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Artificial Intelligence

A Guide for Thinking Humans

Melanie Mitchell author

Format:Paperback

Publisher:Penguin Books Ltd

Published:24th Sep '20

Should be back in stock very soon

Artificial Intelligence cover

This insightful book provides a deep dive into artificial intelligence, exploring its capabilities, challenges, and implications for the future of humanity.

In Artificial Intelligence, leading computer scientist Melanie Mitchell presents a comprehensive exploration of the field of artificial intelligence. She combines her expertise with engaging personal anecdotes and a touch of humor, making complex concepts accessible to a broad audience. The book delves into the allure and challenges of AI, highlighting its potential and the setbacks that have accompanied its development. Through her clear and passionate writing, Mitchell invites readers to consider the implications of AI on society and our understanding of intelligence itself.

Mitchell's work examines the capabilities of machines that aim to replicate human learning, perception, language, and creativity. She thoughtfully discusses the nature of intelligence, questioning whether today's 'smart' machines can truly think or comprehend in a way comparable to humans. By weaving together insights from cognitive science and philosophy, Artificial Intelligence challenges readers to reflect on the qualities that define intelligence and whether they are necessary for machines to function effectively.

Ultimately, Artificial Intelligence: A Guide for Thinking Humans serves as a vital resource for anyone looking to understand the current state of AI and its future. It offers an honest assessment of what the field has achieved so far, the obstacles it faces, and the profound impact it will have on our lives. This book is essential for those curious about the intersection of technology and humanity.

If you think you understand AI and all of the related issues, you don't. By the time you finish this exceptionally lucid and riveting book you will breathe more easily and wisely -- Michael Gazzaniga, author of The Consciousness Instinct
Melanie Mitchell writes about AI with a warm, friendly voice and an unpretentious brilliance that no machine could hope to match... for now -- Steven Strogatz, author of The Joy of X
Computers are capable of feats of astonishing intelligence, while at the same time lacking any semblance of common sense. Melanie Mitchell takes us through an enlightening tour of how artificial intelligence currently works, and how it falls short of true human understanding -- Sean Carroll, author of The Big Picture
A must read for anyone interested in the emerging revolution of AI, machine learning and big data. Mitchell lays bare the hyperbole and misconceptions that are being propagated in the media. This book can be, and should be, read by the proverbial man or woman-on-the-street, the Silicon Valley guru, members of Congress, or a student of the humanities, as well as by professional scientists and engineers. They will all profit enormously from it -- Geoffrey West, author of Scale
Mitchell cuts through the hype that the field of A.I. is often prone to and lays out what it does well, where it fails, and how it might do better -- George Musser, author of Spooky Action at a Distance
Melanie Mitchell deftly provides the reader with a keen, clear-sighted account of the history of AI and neural networks. A wonderfully informative book -- John Allen Paulos, author of Innumeracy
Mitchell is one of the finest minds in computation today, and one of the clearest-spoken. She understands the power of a metaphor — and why nearly all of the ones we have for AI are either simply poor, in the best of cases, or dangerously misleading. If you want to know where our current mayhem came from, read this account of the field -- Cat Bohannon author of Eve
The recent resurgence of AI has led to predictions of everything from the end of the world to immortality. Melanie Mitchell’s very intelligent, clear and sensible book is a welcome corrective to the exaggerated fears and hopes for AI, and the prefect primer to start understanding how the systems actually work -- Alison Gopnik, author of The Philosophical Baby
Mitchell knows what she’s talking about. Even better, she’s a clear, cogent and interesting writer . . . Ithas significantly improved my knowledge when it comes to automation technology, but the greater benefit is that it has also enhanced my appreciation for the complexity and ineffability of human cognition * Chicago Tribune *
Without shying away from technical details, this survey provides an accessible course in neural networks, computer vision, and natural-language processing, and asks whether the quest to produce an abstracted, general intelligence is worrisome . . . Mitchell’s view is a reassuring one * The New Yorker *

ISBN: 9780241404836

Dimensions: 180mm x 110mm x 25mm

Weight: 259g

448 pages