THE ATOMIC HUMAN

A respected expert in the field argues that AI systems are powerful tools, but it takes a human mind to deal with life’s complexity.

Debates over AI often devolve into advocates insisting that it is the cure for all social ills and opponents arguing that the technology constitutes an existential threat to society. Lawrence avoids the either/or paradigm, and he certainly has the experience to paint a more nuanced picture: He is currently a professor of machine learning at Cambridge, and he previously served as the director of machine learning at Amazon. The author’s chief concern is that AI systems could eventually take over human decision-making, although ultimately they are in the hands of massive companies seeking profit. However, AI is inherently unable to collate crucial information with sufficient subtlety, vision, and even intuition. One of the author’s comparisons is Eisenhower’s decision to launch the D-Day invasion: “Eisenhower didn’t have complete information, he only had ‘the best information available.’ His decision required judgement: at the time he made it he knew he could be wrong, and being wrong would have dreadful consequences for thousands of soldiers and the long-term course of the war. Judgements of this form remained firmly the preserve of the human.” Lawrence advances a host of important arguments, but he repeatedly drifts away from his theme. The text sometimes feels like a stew of cultural references, as the author discusses novels, poems, and historical events that have little discernible connection to AI issues. The digressions and references make the narrative difficult to follow. The book would have been much improved by a strong editorial hand to keep the author on mission and create a shorter, more focused work.

Lawrence is a major figure in the AI landscape, but his book is marred by a lack of discipline and narrative organization.