Ray Kurzweil believes computers will soon think like humans and ultimately merge with us, a notion he has dubbed “the singularity.”

That idea persuaded the former inventor in 2007 to form Singularity University, an institution housed at the NASA Research Park on Moffett Field in Mountain View, which teaches students about artificial intelligence and other topics straight out of science fiction.

While the institution isn’t accredited and offers short programs rather than a four-year degree, it has attracted lecturers and advisers such as Autodesk Inc. Chief Executive Carl Bass and Google Inc. Chief Internet Evangelist Vint Cerf. […]