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Ray KurzweilAmerican inventor, writer, futurologist
Date of Birth: 12.02.1948
Country:  USA |
Content:
- Early Life and Education
- Early Career
- Founding Kurzweil Computer Products
- Technological and Futurist Predictions
- Film and Bestselling Books
- Personal Life
- Kurzweil is married to Sonya R. Kurzweil and has two children.
Early Life and Education
Raymond "Ray" Kurzweil was born in New York City in 1948 to non-religious Jewish parents who had fled Austria before the war. His father was a musician and composer, while his mother was an artist. Kurzweil developed a strong passion for science fiction from a young age.
By the age of 15, Kurzweil had written his first computer program. Before graduating high school, he created a program that analyzed and synthesized the works of classical composers. In 1965, he was invited to perform a computer-composed piano piece on the CBS television show "I've Got a Secret."
Early Career
Kurzweil's exceptional talent was recognized early on. He won first prize at the International Science Fair in 1965 and was named a winner of the Westinghouse Talent Search, receiving personal congratulations from President Lyndon B. Johnson at the White House.
While studying at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Kurzweil launched his first company in 1968. Using a computer program he developed, the company offered college-matching services to high school seniors. At the age of 20, he sold the company to Harcourt, Brace & World for $100,000.
In 1970, Kurzweil earned a Bachelor of Science in computer science and literature from MIT.
Founding Kurzweil Computer Products
In 1974, Kurzweil founded Kurzweil Computer Products, Inc., which specialized in speech recognition systems that became invaluable to the blind. Kurzweil's companies consistently produced successful products, and he amassed a considerable fortune. He is credited as the "father" of the scanner and the synthesizer.
Technological and Futurist Predictions
Beyond his achievements in information technology, Kurzweil is renowned as a futurist. His technological predictions emphasize the advent of artificial intelligence and radical life-extension technologies. Kurzweil believes that humanity will experience near-limitless abundance and potentially achieve immortality through rapid technological progress and the "cyberneticization" of humans.
The Wall Street Journal described him as an "indefatigable genius." Kurzweil published his first book on futurology, "The Age of Intelligent Machines," in 1990. His subsequent books, including "The Age of Spiritual Machines" and "Singularity Is Near," further expounded on his theories.
Film and Bestselling Books
Kurzweil's documentary film "The Singularity Is Near" explores the theme of the impending technological singularity. In 2009, he co-authored the bestselling book "Transcend" with medical doctor Terry Grossman.
Kurzweil predicts that by 2014-2020, supercomputers will equal the processing power of the human brain. He envisions non-traditional computer forms that may be embedded in clothing and everyday objects. He believes that virtual reality devices will directly project images into human eyes.
By 2029, Kurzweil claims, computers will pass the Turing test, simulating the cognition of the human brain. He anticipates the arrival of the "technological singularity" by 2045, transforming Earth into a giant computer that could potentially spread throughout the universe.
Personal Life
Kurzweil, who is in his sixties, maintains a youthful appearance akin to that of a 40-year-old. He has described his health-preservation regimen in his books. He follows a strict diet, emphasizing green tea and alkaline water, and takes numerous supplements.
