The Singularity Summit is co-hosted by the Symbolic Systems Program and the Center for the Study of Language and Information at Stanford, and principally co-sponsored by the Singularity Institute for Artificial Intelligence and KurzweilAI.net. We extend our deep appreciation to our underwriters for their support of this new exploration of science and technology's impact on society.
Co-Hosts
Symbolic Systems Program at Stanford
The Symbolic Systems Program (SSP) is an undergraduate and master's degree interdisciplinary major at Stanford, bringing together students and faculty interested in the relationships between computation and the human mind through the study of cognitive science, artificial intelligence, and human-computer interaction. The program's goal is to prepare students with the vocabulary, theoretical background, and technical skills to understand and participate in interdisciplinary research into questions about language, information, and intelligence in people, machines, and human-machine systems.
Center for the Study of Language and Information
The Center for the Study of Language and Information (CSLI) is an Independent Research Center founded in 1983 by researchers from Stanford University, SRI International, and Xerox PARC (now just PARC). CSLI is devoted to research in the emerging science of information, computing, and cognition. This new science had its origins in the late 1970s as computer scientists, linguists, logicians, philosophers, psychologists, and artificial intelligence researchers, seeking solutions to problems in their own disciplines, turned to one another for help.
Co–Sponsors
Clarium Capital Management
Clarium Capital Management is a San Francisco-based global macro hedge fund, combining the diligence and prudence of an Old World investment firm with the energy and entrepreneurship of a Silicon Valley start-up. Clarium is a fortress in Greek mythology. Clarium's President and Chairman of the Investment committee is Peter Thiel, the former chairman, CEO, and co-founder of PayPal Inc., acquired by eBay Inc. for $1.5 billion in 2002. Driven by a contrarian bias, CCM pursues opportunities in four areas: currencies, commodities, distressed debt, and micro-cap public equities. CCM also selectively pursues private investments that show exceptional promise.
KurzweilAI.net
Founded by Ray Kurzweil, KurzweilAI.net features more than 600 articles by big thinkers examining the convergence of accelerating revolutions in AI, nanotechnology, genetics, and other areas shaping the future of superintelligence. Its Accelerating-Intelligence News daily newsletter tracks the latest news in these areas and its Mind-X forum allows for open discussion. KurzweilAI.net also manages singularity.com and fantastic-voyage.net, covering Kurzweil's recent two books.
The Singularity Institute for Artificial Intelligence
The Singularity Institute for Artificial Intelligence is a research and public interest institute in the Bay Area for the advancement of three emerging research fields: beneficial artificial intelligence, the singularity, and global catastrophic risks associated with anticipated technologies. The Institute aims to develop and foster a community of highly gifted interdisciplinary researchers to accelerate these fields, and create the foundation needed to support this research community. The Institute's long term goal is to ensure the creation of beneficial artificial intelligence.
The Stanford Transhumanist Association
http://www.stanford.edu/group/transhumanism/blog/
The Stanford Transhumanist Association was founded in 2004 by Michael Jin (President) and Yonah Berwaldt (Financial Officer), then freshmen. It is a working group dedicated to spreading awareness about the impact of emerging technologies on humanity. The group is a Student Chapter of the World Transhumanist Association, an international nonprofit membership organization advocating the ethical use of technology to expand human capacities.
United Therapeutics
United Therapeutics is a biotechnology company focused on the development and commercialization of unique products for patients with chronic and life-threatening cardiovascular, cancer and infectious diseases. In these segments, United Therapeutics is actively developing four technology platforms: Prostacyclin Analogs, Immunotherapeutic Monoclonal Antibodies, Glycobiology, and Telemedicine.
Media Sponsors
MINE ™
MINE was founded with the philosophy that good design is good business, and that working smart beats working big. A multidisciplinary studio, MINE offers innovative and informed solutions as tools to support corporate, enterprise, and nonprofit organizations. Emphasizing intelligence-based design and sound strategic thinking, MINE seeks to create definitive, stand-out work that projects a unique position of leadership and promotes the highest standards of excellence.
Web Sponsors
Helldesign
Helldesign provides interface design and strategic consulting services for Web-based initiatives. We work with innovative organizations in a variety of industries, including software, telecommunications, digital media, travel and advertising. Our research-oriented, standards-based design process and uncanny attention to detail allows us to deliver results that are not only functional, but also visually compelling, clear, and approachable.