Ray Kurzweil transfers these themes from the fantasy worlds of sci-fi to the realm of scientific discussion. He theorizes that technological development is the latest phase of evolution. Evolution began, not with the appearance of life on earth, but rather with the very inception of the universe. Nor has evolution ceased with the emergence of Homo sapiens . Technology is more than humankind's ability to provide itself with tools for shaping its environment.
Technology is an inevitable stage in the evolution of intelligence in the universe.
It took many billions of years for the earth to form, but only another two billion before life appeared. Time intervals between the emergence of more and more advanced forms of life are measured in millions of years rather than billions. When humans introduced technology, the pace again accelerated. Modern technology has meant exponential evolution. This view is too narrow for Kurzweil.