a HackerNoon project
Original · left

Gravitational singularity

First in use: c. 1916
Duplicate · right

Technological singularity

First in use: c. 1993

Singularity / Gravitational singularity / Technological singularity

Loading data…
Canonical todayMeasuring…
Status—
Duplicate share · 12 mo—
Last crossover—
Colour keyGrey · original meaningGreen · duplicate meaningAmber · contested (40–60%)How colours work

Black holes vs. Vernor Vinge.

Which meaning of Singularity is the original, and which one is the duplicate riding on its name? Gravitational singularity came first (c. 1916). Technological singularity arrived in 1993. The data below shows which one owns the word now.

Wikipedia pageviews since 2015

Gravitational singularityTechnological singularity
English Wikipedia pageviews since July 2015 load here.

Duplicate's share of attention

Green line = duplicate's % · above 60 it owns the word · below 40 the original does

Share-of-attention line loads here.

The case for each meaning

Sourced definitions, usage stats and quotes

Original · c. 1916

Gravitational singularity

Loading the Wikipedia definition…

12-mo pageviews—
Year over year—
Peak month—
Duplicate · c. 1993

Technological singularity

Loading the Wikipedia definition…

12-mo pageviews—
Year over year—
Peak month—

More duplicated terms

AI & machine learning