Books about AI, with a philosophical bent
January 3, 2020 8:27 AM Subscribe
What are the best books about AI you've read in the last decade that explore issues such as "What is intelligence?", "What is consciousness?", that tackle issues like embodiment and theory of mind, rather than focusing on specific technologies?
Books that deal with the above issues and also discuss recent technical advancements also fine!
(There was a similar question 12 years ago, but that predates much of the recent ML/DL advances)
Books that deal with the above issues and also discuss recent technical advancements also fine!
(There was a similar question 12 years ago, but that predates much of the recent ML/DL advances)
Gosh somehow I thought this was specifically about fiction, which is why I suggested Greg Egan. Sorry if you wanted non fiction!
posted by aubilenon at 8:51 AM on January 3, 2020
posted by aubilenon at 8:51 AM on January 3, 2020
Best answer: I haven't read it yet, but Janelle Shane's You Look Like a Thing and I Love You looks amazing.
posted by Mchelly at 8:57 AM on January 3, 2020 [2 favorites]
posted by Mchelly at 8:57 AM on January 3, 2020 [2 favorites]
Response by poster: I'm primarily interested in non-fiction, but wouldn't rule out fiction.
posted by gwint at 9:07 AM on January 3, 2020
posted by gwint at 9:07 AM on January 3, 2020
+1 to "You Look Like a Thing and I Love You!" It's accessible, solid, and entertaining as well.
posted by esker at 9:13 AM on January 3, 2020
posted by esker at 9:13 AM on January 3, 2020
Best answer: I haven't finished it yet, but Superintelligence: Paths, Dangers, Strategies by Nick Bostrom might be of interest.
posted by Oliva Porphyria at 9:51 AM on January 3, 2020
posted by Oliva Porphyria at 9:51 AM on January 3, 2020
Best answer: I think that the recommendations in the previous thread (especially Dennett) still hold water - while the technologies have advanced, the fundamental questions around what machine consciousness might be and how we conceptualize it haven't really changed that much.
A couple of recent books to check out would be:
Stuart Russell's Human Compatible: Artificial Intelligence and the Problem of Control. I'm reading it now - it's more about implications of AI than defining consciousness.
Max Tegmark's Life 3.0: Being Human in the Age of Artificial Intelligence. More futurism than theory of mind, and about 50% bullshit, but if your filters are tuned properly, there's some interesting stuff.
posted by chbrooks at 10:10 AM on January 3, 2020
A couple of recent books to check out would be:
Stuart Russell's Human Compatible: Artificial Intelligence and the Problem of Control. I'm reading it now - it's more about implications of AI than defining consciousness.
Max Tegmark's Life 3.0: Being Human in the Age of Artificial Intelligence. More futurism than theory of mind, and about 50% bullshit, but if your filters are tuned properly, there's some interesting stuff.
posted by chbrooks at 10:10 AM on January 3, 2020
On the fiction front: Exhalation: Stories by Ted Chiang is worth a look, specifically the story The Lifecycle of Software Objects. All of his stories are very thought provoking and stimulating.
posted by The Deej at 1:13 PM on January 3, 2020
posted by The Deej at 1:13 PM on January 3, 2020
I Am a Strange Loop, by Douglas Hofstadter. Argues that consciousness is an illusion created by physical processes, and nothing more. Even as an agnostic I found it kind of depressing.
posted by bassomatic at 2:10 PM on January 3, 2020 [1 favorite]
posted by bassomatic at 2:10 PM on January 3, 2020 [1 favorite]
It's fiction but exegesis by Astro Teller is worth a look.
posted by signsofrain at 5:46 PM on January 3, 2020
posted by signsofrain at 5:46 PM on January 3, 2020
Response by poster: Thanks, The Deej, I've read The Lifecycle of Software Objects, which is indeed terrific.
posted by gwint at 7:03 PM on January 3, 2020
posted by gwint at 7:03 PM on January 3, 2020
This thread is closed to new comments.
posted by aubilenon at 8:49 AM on January 3, 2020