Amir Husain

Great Overview Of Pervasive AI. This book is a love story to coding and its arguably most advanced manifestation - artificial intelligence. Husain spends quite a bit of time explaining what, exactly, AI is and its history, where we currently are, and where we will be in the near future. He then spends considerable time looking at various areas where AI research is already being done and where it is already having an impact. His praise of the idiot John Maynard Keynes is a bit too effusive, and is indicative of how wrong Husain's thinking can be when he leaves the programmatic space. While this is but one concrete example, there are numerous others too that are the basis of the drop of a star. Among these are his praise for National Security Agency spying as well as domestic police spying on every day citizens, disregard of Constitutional freedom protections, labeling anything he disagrees with as a "myth", and a few others. Still, quite a remarkable book when it sticks to its central thesis, and highly recommended.… (meer)

An interesting look at AI, ANI, and AGI now (today - [as of 2017]) and future. Though not really in the sense that *WE* perceive AI to be. (Not robots, not terminator, not in this aspect.) More along the lines of integrated houses, technology in your FitBit's, and other such things. "The Internet of Things". While this wasn't exactly what I was anticipating when picking out the book, it still makes for an interesting and educational read.

Though most of it comes off as "scary what-if's" and what can be done TODAY and FUTURE with things that would have AI, Amir Husain spends the book spouting terror scenarios over and over - but going back to the standby line of "But don't let this stop us from doing it." Here's Scenario X that can go horribly wrong for us.... "but don't let this stop us from researching and innovating here".

Despite this being educational read, much of the book reads as a propaganda to the elites and scholars and politicians to not prevent more research and development and innovation in the field of AI. Particularly in regards to bans (banning AI research, development, banning the use of AI technology already afield, etc.)

While I agree with the 'no banning', his crux to it is the same as Prohibition, and he hammers it home ad nauseum. (Almost to the point of beating a dead horse with it.) "If you ban it, other 'darker, seedier' groups will research it. And then we'll be behind!" Which is more or less (and most likely) true, it just doesn't need to be affixed to the ending of every chapter and doesn't need to follow after every doomsday scenario given. Which is primarily what this book is. Introducing doomsday scenarios of technology/AI and then discussing how we can circumvent it, or create cybersecurity or use AI ourselves to defend ourselves..... and that's why we can't ban it!

All good points, but not exactly what I was anticipating with this book, and a bit of a hammer (sledgehammer) on the head type thing. Quick easy read though (clocking in at 185 pages pre-notes/index).

… (meer)