SingularityU brings technorealism to Europe
The inventor of virtual reality, a specialist in human extinction and a cyborg are coming to Belgium with keynotes that will broaden your perspective, during an inspirational two-day conference.
On 23 and 24 September 2019, Brussels will host the very first SingularityU Summit in Belgium. Various international experts will gather in The Egg to discuss Exponential Europe, or: how will Europe cope with the accelerating dynamic of technology worldwide? #FutureproofEurope.
Jaron Lanier is often described as a ‘Renaissance Man for the 21st Century’. He created the concept and devised the possibilities of virtual reality (VR), selling the first actual VR products via his company VPL Research. In 2010, ‘Time Magazine’ named him one of the 100 most influential people in the world. He has written three bestsellers: ‘You Are Not A Gadget, ‘A Manifesto’, ‘Dawn of the New Everything: Encounters with Reality and Virtual Reality’, followed last year by ‘Ten Reasons For Deleting Your Social Media Accounts Right Now’.
Liviu Babitz is a ‘biohacker’ and a true cyborg. In order to increase his perception of reality he upgraded his body with the help of technological sensors. Today he advocates a completely new world in which humanity is given an update. Technology provides us with access to new feelings, new memories and new ways of learning about the world. He not only hacked his body, but also his brain, which now thinks in a different way. This enables him to lead a richer life.
Anders Sandberg spends his days performing simulations of ‘low-probability, high-impact risks’: unlikely occurrences that could put an end to the human race – such as epidemics and the consequences of nuclear warfare. One aspect of this involves estimating the potential of future technology and the ethical issue of enhancing people with the help of technology. He is a senior researcher linked to the Future of Humanity Institute at the University of Oxford.