A Brief History of Artificial Intelligence by Michael Wooldridge (epub)(Nonfiction)

A Brief History of Artificial Intelligence by Michael Wooldridge (epub)(Nonfiction)

Author: Michael Wooldridge

Full Title: A Brief History of Artificial Intelligence: What It Is, Where We Are, and Where We Are Going

Release Year: 2021

Page Count: 272 Pages

Genres: Artificial Intelligence, Nonfiction, Science, Technology, History, Computer Science, Computers & Internet
From Oxford's leading AI researcher, Michael Wooldridge, comes an accessible and engaging tour through the history and future of artificial intelligence. The book explores the somewhat ill-defined long-term aim of AI: to build machines that are conscious, self-aware, and capable of intelligent autonomous action, much like humans. Wooldridge, with 25 years of experience in AI research, approaches these claims with caution while maintaining optimism about the field's future. He highlights genuine scientific breakthroughs over the last decade that have made AI systems, such as driverless cars and automated translation tools, an everyday reality, impacting our world significantly. While the dream of conscious machines remains a distant prospect, the floodgates for AI have opened, leading to impressive progress in areas like complex board games and medical question-answering. The book offers a comprehensive overview of AI's development, from early concepts and foundational moments in the mid-20th century to modern advancements, emphasizing real-world applications over speculative scenarios. Wooldridge chronicles the rise, fall, and resurgence of neural networks, including the pivotal role of deep learning in recent breakthroughs in image recognition and natural language processing. He also delves into the challenges of replicating human intelligence and addresses the ethical and societal impacts of AI, presenting complex concepts accessibly to separate fact from fiction.