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Automating Humanity
Automating Humanity is the shocking and eye-opening new manifesto from international award-winning designer Joe Toscano that unravels and lays bare the power agendas of the world's greatest tech titans in plain language, and delivers a fair warning to policymakers, civilians, and industry professionals we need a strategy for the future, and we need it now.
Automating Humanity is an insider's perspective on everything Big Tech doesn't want the public to know-or think about-from the addictions installed on a global scale to the profits being driven by fake news and disinformation, to the way they're manipulating the world for profit and using our data to train systems that will automate jobs at an explosive, unprecedented scale.
Toscano provides a critique of modern regulation, including parts of the new European Union's General Data Proctection Regulation (GDPR) suggesting how we can create proactive, adaptable regulation that satisfies both the needs of consumer safety and commercial success in the international economy. The content touches on everything from technology, economics, and public policy to psychology, history, and ethics, and is written in a way that is accessible to everyone from the average reader to the technical expert.
Automating Humanity is an insider's perspective on everything Big Tech doesn't want the public to know-or think about-from the addictions installed on a global scale to the profits being driven by fake news and disinformation, to the way they're manipulating the world for profit and using our data to train systems that will automate jobs at an explosive, unprecedented scale.
Toscano provides a critique of modern regulation, including parts of the new European Union's General Data Proctection Regulation (GDPR) suggesting how we can create proactive, adaptable regulation that satisfies both the needs of consumer safety and commercial success in the international economy. The content touches on everything from technology, economics, and public policy to psychology, history, and ethics, and is written in a way that is accessible to everyone from the average reader to the technical expert.
288 pages, Hardcover
Published November 6, 2018
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Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews
December 26, 2018
Rarely does one come across a Futurist book this beautifully designed and illustrated.
"Amplified Intelligence" is where Artificial Intelligence massively amplifies our natural mental abilities just like the Industrial Revolution massively transformed our puny physical abilities. If AI is done well, it will be incredible. If it is done badly, even our most innermost thoughts will be censored, guided and controlled. This book points out the good and the bad, and suggests ways of controlling the most de-humanising and adverse impacts, such as breaking down Silicon Valley monopolies and taxing robots (yes, really!).
"Amplified Intelligence" is where Artificial Intelligence massively amplifies our natural mental abilities just like the Industrial Revolution massively transformed our puny physical abilities. If AI is done well, it will be incredible. If it is done badly, even our most innermost thoughts will be censored, guided and controlled. This book points out the good and the bad, and suggests ways of controlling the most de-humanising and adverse impacts, such as breaking down Silicon Valley monopolies and taxing robots (yes, really!).
May 4, 2020
A great book! Thanks for writing it Joe Toscano!
The topic is so relevant to talk about & the cover & the pictures inside are stunning. Highly recommend ☺️
The topic is so relevant to talk about & the cover & the pictures inside are stunning. Highly recommend ☺️
January 27, 2021
This is a book that should absolutely be more popular. It explains so many of the problems with big tech, AI, and wealth inequality in a really easy way to understand. It felt like a cheat code to understanding these issues.
They should honestly teach this book in schools, I think it's one of the most important books I've read in a long time.
And it has a really cool cover with cool pictures inside.
Also it uses Montserrat font, and I enjoyed that.
They should honestly teach this book in schools, I think it's one of the most important books I've read in a long time.
And it has a really cool cover with cool pictures inside.
Also it uses Montserrat font, and I enjoyed that.
January 13, 2022
Before stating why I like this book, I would like to say that if you are in the tech industry and looking to pick this book up - just do it. As Joe states towards the end of the books, he clearly wants to instigate the process of idea generation and working towards solutions. And it is a good start.
Personally, I am tech savvy but do not work in the tech industry. So understanding the book was no trouble. This is one of the primary reasons why I like the book.
Beyond the writing style, this book opens the idea of debating technology, regulations, ethics and even empathy of future tech and tech professionals on a global level. Although most of the data is US centric, it is extrapolated where necessary. Along with global examples of both the positives and negatives, this book is somewhat of a universal handbook (in my perspective). Anyone wanting to get a overview of where the current tech industry is (was in 2017/18) can pick this book and will get the overview that is necessary.
Many of the ideas are rational, idealistic but admitting to the need for radical action. But through detailed explanations, thoroughly researched examples and relevant studies, the solutions are supported. And this is really a great take away for me personally.
Personally, I am tech savvy but do not work in the tech industry. So understanding the book was no trouble. This is one of the primary reasons why I like the book.
Beyond the writing style, this book opens the idea of debating technology, regulations, ethics and even empathy of future tech and tech professionals on a global level. Although most of the data is US centric, it is extrapolated where necessary. Along with global examples of both the positives and negatives, this book is somewhat of a universal handbook (in my perspective). Anyone wanting to get a overview of where the current tech industry is (was in 2017/18) can pick this book and will get the overview that is necessary.
Many of the ideas are rational, idealistic but admitting to the need for radical action. But through detailed explanations, thoroughly researched examples and relevant studies, the solutions are supported. And this is really a great take away for me personally.
September 13, 2022
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Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews