I just got my copy of Ray Kurzweil‘s latest book, The Singularity is Nearer, and I’m beyond excited to dive in tonight. Ray Kurzweil has been a guide in my journey to understand the intersection of technology, AI, and the future. His work has profoundly shaped my professional growth and continues to motive me to anticipate and proactively identify and solve large complex problems.

My first introduction to Kurzweil was back in 1999 when I stumbled across The Age of Spiritual Machines at Barnes & Noble. That book was the right one at the right time—it completely shifted my understanding of exponential growth and introduced me to concepts we’re grappling with today: human augmentation with technology (think Neuralink), AI’s impact on human purpose, and the very notion of futurism.

Since then, I’ve made it a point to read everything Kurzweil has authored or co-authored, including:

• The Singularity is Near (2006)
• Fantastic Voyage: Live Long Enough to Live Forever (2005)
• Transcend: Nine Steps to Living Well Forever (2010)
• How to Create a Mind (2012)
• Danielle (2019)—complete with an autograph!
• I even tracked down a first edition of The Age of Intelligent Machines (1990).

I was fortunate to meet and chat briefly with Ray at an event in Cambridge in the mid-2000s and have followed his talks and podcasts ever since. His ability to identify patterns, extrapolate trends, and predict the future is unmatched. While IMO he’s more comfortable articulating complex ideas in writing than in speech, his books are nothing short of transformative.

If you haven’t read his work, I can’t recommend it enough. I’d start with The Age of Spiritual Machines or The Singularity is Near. They’ll give you a foundation for understanding the rapid, exponential technological growth that’s reshaping the world.

Why This Matters Now

AI is moving at a speed that’s hard to process. I’ve been drinking from the firehose of change, and it’s difficult to step back and gain perspective when the velocity is this intense. But one thing is clear: the changes we’re witnessing—and those on the horizon—are going to be massive, abrupt, and disruptive in ways that most people aren’t prepared for.

From my vantage point, over 90% of the people I know have no idea of the scale of what’s already been built, let alone what’s coming. This isn’t just a wave—it’s a tsunami that will reshape every industry, every career, and every aspect of how we live and work.

I plan to write more about this soon because I believe it’s critical for people to engage with these ideas, understand what’s happening, and prepare for the onslaught of changes ahead.

TL;DR:

• AI is already changing the world in profound, disruptive ways—both good and bad.
• Ray Kurzweil predicted much of this decades ago.
• Read his books, engage in conversation, and prepare yourself and your family.
• Follow me here for more thoughts as I try to play a small part in unpacking the implications of these changes.

Let’s connect and discuss.

And in full transparency I am working on a startup in the AI space. It’s a product/service that is geared towards the Individual and empowering every person with the tools and technology to adapt to this coming new world. We hope to share our vision and product soon!