Survival is the key element here. If mankind is to get to level 2 then he has to survive. Survival potential is reduced by many of mankinds current traits ,ie, religious arguing, desruction of the body (drugs, alcohol, unhealthy neurological mind sets etc) and the inability to evolve and adapt (brelating to some people - we've all met people who are resistant to change).
Therfore this means we, as individuals and as a species, need to eliminate these processes to increase our survival potential and further our current technologies. I dont believe that mankind, as an organic species, is capable of this much adaption.
We need to create a "thinking machine" then, that will not be subjected to the aforementioned traits. Does this mean that we will in effect become machines, not too dissimlar to Darth Vader from Star Wars??
Im glad that I gave up working as a chef to become a computer programmer, technology is so much more interesting!!