Thinking Machines: The Quest for Artificial Intelligence—and Where It's Taking Us Next

A few years ago, the question, "Can machines think?" would have been answered simply, no. Even the chess-playing program that could beat the best human player was only following a systematic evaluation of all possible positions based upon criteria inputted by its developers. It could not improve beyond that level or learn from experience, nor did it understand the intent of each play or even that it was engaged in a game. However, in this thought-provoking, clearly written book, journalist and filmmaker Dormehl (The Apple Revolution) describes how new programming techniques, such as the use of "evolutionary algorithms," allow a computer to develop its own strategies, improve through practice, come up with original ideas, and even find surprising solutions to unusual problems—that is, to become creative. The author also highlights some of the risks involved in our reliance on these machines, incorporating pertinent examples, including the stock market crash that was caused by machine trading. As we use more and more smart devices, linked through the Internet, these dangers are multiplied. Indeed, many people now worry about the singularity, or the point at which computers can design even smarter computers, which may attain self-awareness and go beyond our ability to control them.