Superintelligence describes a hypothetical machine whose intellectual abilities greatly exceed those of every human. The idea connects to technological singularity: a point after which technological and social change becomes difficult to foresee. section 9.1
A machine that improves machine intelligence
I. J. Good imagined a machine capable of surpassing every human intellectual activity, including machine design. If it designed increasingly capable successors, an intelligence explosion could leave human intelligence far behind. The scenario depends on the machine remaining controllable, and its consequences remain speculative. section 9.1
The concept is historically important but should not be confused with demonstrated capability. Predictions by prominent AI researchers that machines would soon match or exceed humans illustrate how grand claims can attract more attention than reasoned analysis. section 9.1
