Gary Marcus and Ernest Davis provide a lucid assessment of the current science in AI, explaining what today’s AI can and cannot do. They argue that current AI systems, based on deep learning, are narrow and brittle, and that achieving true artificial general intelligence requires moving beyond statistical analysis and large data sets. The authors suggest that by incorporating knowledge-driven approaches and common sense, we can build AI systems that are reliable and trustworthy in various aspects of our lives, such as homes, cars, and medical offices.
This collection includes eight short stories by Ted Chiang, each exploring unique and thought-provoking themes. Stories such as 'Tower of Babylon' and 'Story of Your Life' delve into concepts of time, space, and human perception, while 'Understand' and 'Division by Zero' examine the consequences of advanced knowledge and the breakdown of mathematical principles. The collection also includes 'Hell Is the Absence of God,' which probes the nature of belief and faith in a world where divine entities are real. Chiang's stories are known for their rigorous imagination, sharp intelligence, and ability to raise profound questions about the nature of reality and humanity.
Gary Marcus's "Kluge" explores the human mind's design as a collection of workarounds and hacks rather than a perfectly engineered system. He argues that our cognitive abilities are a patchwork of evolved mechanisms, often inefficient and prone to errors. The book uses examples from various fields, including psychology, neuroscience, and computer science, to illustrate the kludgy nature of human thought. Marcus emphasizes the importance of understanding these limitations to improve our decision-making and problem-solving skills. He suggests that by acknowledging the imperfections of our cognitive architecture, we can develop strategies to mitigate biases and make more rational choices.
Artificial intelligence is an actively surging field in today’s digital landscape, and as each new AI interface reaches the public it throws into sharper resolution that all the big tech players are getting involved. And quickly. But where are the roots of this rapidly expanding industry’s interests? How does AI impact individuals, established industries, and the future of our society if it continues to grow faster than it is critically examined? In his newest book Taming Silicon Valley: How We Can Ensure That AI Works For Us, author and scientist Gary F. Marcus uses his expertise in the field to help readers understand the realities, risks, and responsibilities the public faces as AI gains widespread traction.
Taming Silicon Valley aims to compare and critique the potential futures that AI– alongside Big Tech strategies and governmental involvement– could present to our world. Marcus asserts that if used and regulated properly, there are openings for huge advancements in science, medicine, technology, and public prosperity. On the opposite side of the spectrum, there lie vulnerabilities to abuses of power, a lack of effective policy, and dwindling protections for intellectual property and fair democracy. Marcus emphasizes that AI is meant to be a tool, not an unchecked entity and that it is up to the public to choose how it is allowed to shape the paths ahead. His work sets out to provide context to how AI has gotten to its current state, guidance towards understanding what coherent AI policy should look like in the future, and a call to action in pushing for what is needed in real-time. In the tradition of Abbie Hoffman’s Steal This Book and Thomas Paine’s Common Sense, Taming Silicon Valley urges readers towards awareness, analysis, and activism in this pivotal time of new AI integration.
Gary F. Marcus is an author, psychologist, scientist, and prominent voice in the field of artificial intelligence. He is Professor Emeritus of Neural Science and Psychology at NYU and was the founder and original CEO of Geometric.AI. His previous publications include Guitar Zero, Kluge, and Rebooting AI: Building Artificial Intelligence We Can Trust.
Ted Chiang is an award-winning science fiction author. His publications include Tower of Babylon, Exhalation: Stories, and Stories of Your Life and Others, which has been translated into twenty-one languages. He is a frequent contributor to The New Yorker, particularly of non-fiction related to the intersections of art and technology.
Buy the Book Taming Silicon Valley: How We Can Ensure That AI Works for Us Third Place Books
Town Hall Seattle Science Series 
