RAISING AI

Guiding us through the origins and ethics of AI.

What is artificial, what is intelligence, and how are the AI systems surrounding us being created? In this clear and engaging volume, De Kai, a pioneer in machine learning and natural language processing, invites readers into the history of AI to explore deeply philosophical questions on the nature of human thinking and belief. With humor, diagrams, and plentiful examples, De Kai takes readers below the surface of popular chatbots and search engines to the broad field of scientific inquiry living at the intersection of psychology, philosophy, and computer science, reflecting researchers’ observations about human intelligence. Artificial brains that mirror and learn from human behavior and culture learn our biases and stereotypes. Creating ethical, empathetic models requires our careful nurturing, as we might nurture children. AI’s infamous darker side skews the news, generates deepfake images, amplifies biases, and dangerously polarizes political discourse. De Kai notes that companies would prefer industry-wide guidelines and a level playing field to craft responsible (but unprofitable) AI controls. The impact on jobs and creative endeavors is not the focus here; this volume does not dwell on the underlying economics of various models and companies. But instilling empathy and ethics in our artificial influencers calls for guiding them so they can guide us. Suggestions on how to perfect our AI “children” are detailed and thoughtful, while evoking Jorge Luis Borges’ tale of a mapmaking process so exacting it grows as large as the world it represents. Ultimately, this primer argues that the stakes are high, the situation is urgent, and we all have a role to play. By engaging with AI consciously and ethically, we can help shape better systems—by first calling forth our better selves.

A deeply human dive into the AIs that are transforming our world.