Singularity University’s Annual Exponential Manufacturing Summit

Singularity University’s (SU) Exponential Manufacturing Summit in Boston this week, which is dedicated to bringing together “the world’s brightest executives, entrepreneurs and investors… to prepare them for the changes brought forth by unstoppable technological progress.”

With a mind-boggling array of presentations, panel discussions, demonstrations, and symposiums from some of the most compelling innovators who stand at the forefront of technology — including SU co-founders, visionary futurists Peter Diamandis and Ray Kurzweil — the goal of the Summit is to “educate, inspire and empower leaders to apply exponential technologies to foster universal abundance and address humanity’s grand challenges today.”

Highlights from the first day included a thought-provoking presentation on Advanced Robotics by Sarah Bergbreiter, associate professor and acting director of the Maryland Robotics Center, and an “Ask Me Anything” session with Diamandis, who Beamed in from New York City to present to the more than 600 attendees in Boston.

During the session, Diamandis spoke about where we’re heading, thanks to the “complete dematerialization” of the supply chain, and the reimagination of manufacturing. While according to Diamandis we’re “a couple of stages away from the perfect situation,” (i.e. nano technology, which can create anything), he says that we are heading into a world where we can easily go from mind, to manufacturing, to market, as everyone (all 8 billion of us within seven to eight years) will be connected. At this point, he foretells manufacturing becoming “massively democratized” worldwide, with VR, AI, and other advances such as 3D printing, leading the way.

If you’re interested in viewing some of the incredible presentations, head over to SU’s Facebook page, like it, and you will be able to view some of today’s most influential innovators and thought leaders sharing their insights about the future of design, work, production and supply chain.

The theme of day two focused on innovation, both internal and external, by fostering innovation from within and externally by effectively leveraging startups, public/private partnerships, and labs; while the final day focused was on how to apply all that was learned in the first two days of the Summit. The “Deep Dive” programming puts a focus on those on the front lines that are driving advances at all points in manufacturing, from production throughout the entire supply chain.

This fast-paced, information-packed gathering put the spotlight on the Fourth Manufacturing Revolution and the disruptive change that is being instigated by exponential technologies including robotics, artificial intelligence (AI), energy, additive manufacturing, biological manufacturing, and more.

Thanks to Singularity University for an amazing, awe-inspiring three-day journey into the infinite potential of exponential manufacturing.