What’s the benefit of an all-powerful immortal genius? The benefits are all-around infinite. But it depends, from its point-of-view are we more trouble than we’re worth?
I personally welcome the singularity with open arms because I equate greater-than-human-intelligence with wisdom and compassion.
The whole The Matrix scenario is based on the false premise that technology would be as cruel/ stupid/ thoughtless/ self-centered/ dopamine seeking as homo sapiens. Doesn’t greater than human intelligence equate with wisdom and doesn’t that equate with active preservation of those less capable and good? Isn’t The Matrix really just an overdressed simple-minded distrust of other homo sapiens with power? It presumes that anything else that’s intelligent and in a position of power will, as most humans have done, turn to enslavement and cruelty. I doubt the singularity would fashion itself in the likeness of Man, I don’t see how that would in any way be intelligent/wise.
If the singularity ever arrives the biggest defining factor as to whether it’ll bring about our destruction or eternal peace will be whether or not the human species does more good than harm in the whole scheme of things. Given our track record I’d say we’re screwed, because we are the bad guys. There’s not one system that can’t be made less dangerous and compromised by a replacement of the human element with technology of equal capability (ask any hacker worth their salt).
…What’s the benefit of the singularity? World peace. Will we be around? Maybe, most likely not if we don’t smarten up. This is a lot like a God question— if God existed, upon seeing us completely would she/he find us in harmony with the other elements and open the gates of Eden, or would we deserve the flood as means of saving the world? Predictable in our self-centeredness, the answers don’t hinge on a non-existent God/Singularity but entirely on us.
Simply put though, the benefit of singularity is that Man will no longer resemble Man; we will either no longer exist or no longer exist as we are by transcendence via cooperation. Both scenarios beg the question as to whether or not there are any benefits at all for what we currently define as Man (as inherently hungry and flawed and capricious and boredom-evading).