The term "Bootstrapped-Brain" refers generically to any cognitive entity or collective that can redesign itself, perform self-replication, and has the potential ability to develop fundamental technologies in much shorter timescales than humans could.

A possible consequence of the existence of a Bootstrapped-Brain is the loss of operational control by human authorities, leading to a situation that places the human race and biosphere in peril.

A critical problem to solve is how to implement "Friendly artificial intelligence" in Bootstrapped-Brains, to ensure that humankind is not seen as a nuisance or threat to be eliminated. The ability to monitor, cooperate and negotiate with functioning Bootstrapped-Brains appears to be a prerequisite for continued human survival. An appropriate variant of author Isaac Asimov's Three Laws of Robotics may supply the basis for peaceful relations between the human race and its technological progeny.

Some observers of the rapid advances in artificial intelligence, biotechnology and nanotechnology, in particular Ray Kurzweil (author of The Singularity is Near), use a related term "Technological Singularity" to signify an approaching golden era of supra-human, self-sustaining and accelerating technological development that surpasses human comprehension. Kurzweil predicts that the human race will accrue many benefits including life extension, machine consciousness and unprecedented control over the environment between now and the full onset of the Technological Singularity, which he projects will unfold by 2045.

See also

Blood Music

Bootstrap

Gray goo

Matrioshka Brain

Rampancy

Robot

Stanisław Lem