This book argues that the defining feature of the 21st century will not be a single technology, but the convergence of multiple, rapidly advancing fields into interconnected systems that transform every aspect of life. Introduction - The Great Convergence Technologies no longer evolve in isolation; breakthroughs in one field accelerate progress in others. AI, synthetic biology, space manufacturing, and climate tech don't just coexist - they amplify each other. The introduction frames convergence as a shift from linear ...
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This book argues that the defining feature of the 21st century will not be a single technology, but the convergence of multiple, rapidly advancing fields into interconnected systems that transform every aspect of life. Introduction - The Great Convergence Technologies no longer evolve in isolation; breakthroughs in one field accelerate progress in others. AI, synthetic biology, space manufacturing, and climate tech don't just coexist - they amplify each other. The introduction frames convergence as a shift from linear to exponential change, with opportunities and risks woven together. Chapter 1 - Intelligence Everywhere AI, IoT, and edge computing embed intelligence into the physical world, creating adaptive environments that respond in real time to human needs. From self-managing homes to cities that reroute traffic dynamically, intelligence becomes ambient and invisible. Chapter 2 - Personalized Life Genomics, predictive analytics, and AI medicine shift healthcare from reactive to preventative. Individuals live with "digital health twins" that model their biology, enabling hyper-personalized nutrition, early disease detection, and continuous mental health monitoring. Chapter 3 - AI Cities Urban infrastructure behaves like a living organism - adjusting traffic, utilities, and public health dynamically. Digital twins and civic AI systems enable self-governing, resilient, and participatory cities, though governance models vary from transparent to authoritarian. Chapter 4 - Cognitive Future Brain-computer interfaces, neural augmentation, and consciousness mapping blur the lines between human and machine. People gain instant translation, memory sharing, and even the ability to "upload" minds - raising profound ethical questions. Chapter 5 - Space + Earth Integration Space becomes a seamless extension of Earth's economy through satellite networks, asteroid mining, orbital manufacturing, and space-based solar power. Off-world industries feed directly into terrestrial supply chains, education, and climate resilience. Chapter 6 - AI-Native Web 2.0 The internet evolves into a post-platform economy where autonomous AI agents act on behalf of individuals and organizations. Decentralized identity, programmable money, and hybrid human-AI organizations replace traditional platforms and intermediaries. Chapter 7 - Industry 5.0 Human-AI collaboration, generative design, and distributed microfactories enable local, on-demand manufacturing. Products are customized to individual needs, and supply chains become resilient, circular, and less resource-intensive. Chapter 8 - Synthetic Realities AR, VR, AI-generated worlds, and persistent metaverse layers merge physical and digital experience. These immersive spaces transform education, commerce, and culture, while raising concerns over manipulation and identity drift. Chapter 9 - Legal and Economic Reformations AI judicial systems, tokenized assets, dynamic pricing, and decentralized governance reshape law and economics. Disputes resolve in minutes, property rights are encoded in smart contracts, and economic flows adapt in real time. Chapter 10 - Planetary Regeneration Climate AI, precision agriculture, and synthetic biology create digitally managed, self-healing ecosystems. Cities integrate living infrastructure, and restoration projects scale to match planetary challenges. Conclusion - Living in the Convergence Age The ten clusters form a single, interdependent system. The Convergence Age offers the possibility of abundance, resilience, and equity - or of concentrated power and deeper divides. The outcome depends on governance, ethics, and collective choice.
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Add this copy of The Convergence Age: Ten Forces Reshaping Humanity's to cart. $16.09, new condition, Sold by Ingram Customer Returns Center rated 5.0 out of 5 stars, ships from NV, USA, published 2025 by Independently Published.
