The Foundation of Intelligence: Epoch One and Two

The first epoch of intelligence evolution, according to Ray Kurzweil, begins with the formation of atoms a few hundred thousand years after the Big Bang, allowing for the complex storage of information in molecules. This stage marks the establishment of stable structures such as carbon, which facilitates the development of increasingly intricate forms of matter. Following this, the second epoch emerges with the advent of life on Earth, where RNA evolves the ability to synthesize proteins, leading to the formation of protocells. Through natural selection, these protocells evolve into more complex single-celled organisms, setting the stage for the biological developments of the subsequent epochs.