There are two types of “Singularitarians”. One type of Singularitarian, mostly imaginary because no one I’ve ever met actually self-identifies this way, is the type defined in Ray Kurzweil’s 2005 book The Singularity is Near. Since this book has a permanent place on my desk, I need to reach only about 10 inches to retrieve it and open to the page that defines it. Here it is:

“A Singularitarian is someone who understands the Singularity and has reflected on its meaning for his or her own life.”

Alright. Unfortunately, I’m motivated to entirely ignore this definition, as it was introduced five years after another, different, better definition. The better definition was introduced by Eliezer Yudkowsky on January 1st, 2000, in the Singularitarian Principles, which is admittedly slightly out of date:

Definitional Principle #1: Singularity

A Singularitarian believes that the Singularity is possible, that the Singularity is a good thing, and that we should help make it happen.

Definitional Principle #2: Activism

Singularitarians are the partisans of the Singularity.

A Singularitarian is someone who believes that technologically creating a greater-than-human intelligence is desirable, and who works to that end.

A Singularitarian is advocate, agent, defender, and friend of the future known as the Singularity.

Definitional Principle #3: Ultratechnology

The “Singularity” is a natural, non-mystical, technologically triggered event. We, the Singularitarians, are allied in the purpose of bringing about a natural event through natural means, not sitting in a circle chanting over a computer. There are thousands, perhaps millions, of stories and prophecies and rituals that allegedly involve something that could theoretically be described as “greater-than-human intelligence”. What distinguishes the Singularitarians is that we want to bring about a natural event, working through ultratechnologies such as AI or nanotech, without relying on mystical means or morally valent effects.

Definitional Principle #4: Globalism

Similarly, although the Singularity is simply the creation of greater-than-human intelligence, the “Singularity” in “Singularitarian” is the Singularity as seen from the perspective of the vast majority of humanity. It’s the event seen from a global perspective, just like the “liberty” in “libertarian” is global. If you don’t advocate global liberty, you aren’t a libertarian. If you don’t advocate global Singularity, if you just advocate a personal, private Singularity, then you’re not a Singularitarian.

My main qualm with the above is the notion that the Singularity is necessarily a good thing, when it isn’t. Superintelligences could easily wipe us out to make way for structures that provide them greater subjective utility. I would suggest that Mr. Yudkowsky take the few minutes necessary to update the page to reflect this.

Anyway, the biggest difference between Kurzweil’s Singularitarianism and Yudkowsky’s Singularitarianism is that practically anyone can qualify for the former, while the latter is reserved specifically for rationalist activists who want a Singularity to benefit all humanity. Anyone who has watched any of the Terminator movies and thought that such a scenario might be possible in several decades has thought about the “Singularity” and its meaning in his or her own life, so that may be millions of people, but this isn’t a significant delineation. It’s conspicuously inclusive, in a boring way.

Yudkowsky’s Singularitarianism is an activist singularitarianism — we’re going to work towards smarter-than-human intelligence, join us if you wish.

In this sense, this Singularitarianism is more of a notice than a prediction.

This group, however small it may be, is focused on constructing a self-improving artificial general intelligence (AGI) that acts beneficently towards all humanity, however long that takes.

Join us if you wish.