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The Road to Conscious Machines

The Story of AI
Series: Pelican Books
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( 386 ratings, 47 reviews)
Book Hero Magic crafted this summary to help describe this book. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! Summary
The Road to Conscious Machines by Michael Wooldridge explores the history and development of artificial intelligence, tracing the journey from its early conception to modern advancements. Wooldridge provides insights into the challenges and breakthroughs in AI, discussing the philosophical and ethical questions that arise as machines increasingly exhibit human-like consciousness. This book is a captivating and informative analysis of how AI could reshape our future.
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Book Hero Magic created this recommendation. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! IS THIS YOUR NEXT READ?

You might enjoy this book if you're fascinated by the evolution of artificial intelligence and its future implications. It offers a compelling insight into how AI technology is developing towards potential consciousness, providing a thoughtful exploration of both the science and philosophical questions surrounding intelligent machines.

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Book Hero Magic formatted this description to make it easier to read. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! Description

In this myth-busting guide to AI past and present, one of the world's leading researchers shows why our fears for the future are misplaced.

The ultimate dream of AI is to build machines that are conscious and self-aware. While this remains a remote possibility, rapid progress in AI is transforming our world. Yet the public debate is still largely centred on unlikely prospects, from sentient machines to dystopian robot takeovers.

Michael Wooldridge challenges the prevailing narrative, revealing how the hype distracts us from both the more immediate risks that this technology posesβ€” from algorithmic bias to fake newsβ€” and the true life-changing potential of the field. The Road to Conscious Machines elucidates the discoveries of AI's greatest pioneers from Alan Turing to Demis Hassabis, and shows us what today's researchers actually think and do.

Series: Pelican Books

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Book Hero Magic summarised reviews for this book. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! HOW HAS THIS BEEN REVIEWED?

In The Road to Conscious Machines, Michael Wooldridge offers a comprehensive and insightful exploration of Artificial Intelligence. The book is praised for being clear, engaging, and highly informative, providing an authoritative overview of AI's development and the associated ethical concerns. Reviewers commend its accessibility and ability to dispel common myths, making it essential reading for those interested in understanding AI's history and future.

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Book Details

INFORMATION

ISBN: 9780241333907

Publisher: Penguin Books Ltd

Format: Paperback / softback

Date Published: 04 March 2021

Country: United Kingdom

Imprint: Pelican

Audience: General / adult, Tertiary education, Professional and scholarly

DIMENSIONS

Spine width: 22.0mm

Width: 111.0mm

Height: 181.0mm

Weight: 243g

Pages: 416

About the Author

Michael Wooldridge is a professor of Computer Science and Head of the Department of Computer Science at the University of Oxford, where he is a Fellow of Hertford College. He has been an AI researcher since 1989, and has published more than 400 scientific articles on the subject. From 2014 to 2016, he was President of the European Association for AI, and from 2015 to 2017 he was President of the International Joint Conference on AI (IJCAI). He lives in Oxford with his wife and two children.

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