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Artificial Intelligence and Robotics: Ten Short Lessons
An expert introduction to the fascinating world of robotics, artificial intelligence, and how machines learn.
In Artificial Intelligence and Ten Short Lessons, leading expert Peter J. Bentley breaks down the fast-moving world of computers into ten pivotal lessons, presenting the reader with the essential information they need to get to understand our most powerful technology and its remarkable implications for our species.
From the origins and motivation behind the birth of AI and robotics to using smart algorithms that allow us to build good robots, from the technologies that enable computers to understand a huge range of sensory information, including language and communication, to the challenges of emotional intelligence, unpredictable environments, and imagination in artificial intelligence, this is a cutting-edge, expert-led guide for curious minds. Packed full of easy-to-understand diagrams, pictures, and fact boxes, these ten lessons cover all the basics, as well as the latest understanding and developments, to enlighten the nonscientist.
About the The Pocket Einstein series is a collection of essential pocket-sized guides for anyone looking to understand a little more about some of the most important and fascinating areas of science in the twenty-first century. Broken down into ten simple lessons and written by leading experts in their field, the books reveal the ten most important takeaways from those areas of science you've always wanted to know more about.
In Artificial Intelligence and Ten Short Lessons, leading expert Peter J. Bentley breaks down the fast-moving world of computers into ten pivotal lessons, presenting the reader with the essential information they need to get to understand our most powerful technology and its remarkable implications for our species.
From the origins and motivation behind the birth of AI and robotics to using smart algorithms that allow us to build good robots, from the technologies that enable computers to understand a huge range of sensory information, including language and communication, to the challenges of emotional intelligence, unpredictable environments, and imagination in artificial intelligence, this is a cutting-edge, expert-led guide for curious minds. Packed full of easy-to-understand diagrams, pictures, and fact boxes, these ten lessons cover all the basics, as well as the latest understanding and developments, to enlighten the nonscientist.
About the The Pocket Einstein series is a collection of essential pocket-sized guides for anyone looking to understand a little more about some of the most important and fascinating areas of science in the twenty-first century. Broken down into ten simple lessons and written by leading experts in their field, the books reveal the ten most important takeaways from those areas of science you've always wanted to know more about.
192 pages, Kindle Edition
Published September 8, 2020
2 people are currently reading
16 people want to read
About the author
Peter J. Bentley
37 books13 followersDr Peter Bentley is an Honorary Reader and Senior College Teacher at the Department of Computer Science, University College London and is known for his research covering all aspects of Evolutionary Computation and Digital Biology. He is the author of the popular science books Digital Biology, The Undercover Scientist and Digitized, and editor of the books Evolutionary Design by Computers, Creative Evolutionary Systems and On Growth, Form and Computers.
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Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews
December 22, 2023
Lazy Researcher Review - For those if us simultaneously reading too many things, half-watching something , prepping to go out or cancel, on a losing mRpg campaign, or whatever list of things you've got going on but still want to get in some edutaining facts to get the brain stimulated.
Information Accessibility scale:
If you're a novice at the topic. Let's look at it like this (1 being the easiest it could be and 5 meaning you need at least an undergrad to get this)
■1.Bob Ross- you can paint a pretty picture with it! don't overthink it, just enjoy vibe.
■2. Bill Nye - Let me break it down for you in fun bite size chunks.
■3.Neil de Grasse Tyson - It might get a little heavy but in the end it'll be worth it.
■4.Feynman, Hawking, Einstein, Kaku, Curie -it's concept heavy, theoretically dense and linguistically advanced - need more data.
■5.Christopher Nolan in his Tenet/Inception time distortion era of wait what- is that even possible??? Might need a dissertation to bisect this.
LEVEL: This is at a 1.5 It's friendly and fun not theory dense, more like a momager waxing nostalgicabout the birth, growing pains and subsequent world domination superstardom of their kid - in this case AI & Robotics.
Rabbit hole Worthy or Nah?:
Most reference books tend to compel me to want to do more research, especially in fields I'm interested in. This is one of them. I spent the better part of what should have been a self imposed "tech-free" day, getting deeper into the AI research black hole. In that regard, yes, Bentley outlines a ton of concepts and provides a skeleton key of sorts which you can use elsewhere to dive in deeper.
Snore inducing or Willing All-nighter :
This book moves in flashes of info in pictures and short succinct paragraphs. If you're studying and need extra info for an essay you'd get through it fast and still have time for a couple of hours sleep.
Spotlight on Theorists:
●‘Success in creating AI would be the biggest event in human history. Unfortunately, it might also be the last, unless we learn how to avoid the risks.’ (Stephen Hawking, 2014)
●It is almost as though words are objects that you can move around and manipulate, perhaps transforming them, in the same way that the rules of mathematics allow us to manipulate numbers. (on Symbolic AI)
●Logic is a very powerful kind of representation. Anything expressed in logic ?ust be true or false, allowing us to represent knowledge; for example: raining is true; windy is false. (on rules of Logic )
Significant Concept:
The two Winters of AI followed by the current AI summer. It just goes to show that progress is not instantaneous. Also, some scientists were mad with euphoric excitement and spewing what sounded like nonsense at the time.
OVERALL:
Okay but seriously, this was an entertaining account of the inception and progression of Artificial intelligence and Robotics to date. I also didn't feel like I was studying for a semester exam which is bonus because my college years are done and dusted and sometimes I just want to relive them without the threat of a B-.
StoryGraph Challenge: 1800 Books by 2025
Challenge Prompt: 150 NonFiction (Sciences) books by 2025
Information Accessibility scale:
If you're a novice at the topic. Let's look at it like this (1 being the easiest it could be and 5 meaning you need at least an undergrad to get this)
■1.Bob Ross- you can paint a pretty picture with it! don't overthink it, just enjoy vibe.
■2. Bill Nye - Let me break it down for you in fun bite size chunks.
■3.Neil de Grasse Tyson - It might get a little heavy but in the end it'll be worth it.
■4.Feynman, Hawking, Einstein, Kaku, Curie -it's concept heavy, theoretically dense and linguistically advanced - need more data.
■5.Christopher Nolan in his Tenet/Inception time distortion era of wait what- is that even possible??? Might need a dissertation to bisect this.
LEVEL: This is at a 1.5 It's friendly and fun not theory dense, more like a momager waxing nostalgicabout the birth, growing pains and subsequent world domination superstardom of their kid - in this case AI & Robotics.
Rabbit hole Worthy or Nah?:
Most reference books tend to compel me to want to do more research, especially in fields I'm interested in. This is one of them. I spent the better part of what should have been a self imposed "tech-free" day, getting deeper into the AI research black hole. In that regard, yes, Bentley outlines a ton of concepts and provides a skeleton key of sorts which you can use elsewhere to dive in deeper.
Snore inducing or Willing All-nighter :
This book moves in flashes of info in pictures and short succinct paragraphs. If you're studying and need extra info for an essay you'd get through it fast and still have time for a couple of hours sleep.
Spotlight on Theorists:
●‘Success in creating AI would be the biggest event in human history. Unfortunately, it might also be the last, unless we learn how to avoid the risks.’ (Stephen Hawking, 2014)
●It is almost as though words are objects that you can move around and manipulate, perhaps transforming them, in the same way that the rules of mathematics allow us to manipulate numbers. (on Symbolic AI)
●Logic is a very powerful kind of representation. Anything expressed in logic ?ust be true or false, allowing us to represent knowledge; for example: raining is true; windy is false. (on rules of Logic )
Significant Concept:
The two Winters of AI followed by the current AI summer. It just goes to show that progress is not instantaneous. Also, some scientists were mad with euphoric excitement and spewing what sounded like nonsense at the time.
OVERALL:
Okay but seriously, this was an entertaining account of the inception and progression of Artificial intelligence and Robotics to date. I also didn't feel like I was studying for a semester exam which is bonus because my college years are done and dusted and sometimes I just want to relive them without the threat of a B-.
StoryGraph Challenge: 1800 Books by 2025
Challenge Prompt: 150 NonFiction (Sciences) books by 2025
January 23, 2025
I wouldn’t recommend this book.
While it does cover many great ideas and references the foundational concepts of modern AI, as well as its historical development, it feels like the author tried to cram too much information into a very short format. As a result, the content feels overly compressed and difficult to digest.
Another major drawback is the misleading title. The book focuses much more on AI than on robotics. While many AI applications were initially developed or tested in robotic systems, robotics itself is rarely the central focus here.
If you already have some understanding of AI and robotics, this book might leave you feeling confused. I wouldn’t recommend it if you’re just curious about the topic or if AI and robotics aren’t your primary areas of expertise.
That said, I do acknowledge the challenge of presenting such complex ideas in such a brief book. On a positive note, it includes a solid list of suggested readings, many of which I’d highly recommend to friends and family who are genuinely interested in exploring Ai/Robotics.
While it does cover many great ideas and references the foundational concepts of modern AI, as well as its historical development, it feels like the author tried to cram too much information into a very short format. As a result, the content feels overly compressed and difficult to digest.
Another major drawback is the misleading title. The book focuses much more on AI than on robotics. While many AI applications were initially developed or tested in robotic systems, robotics itself is rarely the central focus here.
If you already have some understanding of AI and robotics, this book might leave you feeling confused. I wouldn’t recommend it if you’re just curious about the topic or if AI and robotics aren’t your primary areas of expertise.
That said, I do acknowledge the challenge of presenting such complex ideas in such a brief book. On a positive note, it includes a solid list of suggested readings, many of which I’d highly recommend to friends and family who are genuinely interested in exploring Ai/Robotics.
December 28, 2022
An interesting read. Like the author's open-mindedness and optimism, just wishing the book could be more elaborative on how to learn more about AI
Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews