweil remains optimistic. He believes that the merger of humans and AI will ultimately lead to a better future.

"There is real peril, but that's always been the case, and I don't think we'd want to go back 8,000 years on human life expectancy with 20. I mean, we've made progress despite the risks," Kurzweil said. "We're going to be controlled by a merger of humans and AI together. I think it will be better than just relying on humans."