Artificial You

One of Forbes' Must-Read Brain Books of 2019

Finalist for the PROSE Award in Philosophy, Association of American Publishers

We are at a monumental turning point in human history. AI is taking intelligence in new directions. The strongest human competitors in chess, go, and Jeopardy! have been beaten by AIs, and AI is getting more sophisticated by the day. Further, AI research is going inside the human brain itself, attempting to augment human minds. It may even create greater-than-human-level intelligence, leading to a new generation of artificial minds - Minds 2.0.

Susan Schneider, a philosopher, argues that these undertakings must not be attempted without a richer understanding of the nature of the mind. An insufficient grasp of the underlying philosophical issues could undermine the use of AI and brain enhancement technology, bringing about the demise or suffering of conscious beings. Examining the philosophical questions lying beneath the algorithms, Schneider takes on AI's thorniest implications.

'Packed with material that enlightens new ways of thinking about a hot topic... A philosophical tour with real-world implications.' - Forbes

'Schneider is a sure-footed and witty guide to slippery ethical terrain.' - Washington Post

'[A] demanding dialogue between philosophy and science.' - Nature

'A well-reasoned and thoughtful discussion about the need for AI researchers and policymakers to place more emphasis on the question of consciousness.' - Times Higher Education

'This riveting book is both entertaining and profound.' - Martin Rees, author of On the Future

'Is artificial consciousness possible? Could you become an AI? Would you still be you? Schneider makes a vivid and compelling case that the future of humanity may depend on the answers to these philosophical questions.' - David J. Chalmers, author of The Conscious Mind