Evil Robots, Killer Computers, and Other Myths

Are AI robots and computers really going take over the world? Artificial intelligence (AI) guru Steve Shwartz has grown frustrated with the fear-inducing hype around AI in popular culture and media. Yes, today’s AI systems are miracles of modern engineering, but no, humans do not have to fear robots seizing control or taking over all our jobs. In this exploration of the fascinating and ever-changing landscape of AI, Shwartz separates the facts from the tropes of apocalyptic science fiction. This captivating book explains · how AI really works in simple terms and why it cannot evolve into the AI of science fiction lore; · the groundbreaking AI technologies that do exist, including facial recognition, self-driving cars, machine translation, deepfakes, and many others; · the crucial areas where we will need to adopt new laws and policies in order to counter threats to our safety and personal freedoms resulting from the widespread use of AI. So although we don’t have to worry about evil robots rising to power and turning us into pets—and we probably never will—artificial intelligence is here to stay, and we must learn to separate fact from fiction and embrace how this amazing technology enhances our world.