How AI thinks by Nigel Toon

Page Count: 258

Rating: 4/5

REVIEW

I really enjoyed reading this book and looking into what AI can and can’t do – and though my sci-fi heart yearns for it, Toon is certain that AI will never truly think for itself as all it can ever do will only be in the confines of what a human programmer has asked it to do. It does not have true thoughts or feelings. It is a tool, not a sentient being and so needs to be treated as such and all of the consequences of any jobs it performs must all be on the people who asked it to do those jobs – the comparison is you wouldn’t put a knife on trial for murder, you’d judge the person holding it.

It was interesting to read about all of the ways that AI can assist humans in different areas but there is always a danger of misuse and so this needs to be taken into account in each case/ use.

I did think, however, that it side-stepped the issue of AI artforms replacing jobs that people genuinely enjoy and some would argue is a focal part of being human, but I do also understand that he probably hasn’t been talking to artists during the writing of this book and so may not truly know the scope of the issue and how human artists and creators really feel.

It is a truly impressive and thought provoking book that really made me see AI in a new light and highlighted the need to regulate both the tool and who has access to it.