jeremy kahn, explain what the term singularity means. >> this get areas the moment when computers or software surpassed human intelligence. that is often the definition given. some people give a definition, the moment humans have merged somehow with machines and become cyborgs. those are the definitions of the singularity. >> host: how far away are we from the singularity? >> guest: i think we are still a ways away from that moment although ai technology is getting very powerful and very useful, we are still at least a decade if not more from a singularity moment but it is a good time to think about what the applications of that moment might be but we are still a ways off. >> host: what do we need to figure out before that moment? legally, ethically, morally, what do we need to do? >> guest: there is a lot we should be thinking about in terms of how to mitigate the risks that might come from that superpowerful ai. what we should do to mitigate risks, the ai technology we currently have and is rapidly rolled out, the risks there that we should address, for longer-term risks. >> host:

host: plenty of calls for you, jeremy kahn. in california comic angela -- angela in california, go ahead. caller: i wanted to ask your guest, back in 1997, i'm in the insurance company, my company had me sit down with guys from google to come up with a computer program for workers comp insurance. they told me -- i noticed i had a friend from jbl, and total recall came out 30 years ago, and robots had the a1 capability in those movies, so it seems like the capability has been around since 1997. how advanced is the army with this? is the avatar movie showing us with the army capability is? my friends at jpl told me to start looking at the movies because they are telling me the future of ai. can you answer that question? guest: a lot of people have this idea on how the military has secretly more advanced ai models than what we know have been developed commercially. i would be a little skeptical. i think actually this is a case where the private companies have pulled ahead to where the government is, and part of it has to do with t

jeremy kahn is the author, ai editor at "fortune" magazine. appreciate your time this morning. >> thank you very much, john. >> if you're in join booktv vinh sign-up for our newsletter using the qr code on the screen to receive the schedule of upcoming programs, author discussions, book festivals and more. booktv every sunday on c-span2 or anytime online at booktv.org. television for serious readers. >> weekend on c-span2 aren't intellectual feast. every saturday american history tv documents america's stories, and on sundays booktv brings you the latest nonfiction books and authors. funding for c-span2 comes from these television companies and more including cox. >> when connection is needed most cox is there to help. bringing affordable internet to families in need, supporting boys and girls club and support for veterans. whenever and wherever it matters most, we will be there. >> cox, along with these television companies, supports c-span2 as a public service. >> attention, middle and high school students across america. it's time to make y