Artificial Intelligence: Building Smarter Machines

by Stephanie Sammartino McPherson

In 2011 a computer named Watson outscored two human competitors on the TV quiz show Jeopardy! and snagged the million-dollar prize. Watson isn't the only machine keeping up with humans. The field of artificial intelligence (AI) is booming, with drones, robots, and computers handling tasks that once only humans could perform.Such advances raise challenging questions. Do Watson and other computers really think? Can machines acquire self-awareness? Is AI a promising or a dangerous technology? No machine, not even Watson, yet comes close to matching human intelligence, but many scientists believe it is only a matter of time before we reach this milestone. What will such a future look like?

Genres: Nonfiction, Science, Technology, Artificial Intelligence

144 pages, Kindle Edition

Published November 1, 2024

About the author

Stephanie Sammartino McPherson wrote her first children's story in college. She enjoyed the process so much that she's never stopped writing. A former teacher and freelance newspaper writer, she has written twenty-eight books and numerous magazine stories. She especially enjoys writing about science and the human interest stories behind major discoveries.

Stephanie and her husband, Richard, live in Virginia but also call California home. They are the parents of two grown children.

Reviews

[Katie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Terrifying, but informative.

[Jerry Jares · Rating 4 out of 5]

First, the person who thought of putting vital information in a dark blue box with maroon lettering deserves a dunce cap. I couldn't read it, and I'll bet many others couldn't either.

Since I have no background knowledge of AI (artificial intelligence), I decided to start with a book meant for 11 - 18 -year olds. Fortunately, the author of this book knew what would capture her reader's attention. This book was very entertaining. A computer named Watson appeared on the TV quiz show Jeopardy! (in 2011) and beat the show's two most-winning competitors handily.

Scientists have been seeking artificial intelligence (AI) since the 1950s. The early computers and robots were explained. However, in recent years, there has been an explosion in AI, and the sky seems to be the limit. Apple's digital Siri is an example of 'weak AI.' Weak AI focuses on specific tasks.

I learned that robots and other examples of AI are already used in medicine (delicate surgical procedures), transportation, building vehicles, and banking. Companies are investing more money to implement AI in more areas with repetitive tasks. However, computers, drones, and robots are getting more advanced, and some worry about the ramifications for man. In the future, will workers have jobs? This was an even-handed explanation of AI - its benefits and worrisome possibilities.

[Anne · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 stars
Which is smarter - a person or a computer? The answer: it depends. The machines we are building are getting smarter all the time, and the way we are building them is enabling them to make themselves even smarter. Do these machines really think, do they have that capacity? This book attempts to answer these questions and look at scenarios where this may be the future. It's a fairly extensive look at this topic and while there is not a definitive answer, it gives the reader a lot of history and a lot of information. If it is something they are interested in, it also gives them what they need to pursue it further. The technology talked about in the book is explained in language that is relatively easy to understand and things are explained contextually as much as possible but there is also a glossary at the back. The progression of technology is sequential and logical. Interspersed with full color photographs and interesting factual text boxes.
Comprehensive source notes, selected bibliography, and index at the back. There is a fairly extensive list of books, films, and websites for those seeking further information about this topic. Timely now, but will be outdated quickly.

[Jerome Maida · Rating 4 out of 5]

This short, sweet, high-school level book gives us a taut, informative history of robots and artificial intelligence as well as the promise - and potential problems - if we get to the point where the machines are smarter than us? or what if we no longer want to be biological beings and have our consciousness downloaded into a robot. in a way, we could live forever, but would that be living? And what if a robot gets an IQ of 5,000? Would it look at us as we do ants? or would it be a boon to humanity? fascinating stuff...that we may need to deal with sooner than we all think!

[Faisal · Rating 4 out of 5]

Although it was a YA book but being a very current one, I was able to get some new ideas and terms about AI such as IA (Intelligence Augmentation), AI winter of the 1980s, Singularitarians etc.
Overall a very good introduction to current AI topics.

[Miss Sarah · Rating 4 out of 5]

I'm simultaneously fascinated and terrified, a lot of good information about how our technology was created and how it is continuing to develop. I don't know though whether I am more excited about the possibilities for our species, or afraid of our falling apart :O

[Mary · Rating 3 out of 5]

gotta read a kids book to understand this stuff

[Mark Pedigo · Rating 4 out of 5]

Well-written, informative kids book on AI. Short and sweet, but still gives a teaser of interesting ideas in AI and a decent overview of the field.

[Geoff · Rating 4 out of 5]

Just a very general overview of the subject. I enjoyed it but if you're looking for something deeper I'd look elsewhere.

[Kody Dibble · Rating 4 out of 5]

Interesting summarizer of all things AI

[Angie Swiney · Rating 4 out of 5]

I realize this is a young adult book, but for someone who is just trying to understand and learn more about AI, this is a perfect starter book.