Artificial Intelligence: An Illustrated History. From Automata to Neural Networks

This book tells how humankind gradually, step by step, moved toward creating artificial intelligence—and how it became an integral part of our lives. How did scientists, philosophers, and writers from different eras imagine artificial reason? What mechanisms did our ancestors come up with to make solving mental tasks easier, and in what ways do algorithms surpass us today? How will our relationship with these new entities develop? What—or whom—are we creating: faithful helpers or potential enemies? What ethical problems are connected with the use of artificial intelligence? The author doesn’t provide final answers to these questions, but explains why they matter and encourages the reader to think about them.

About the author

Clifford Pickover is a scientist, inventor, science popularizer, and author of more than 50 books on a wide range of topics—from mathematics, physics, and biology to history, art, and religion. He holds a PhD from Yale University; his inventions (more than 700 patents) are used by companies including IBM, Google, eBay, Yahoo!, PayPal, LinkedIn, and others. He has more than 40,000 followers on Twitter, and Pickover.com receives millions of internet users.

Media reviews

“Pickover sees worlds beyond the reality we know.” The New York Times

“Arthur Clarke thought big, Buckminster Fuller thought big, but Cliff Pickover surpasses them both.” WIRED

“… Two parts of Isaac Asimov, one part of Carl Sagan and one part of Martin Gardner—this makes Clifford Pickover, one of the brightest and most thought-provoking authors of our time.” SKEPTIC