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18 reviews for:
T-Minus AI: Humanity's Countdown to Artificial Intelligence and the New Pursuit of Global Power
Michael Kanaan
3.63 AVERAGE
18 reviews for:
T-Minus AI: Humanity's Countdown to Artificial Intelligence and the New Pursuit of Global Power
Michael Kanaan
3.63 AVERAGE
challenging
informative
reflective
medium-paced
The book delivers on its promise, a clear introduction into the developing, ever increasing and rapidly changing world of Artificial Intelligence. Starting for our own biological perspective and history of computer development Michael Kanaan does a great job of explaining the often misunderstood subject. How can a program learn? The explanation about machine learning really provided me with a way to grasp at the working of the enormous networks that already influence big parts of our online life.
It is a well written book, but a few things diminished its value in my eyes. A couple of things that I liked are:
* It is one of the few non-sensational book on this topic. It talks mostly about the narrow AI, which is already here, rather than speculating on some future form of General AI and the existential threats posed by them.
* Some of the basic computer science concepts, like binary numbers, are explained beautifully
What I didn't like are:
* It dismisses General AI as an extremely remote possibility. Many AI researchers do not think so.
* He seems to have rather restricted exposure to the current research on consciousness and related computer science topics. Therefore, his discussion on this topic is very weak.
* While putting a lot of blame about cyber warfare on other countries such as China and Russia, the author never even mentions that USA could also be doing the same. It would be unthinkable that any nation would not invest in this area, and there are some known cases where US has been implicated.
* Talking about international politics, it again keeps US out of any possibility of wrong doing, when the fact is during the entire second half of 20th century US often sided with the wrong side, propping up dictatorial regimes all over the world in the name of fighting communism and other ills.
The obvious national bias in this book makes it somewhat weak and less convincing.
* It is one of the few non-sensational book on this topic. It talks mostly about the narrow AI, which is already here, rather than speculating on some future form of General AI and the existential threats posed by them.
* Some of the basic computer science concepts, like binary numbers, are explained beautifully
What I didn't like are:
* It dismisses General AI as an extremely remote possibility. Many AI researchers do not think so.
* He seems to have rather restricted exposure to the current research on consciousness and related computer science topics. Therefore, his discussion on this topic is very weak.
* While putting a lot of blame about cyber warfare on other countries such as China and Russia, the author never even mentions that USA could also be doing the same. It would be unthinkable that any nation would not invest in this area, and there are some known cases where US has been implicated.
* Talking about international politics, it again keeps US out of any possibility of wrong doing, when the fact is during the entire second half of 20th century US often sided with the wrong side, propping up dictatorial regimes all over the world in the name of fighting communism and other ills.
The obvious national bias in this book makes it somewhat weak and less convincing.
I would like too thank Net Galley and the author for letting me read this publication.
When I started this book I thought it was going to be a technical walk through developments in AI and where it is headed. It did indeed start describing some of the technical aspects of the field, especially in respects to the challenges faced by its developers. However, the second half of the book evolved into an exploration of the societal, economic, political, and military impacts of AI, with a focus on the different approaches being followed by various countries and political groups. A focus was placed on the importance of societies being careful about how AI will be used in their midst and its potential impact on privacy and liberty.
The basic concepts presented are definitely important and need to be considered. I think I was looking for more of a technical overview. However, it's important to focus on the author's purpose for the book as described in the introduction: setting a common baseline understanding of the topic. And for that purpose, I believe the book succeeds and I rate it accordingly.
When I started this book I thought it was going to be a technical walk through developments in AI and where it is headed. It did indeed start describing some of the technical aspects of the field, especially in respects to the challenges faced by its developers. However, the second half of the book evolved into an exploration of the societal, economic, political, and military impacts of AI, with a focus on the different approaches being followed by various countries and political groups. A focus was placed on the importance of societies being careful about how AI will be used in their midst and its potential impact on privacy and liberty.
The basic concepts presented are definitely important and need to be considered. I think I was looking for more of a technical overview. However, it's important to focus on the author's purpose for the book as described in the introduction: setting a common baseline understanding of the topic. And for that purpose, I believe the book succeeds and I rate it accordingly.
Overall, I found "T-Minus AI" to be a thought-provoking and insightful examination of the global pursuit of artificial intelligence and its potential implications for power dynamics. Kanaan does a good job of providing a geopolitical overview of how different countries are approaching AI strategy, and I appreciated the analysis of how AI is changing the landscape of international relations.
However, I did feel that the book could have benefited from more focus on the research surrounding AI security and the potential risks that come with the widespread use of AI, particularly in decision-making. While Kanaan touches on some of these issues, I would have liked to see a deeper exploration of topics such as modal collapse and other AI safety concerns.
Despite this, I still found "T-Minus AI" to be a valuable and exciting read, and I would recommend it to anyone interested in the geopolitical aspects of AI or the ways in which it is shaping our world. I gave the book four out of five stars.
However, I did feel that the book could have benefited from more focus on the research surrounding AI security and the potential risks that come with the widespread use of AI, particularly in decision-making. While Kanaan touches on some of these issues, I would have liked to see a deeper exploration of topics such as modal collapse and other AI safety concerns.
Despite this, I still found "T-Minus AI" to be a valuable and exciting read, and I would recommend it to anyone interested in the geopolitical aspects of AI or the ways in which it is shaping our world. I gave the book four out of five stars.
Interesting and easy to read. This is an accessible overview of the current state of AI technology, along with it's history and future direction.
fast-paced
Really enjoyed the views of this book.
Some powers are stopping at nothing for AI supremacy, without thinking of the consequences.
The new arms race.
Highly recommended for anyone interested in policy or global affairs.
4.1/5
Some powers are stopping at nothing for AI supremacy, without thinking of the consequences.
The new arms race.
Highly recommended for anyone interested in policy or global affairs.
4.1/5
informative
slow-paced