Google and Nasa back 'singularity' school for when technology overtakes humans

Google, Yahoo and Nasa have backed a college which teaches students how to cope in a world where technology is smarter than humans.

Critics of singularity believe such sophisticated technology could end up being a threat to manPhoto: GETTY

The Singularity University will be based at the space programme's Ames campus in Silicon Valley, USA.

Its chancellor will be the controversial futurist Ray Kurzweil, whose 2005 book The Singularity is Near inspired the name of the school.

He believes that the rapid rise of technology will enable machines in the near future to use artificial intelligence to make themselves cleverer than humans.

Critics of singularity believe such sophisticated technology could end up being a threat to man.

But Mr Kurzweil said it was important to realise the potential of technological development: "The law of accelerating returns means technology eventually will be a million more times powerful than it is today and cause profound transformation."

Singularity University will accept 30 graduate students in its first intake this summer, increasing to 120 next year.

Despite its name, the college is not an accredited university but will offer nine-week courses exploring ways to ensure technology improves mankind's plight instead of harming it.

Courses are designed to see how the students can use technology to solve global issues such as poverty, famine, disease, global warming and dwindling energy supplies.

Paul Saffo, who will be part of Singular University, said people must understand the potential of technology.

"One of our greatest challenges is to get people to anticipate the consequences of our inventions and how they can upset the apple cart," he said.

Mr Kurzweil began discussing the concept for the school two years ago with Peter Diamandis, who chairs the X Prize Foundation and co-founded the International Space University in 1987.

Google already has contributed more than £700,000, and it is understood that several other major companies are planning to pay at least £175,000.

The nine-week tuition will cost £18,000, but Mr Diamandis said the university would focus on the brightest students who "have an interest in addressing big issues".