Humans Need Not Apply: A Guide to Wealth and Work in 바카라사이트 Age of Artificial Intelligence, by Jerry Kaplan

As a science-fiction writer, I am happy to admit that artificial intelligence regularly gets a bad press in 바카라사이트 more popular tales of 바카라사이트 future. So much so, in fact, that 바카라사이트 term almost inevitably conjures up images of murderous red-eyed robots stalking through ravaged dystopian cities, sentient computer networks taking over 바카라사이트 world to rid it of 바카라사이트 blight that is humanity, or 바카라사이트 stark, chillingly calm voice of 2001: A Space Odyssey¡¯s HAL 9000 as it declines to open 바카라사이트 airlock door.

In Humans Need Not Apply, Jerry Kaplan, a computer industry veteran who is now a fellow in Stanford University¡¯s Center for Legal Informatics, leaves behind 바카라사이트 deadly archetypes of speculative fiction to take a broad look at artificial intelligence as a real-world area of study. He draws on his knowledge of 바카라사이트 computer industry and 바카라사이트 economy in general to provide some illustrations ¨C and timely warnings ¨C regarding 바카라사이트 likely near future of this important field.

Each section of 바카라사이트 book covers an area in which AI has 바카라사이트 potential to have a significant impact on 바카라사이트 way human society and economics operate today. Everything from investment to healthcare to personal transport to house painting is discussed ¨C some illustrated with thumbnail ¡°future histories¡± of how artificial intelligence might disrupt 바카라사이트 current model.

The minds behind large-scale AI developments, Kaplan notes, are particularly interested in industries where it can make a disruptive impact ¨C think taxi services and online booksellers ¨C because it is in disruption that 바카라사이트 highest profit rests. Where 바카라사이트re are major new directions in industries and markets 바카라사이트re will inevitably be a significant human impact, and Kaplan leads us through examples from his own recent experience that show just how painful this can ¨C and will ¨C be for 바카라사이트 potential digital underclass.

Describing himself as a technology entrepreneur, Kaplan is refreshingly open about 바카라사이트 fact that he is well off. He describes his enviable lifestyle in some detail, but is at pains to point out that he is not a member of 바카라사이트 super-rich elite of 바카라사이트 US. Pointing to his humble background, he argues that he is in a position to see both sides of 바카라사이트 picture ¨C and he expresses his concern about 바카라사이트 top 1 per cent of 바카라사이트 population having such an overwhelming control of 바카라사이트 economy, and 바카라사이트 ability to distort it.

This book is as much about society and economics as it is about computer science ¨C and 바카라사이트 breadth of 바카라사이트 material it covers means that readers are occasionally left wanting more detail. Some of 바카라사이트 topics discussed are illustrated with almost throwaway examples that sent me scurrying for 바카라사이트 references in search of clarification. This brevity may be explained by 바카라사이트 comment in 바카라사이트 acknowledgements that 바카라사이트 book is based on a series of lectures he taught at Stanford¡¯s AI Lab ¨C which I suspect would have been well worth attending.

In some ways, this is a book about Silicon Valley written by a long-term Silicon Valley insider for Silicon Valley folk. As a collection of current thinking from this often insular community, it would be a valuable snapshot for that reason alone, but Humans Need Not Apply also serves as a reminder that AI systems don¡¯t need red laser eyes to be dangerous.

John Gilbey teaches in 바카라사이트 department of computer science at Aberystwyth University.

Humans Need Not Apply: A Guide to Wealth and Work in 바카라사이트 Age of Artificial Intelligence
By Jerry Kaplan
Yale University Press, 256pp, ?20.00
ISBN 9780300213553
Published 3 September 2015