Why hasn’t New Eden had the Singularity?

Posted on 2010-01-21 by Ecliptic Rift

'Spectrum of a Black Hole' by nasa1fan/MSFC

So we have rogue artificial intelligences, uploaded consciousness, functionally immortal transhumans, faster-than-light communications and travel that invalidate everything we know about causality… why hasn’t New Eden experienced the Singularity?

These sorts of advances should enable exponential growth in science, technology, and mathematics. For example, a sentient drone that can link to others in a hive mind (massively parallel consciousness) should surpass a normal (non-enhanced) human in terms of its ability to upgrade itself or create improved versions, and in fact capsuleers should do something similar to that. After all, once humanity can bypass the biological limitations and start to implement quantum computing architectures and instantaneous, limitless storage, we can do things that those of us stuck here in 21st-century Earth cannot even begin to extrapolate: the Singularity.

So, has CCP avoided any steps toward this due to balance considerations (think Sleepers with the Luminaire Titan stats and Deep Blue game theoretical intelligence) or just haven’t given this much thought? As first steps to this, I’d like to see more content related to rogue drones as well as capsuleers getting involved in implant research and production. A rogue drone epic arc or more development of the Society of Conscious Thought would really hit the spot, too. I’d really welcome ISD Mercury members reaching out to me (even in their semi-anonymous state) about this topic, too.

Can you guess where my next fictional arc (not the Friday stuff) will go?

UPDATE: Go read Kaarbak’s counter-argument. I have to think about that one for a bit.

Related posts:

  1. Singularity counter-counter-arguments
  2. Projectile Singularity
  3. Nonviolence in New Eden
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  • http://chocolips.wordpress.com/ Kalahari

    Thing is, you don’t really know what the plan is for the sleepers, or the rogue drones.

    Rogue drones are clearly involved in something much bigger that we don’t know about fully yet. I have my own theories regarding that one though.

    The second novel might answer some of your questions, possibly. Its focused on the Sansha and their experiments with mechanising humans etc.

  • http://chocolips.wordpress.com/ Kalahari

    Thing is, you don’t really know what the plan is for the sleepers, or the rogue drones.

    Rogue drones are clearly involved in something much bigger that we don’t know about fully yet. I have my own theories regarding that one though.

    The second novel might answer some of your questions, possibly. Its focused on the Sansha and their experiments with mechanising humans etc.

  • http://myrhial.blogspot.com/ Myrhial Arkenath

    Rogue drones are so sneaky they seem like harmless little pests to us, but that is just what they want us to think…

    …or maybe not. Heh, I would really love to see more lore related to this worked out. Serpentis and their implant research, for example, rather than just the creepy Sansha.

  • http://myrhial.blogspot.com Myrhial Arkenath

    Rogue drones are so sneaky they seem like harmless little pests to us, but that is just what they want us to think…

    …or maybe not. Heh, I would really love to see more lore related to this worked out. Serpentis and their implant research, for example, rather than just the creepy Sansha.

  • http://rift.chromebits.net/ Casiella Truza

    I don’t know what the plan is for those, of course. Perhaps the Sleepers went through some sort of singularity themselves, and we just encounter their physical remnants in W-space. We’ve seen lots of hints about the rogue drones and their connection to the Sleepers, so I hope to see more about that. And my anticipation for Burning Life grows each day. At some point I may actually force myself to read Empyrean Age, but I fall squarely into the camp that opposes TonyG’s vision and embraces Abraxas fully.

  • http://rift.chromebits.net Casiella Truza

    I don’t know what the plan is for those, of course. Perhaps the Sleepers went through some sort of singularity themselves, and we just encounter their physical remnants in W-space. We’ve seen lots of hints about the rogue drones and their connection to the Sleepers, so I hope to see more about that. And my anticipation for Burning Life grows each day. At some point I may actually force myself to read Empyrean Age, but I fall squarely into the camp that opposes TonyG’s vision and embraces Abraxas fully.

  • http://rift.chromebits.net/ Casiella Truza

    Have you seen the new description for Eifyr? You might like what you see there…

  • http://rift.chromebits.net Casiella Truza

    Have you seen the new description for Eifyr? You might like what you see there…

  • Nikilaiki Ruutarhara

    Simply put, though certain requirements for a Singularity are met by the technology available in New Eden, as a whole, the societies are not ready for it. Capsuleers are the exception rather than the rule. They have access to FTL communications, advanced learning technology, cloning, etc. Joe Average slaving away for a Megacorp, making ends meet in Rens, listening to a sermon in the Mandate or what have you, does NOT have access to that level of technology. The Elite of society have access to it; the average man and woman does not. Read any story by Abraxas and this point is made abundantly clear.

    New Eden is nowhere close to a Singularity in the most important area; social change.

    For a Singularity to occur in New Eden there would have to be the will of those possessing the technology to share it with the rest of humanity. It's pretty clear that if the means exist to bring about a Singularity, those who have a chance (assuming there are any) to bring it about are either unwilling or unable to create the necessary change. Everyone has enemies that they wish to have an advantage over. Another thing to think about is the fact that New Eden is the fact that the most advanced society in New Eden, the Jovians, seem to have reached a Singularity of sorts but are now stagnant.

    So, has CCP avoided any steps toward this due to balance considerations (think Sleepers with the Luminaire Titan stats and Deep Blue game theoretical intelligence) or just haven’t given this much thought?

    Well, my opinion is this; EVE has a specific theme and tone. New Eden going through a Singularity is probably beyond the scope of what can be portrayed in an online game. From a thematic standpoint it would not fit with how the societies of New Eden are portrayed. Have they thought about it? Probably not in the way you'd think, though they have addressed the necessary points as to why one could not occur (at least not anytime soon).

  • http://rift.chromebits.net Casiella Truza

    I particularly agree with your points about the Jovians. They had some form of it, likely, and it didn't work out just particularly well for them.

    But I don't think the Singularity would require that sort of change, technical or social, to be widely distributed first. For example, sentient drones upgrading themselves into improved versions and that rate accelerating should at least provide a mini-upgrade, don't you think? I know this is an area of particular interest to you, so I'm wondering what delicious bits of PF you've found hiding in the corners…