I've never actually read any Kurzweil, but I do share his belief to a point. In my twenties I kind of came to a place of believing that humans would eventually reach the singularity he refers to, but it was based off much less research and more general science reading and philosophy. I think Hofstadter took me there more than anybody else. I always assumed it would happen beyond my lifetime, but that we were near the cusp within a couple centuries.

I'd love for his aspirational timeline to be true, of course. I don't see it, but I do believe in the shape of the graph, and when it does happen it will probably happen with surprising speed.

The tone of the article makes me curious about the very human side of Kurzweil. It sounds like he wants it so bad that it may have become religion for him. I don't know if that is accurate, but it certainly occurs to me. He sounds like he's ready for the worst, but I almost feel bad for him in a way. He seems way too certain, and to read about him keeping himself in perfect shape for that little extra push towards the end...if it were a Hollywood movie they'd certainly write him as a tragic character anyway.