Evil Robots, Killer Computers, and Other Myths

Everyone these days is trying to keep up with innovations in AI.  Separating hype from reality is a major challenge also.  Steven Shwartz’s book is a terrific resource to help you do both.  It is a good balance between tech details and applications of AI.  If you are an expert, you won’t need the book.  If you are on the AI learning curve, this book is must reading.  It was published in 2021, just before the ChatGPT explosion, but the book does cover GPT-2.  Many of the underpinnings of today’s AI technology are discussed, although not in their current forms.  The chapter on “Thinking and Reasoning” was especially interesting, since AI vendors are promoting this capability now.  Mr. Shwartz has an insightful analysis of these AI capabilities, with the reminder that narrow AI capability is not human capability.  Reassuring that there is still work for us!  A great additional resource is www.aiperspectives.com from the same author.  It includes posts on current AI topics as well as a 14 chapter, online technical book on how AI works.  I highly recommend this resource also.