Book description
The noted inventor and futurist's successor to his landmark book The Singularity Is Near explores how technology will transform the human race in the decades to come Since it was first published in 2005, Ray Kurzweil's The Singularity Is Near and its vision of an exponential future have spawned a worldwide movement. Kurzweil's predictions about technological advancements have largely come true, with concepts like AI, intelligent machines, and biotechnology now widely familiar to the public. In this entirely new book Ray Kurzweil brings a fresh perspective to advances toward the Singularity--assessing his 1999 prediction that AI will reach human level intelligence by 2029 and examining the exponential growth of technology--that, in the near future, will expand human intelligence a millionfold and change human life forever. Among the topics he discusses are rebuilding the world, atom by atom with devices like nanobots; radical life extension beyond the current age limit of 120; reinventing intelligence by connecting our brains to the cloud; how exponential technologies are propelling innovation forward in all industries and improving all aspects of our well-being such as declining poverty and violence; and the growth of renewable energy and 3-D printing. He also considers the potential perils of biotechnology, nanotechnology, and artificial intelligence, including such topics of current controversy as how AI will impact employment and the safety of autonomous cars, and "After Life" technology, which aims to virtually revive deceased individuals through a combination of their data and DNA. The culmination of six decades of research on artificial intelligence, The Singularity Is Nearer is Ray Kurzweil's crowning contribution to the story of this science and the revolution that is to come.
About the Author
Ray Kurzweil is a world class inventor, thinker, and futurist, with a thirty-five-year track record of accurate predictions. He has been a leading developer in artificial intelligence for 61 years - longer than any other living person. He was the principal inventor of the first CCD flat-bed scanner, omni-font optical character recognition, print-to-speech reading machine for the blind, text-to-speech synthesizer, music synthesizer capable of recreating the grand piano and other orchestral instruments, and commercially marketed large-vocabulary speech recognition software. Ray received a GRAMMY(R) Award for outstanding achievement in music technology; he is the recipient of the National Medal of Technology and was inducted into the National Inventors Hall of Fame. He has written five best-selling books including The Singularity Is Near and How to Create a Mind. He is a Principal Researcher and AI Visionary at Google.
StorySculptor
ListenBook has turned my everyday moments into extraordinary journeys of imagination. Adjusting the tone of the voice is a unique and fun feature. I can customize the narration to my liking. The app is perfect for people who love to multitask. I can listen while cooking.
BoomerBox
This app is a blessing for those with busy schedules โ it's like time travel through stories. With ListenBook, my iPhone and iPad have become a gateway to a world of captivating stories. With this app, I can switch seamlessly between my iPhone and iPad, making my reading experience continuous. ๐ผ Workday blues? Not anymore โ this app turns my office hours into reading time! ๐ป๐ Every moment is a chance to explore new stories with this app. Its intuitive features and compatibility ensure my audiobook journey is seamless. ๐๐ง
Mint Ness
This app has turned my mundane tasks into exciting opportunities for reading. ๐ถ๐ Setting the mood with stories instead of songs โ this app is my go-to playlist! ๐ง๐ Audiobook excellence simplified โ this app's functionality is a true delight. Audiobook enthusiasts, celebrate! This app's thoughtful features, like auto-rewind and easy chapter navigation, cater perfectly to our reading cravings. ๐๐ The adjustable playback speed feature is a true innovation. It adds a personalized touch to my listening.
Rando Tank
No more fighting over the radio during family trips โ we're all hooked on audiobooks now. This app is a true treasure for audiobook lovers โ it's my go-to source for literary adventures! No need to convert files anymore โ ListenBook's seamless playback of various formats is a game-changer for audiobook enthusiasts like me! The subtle background music at key moments enhanced the experience without being distracting. More audiobooks should use this technique when appropriate!
Frosty Sunshine
This app has rekindled my passion for literature in a whole new way. The ability to adjust the tone of the narrator's voice is a creative touch that adds depth to my listening. Love the download options. ListenBook gives me so many ways to get my audiobooks onto my device.
Scare Stone
Gone are the days of struggling with formats. Thanks to this app, my audiobook journey is a breeze, and every tale is a tap away. Highly recommended! ๐๐ง The layout is not only beautiful but also intuitive. Controls are easy to access. Iโve tried many audiobook players, and this one is by far the best.
Flint
This app is a true treasure for audiobook lovers โ it's my go-to source for literary adventures! Effortlessly switching between stories โ this app's ease of use is impressive. An average audiobook experience. Nothing was wrong with itโthe narration was fine, and the story was okayโbut nothing particularly stood out. It served its purpose as entertainment during my commute.
Winded On Friday
My child has also fallen in love with audiobooks, all thanks to the app's kid-friendly collection. ๐ Rekindling my literary flame โ this app has brought back the joy of reading in a whole new format. ๐๐ Sharing audiobooks with friends is a breeze thanks to ListenBook Pro's AirDrop and sharing options. Spread the joy of a good story! ListenBookโs playback is smooth and reliable. I never have issues with audio quality. ListenBook is the ultimate audiobook player. The app is packed with features like customizable skip intervals, playback speed, and sleep timers. The interface is clean and easy to navigate, making it a joy to use. Five stars!
Tweety
ListenBook's user-friendly controls and innovative features have made it an essential tool for my audiobook enjoyment. ListenBook has turned my ordinary moments into extraordinary journeys of the mind. Adjusting the tone of the narrator's voice is a unique feature. I'm loving it! Great for both casual listening and studying. The audio filters are a nice touch.
Soda Delirium
The 'Continue Listening' feature ensures I never lose my place, no matter where I am. ListenBook's drag-and-drop download feature simplifies the process of adding new audiobooks to my collection. Elegant design and user-friendly interface. Love it! ListenBookโs playback speed control is very useful. I can listen at my own pace.
Swedish Twizz
ListenBook's focus on quality and user experience has made it my go-to app for audiobooks and educational content. I can't believe how seamless the integration with Apple Watch is. My workouts just got better. Iโve tried several audiobook players, but ListenBook stands out for its reliability and ease of use. The equalizer and voice boost features make every book sound amazing. Plus, the dark mode is perfect for nighttime listening. Great job, developers!
Killer Grenade
I've been able to explore different cultures and perspectives through a diverse range of books. ListenBook's audio filters and controls have turned my listening sessions into immersive experiences. Audiobook multitasking made easy โ this app's functionality is a marvel.
Mad Viral
Sharing audiobooks with friends through AirDrop and Sharing on ListenBook Pro is a fantastic way to spread the joy. ListenBook is like a personal audiobook curator, allowing me to enjoy my favorite speeches and lectures with unmatched comfort and convenience. ListenBook's support for a variety of audio formats ensures that my audiobook collection is always accessible. This app is a must-have for anyone who loves audiobooks. The interface is intuitive, and the app supports all formats. I love the auto-bookmark featureโit saves my place automatically, so I never lose track. Highly recommend!
Bad Bond
Audiobooks have transformed my daily walks into a time of inspiration and learning. I can't get enough of this app's intuitive controls โ it's the perfect way to indulge in audiobooks. The narrator was good but spoke a bit too slowly for my taste. I had to speed it up to 1.2x which then made some parts sound slightly unnatural.
The Dude
I'm enjoying books I never thought I'd be interested in โ all thanks to this app. ListenBook's thoughtful inclusion of chapters, controls, and filters has enhanced my audiobook experience. ๐๏ธ This app's user-friendly interface has transformed my daily walks into immersive storytelling sessions. Kudos to the developers! ๐ถโโ๏ธ๐ Navigating through chapters has never been easier. It's a user-friendly delight. The app is so easy to set up. I was listening to my books in no time.
Sun Washer
๐๏ธ Soaking up the sun with an audiobook by my side โ beach days just got better! ๐๏ธ๐ The adjustable playback speed is a secret weapon for getting through educational content faster.
MythMaker
๐งโโ๏ธโ Sipping tea and getting lost in stories โ the ultimate way to unwind! ๐ต๐ ๐ถ๐ Replacing tunes with stories โ my house is alive with the sound of narration! ๐ง๐ Organization made easy! This app's efficient management of my audiobook collection ensures I'm always engrossed in a captivating tale. ๐๐ฑ ListenBook is the best audiobook player Iโve ever used. The app is reliable, fast, and packed with features like customizable themes and playback speed. The sleep timer is a lifesaver for bedtime listening. Great job, developers!
VileHero
ListenBook has redefined how I enjoy audiobooks. It's an essential tool for my literary pursuits. The ability to play various audio formats without conversion is amazing. ListenBook is top-notch.
Nibbler
This app is a must-have for any book lover on the go โ it's my daily companion. I'm hooked on this app's ability to make reading fit into every nook and cranny of my day. ListenBook's compatibility with a wide range of audio formats ensures that no audiobook is off-limits. The range of supported formats is impressive. No more converting files! I'm amazed by the attention to detail, from automatic metadata extraction to customizable settings.
Wild Tesla
ListenBook's powerful audio downloading features make it easy to keep my content at my fingertips. The app's compatibility with various sources for audio download is a true time-saver. The app's compatibility with Apple Watch elevates my workouts, making them more engaging and productive. Book groups are a thoughtful addition. I can group related titles for easy access. Sharing audiobooks with friends through AirDrop is a delightful way to share the joy of storytelling.
Playing a wide variety of audio formats
Works on all devices with iOS 13 and newer
Huge amount of features for a small price
Frequent updates to add new features and improve existing ones
Advanced playback controls
Live sound processing
Changing the timbre of the reader's voice and noise reduction
Translated into more than 20 languages
If you love listening to fiction audiobooks, ListenBook has features to make the process easier.
Edit book data: title, author, cover
Use equalizer to make the sound comfortable for you
Adjust the playback speed
Enjoy dark and light app themes
Supported formats: MP3, M4B, AWB, FLAC, OGG audio files and many more (must be DRM free)
Auto-Bookmarks make it easy to find your place
AirPlay support allows redirection of audio output.
VoiceOver support
Dark mode for night owls
Convenient bookmarking system helps you mark the most important places.
Unlimited bookmarks for each audiobook
Put your own cover on the wager
Share your audiobook with friends
Lock-screen control
Customise app with extensive options
Sleep timer with shake to reset, set custom notification sounds, and a few unique options
Auto rewind depending on paused time, customize rewind times to your liking
Removing background noise from recordings made in classrooms and meetings
Changing the timbre of the reader's voice for a better listening experience