quote:
Do you think there is any reason to consider it innately impossible that with the aid of such tools we could one day be responsible for designing something more complex than ourselves?
In principle, I would have to say that the answer is no, but it won't be easy. I think that it will have to be done as a hierarchical design, where the sum total design is beyond the complexity of an individual human. By this I mean that at the base level we have individual components or modules that are designed and built from raw materials. At each level above that the components form the next level down are assembled into large and more complex modules, culminating in the overall design. The individual design tasks are all relatively simple, but the final design is hugely complex, when all the details are considered.
Of course we can also use techniques which are not strictly design, from "training" neural networks, to employing genetic algorithms to create designs for us. (Perhaps ironically, considering that we are talking of ID, both methods are inspired by processes found in nature). I would think that the AIs of the Singularity - if it is possible - will have to be more grown than designed, and much of their complexity will come for that. I do not think that humans will design a superhuman intelligence, as such, more likely we might produce a system capable of becoming one.
I suppose that I should add that I am not sure that Dawkins position is as you have stated it. He certainly argues that the designer must be complex - but we both agree with that.