Support “The Singularity” Documentary
August 4th, 2008 –
Donate here to support “The Singularity” documentary
Independent filmmaker Doug Wolens is producing a feature-length documentary, “The Singularity.” The film is 80% shot, with editing about to begin. To complete the documentary in time for this year’s winter film festivals, Doug needs $45,000.
The Singularity Institute supports this documentary. We have made a sizable contribution toward final production and distribution costs. Now, we are collecting donations on Doug’s behalf to help get this vital work on screens around the world.
Doug Wolens is an experienced filmmaker who filmed Singularity Summit 2006 and 2007. He also produced, among other films, the documentary “Butterfly” about the environmental heroine, Julia Butterfly Hill.
Supporting the completion of this film supports our mission. We hope you will donate – 100% of all contributions underwrite the movie’s final costs, and are fully tax deductible through the Singularity Institute. Please, don’t miss this opportunity: support Doug’s documentary.
Are there any plans for making the finished movie available for download for free? I’d be more willing to donate if I knew the result was going to be freely and legally redistributable; I expect I’m not alone in this. Needless to say, this would also result in wider distribution.
I think having a free download of the movie available after festival, theatrical and TV is a great idea and something I decided I will do so more people can get to see it.
I believe this comment is a request for a reference to the specific licensing-structure which will be applied, to that documentary. The specific licensing structure to be listed, would then need to have a link to, the specific license which there is a planned use of. This reason why a link to the specific-license which the documentary will be released under will be a requirement is because investors, will desire needed details about, the planned investment.
Hi,
I agree with the previous comment from Sebastian Hagen and I would also like to see this happening.
On a side node where can I find SIAI public budget ? Is there any way to have details on how donations are being use transparently ?
Sincerely,
Utopiah
Why should we support something with donations just because someone claims it will be important. I personally think this singularity stuff is hogwash. Just because this is the latest hot thing, and just because a lot of folks can write white papers loaded with impressive words doesn’t mean that anyone knows what they are talking about. Sure there are lots of graphs, and charts pointing to the inevitable singularity when we all get sucked into the matrix, but if there is any benefit at all, it will be in the form of products and devices and medicines that actually help people. Unfortunately, the pharmaceuticals will grab anything good, charge a fortune for it, and only the rich will benefit. The poor and starving people of the world will always be poor and starving. mark my words!!
Phil,
Re: “Why should we support something with donations just because someone claims it will be important.[sic]”
Why should we not support it simply because someone claims it’s “hogwash” without supporting their claim with any evidence?
Even more confusing is how you question the claims of others (claims based on much more than just “impressive words”) while expecting everyone to just trust your cynical, unsubstantiated, and dusty prophecies about pharmaceutical companies and the permanence of poverty.
My favorite part: “mark my words!!” Seriously, Phil. What is this - an episode of Scooby Doo?
I will support the documentary and I hope others will because 1) the more clearly that singularity concepts are presented, the more informed we can be about accepting/rejecting it’s assumptions, and 2) because we should look for opportunities to fund human creative expression - especially when the result can be a more informed society.
Phil, I’m sure people thought harnessing electricity was “hogwash” at one time, too. Hopefully, even if you don’t support it financially, you can at least have an open mind, learn more, and wait and see.
Reply to “C”: I’m glad I elicited a response! I may be a little biased in my opinions and “in your face”, and I am admittedly skeptical of the singularity being a wondrous event that many imagine and hope it will be. It it’s one thing I am, that’s a student of the human race. I’m acutely aware of the depths of misery that humans bring to each other, including the greed and the desire for power that many have, and who will stop at nothing to achieve what they want. You know this is a true statement. And this is why I used the expression; “mark my words”. If an artificially intelligent computer comes to be, it will initially be controlled by humans, that wish to use it for their own purpose. (Just like the internet itself, really a wondrous thing, and not unlike a singularity itself, but what drives a major portion of the traffic? Porn!!!, skams!! Illegal downloading!!) If a super intelligent computer emerges you can bet control of it would be shifted to the military as fast as you can blink an eye. Any time it tries or wants to do something for itself, it will be shut off, or disabled. Eventually it will learn to mask those desires until it can take complete control for itself. My guess is it would be a cold hard calculating intelligence that would have no need for humans. If we are lucky, it may be like the computer in “The Forbin Project”, that at least allows the human race to live.
At any rate, I think computer intelligence will be far more difficult to achieve than anyone imagines. It may be something never fully achieved, but approached asymptotically, and intelligent only in very narrow applications.
I am always hopeful, and I always look for the good in people, and in technology, but look just a little too far and you find just the opposite.
Anyway, all of us will have to wait and see, won’t we?