Futurists talk about "Type 1 Civilizations" and "Type 2 Civilizations." I don't think those labels will apply. Energy doesn't "go away" when we use it. It simply turns into a form that's less usable. I think we'll eventually figure out how to recapture all "waste" energy. Hence, the energy available will be effectively limitless. Energy will no longer be a limiting factor, for anything. I think we'll reach that stage long before we would otherwise reach Type 2 on the Kardashev scale. It may even be engendered by the AI Singularity. Disclaimer: I'm a software engineer, not a mechanical engineer or a physicist.Energy is everything.
I think there will be an Energy Singularity, just like the predicted AI Singularity.
Agreed. This is really the point I am trying to emphasize - and have tried to emphasize in my talks about Global Brain. We can't have a singularity or a global brain without "energy singularity" (if you want to call it that). We don't get abundance and unlimited opportunity without exploiting a new and sustainable energy source. All of the "neurons" in our "global brain" require enough energy to function adequately (and by adequately I mean they should be able to do whatever they want - whenever they want (as long as they don't harm another consciousness)). Disclaimer: I want to smash things when I think about the Koch brothers.I think there will be an Energy Singularity, just like the predicted AI Singularity.