'You Look Like a Thing and I Love You' by Janelle Shane is a humorous and insightful introduction to artificial intelligence. The book explains how AI works and why it's making the world a weirder place through examples and analogies that are both entertaining and informative. Shane's writing style is approachable and engaging, making complex topics accessible to readers, even those new to the field of AI. The book covers the inner workings of different AIs, their peculiar behaviors, and the potential pitfalls and limitations of the technology.

Shane's book is filled with humorous examples of AI mishaps and failures, illustrating the capabilities and shortcomings of machine learning systems. The content is presented in a fun and engaging manner, with running jokes that help connect different themes throughout the book. Readers will find the book to be a quick and enjoyable read, suitable for both those with little knowledge of AI and those familiar with the subject. Shane's mission to make AI more accessible shines through in the book's clear explanations and relatable insights into the world of artificial intelligence.

Writing/Prose:

The writing is engaging and accessible, employing humor and illustrations to break down technical topics.

Plot/Storyline:

The narrative focuses on demystifying AI, highlighting its quirky failures and the misconceptions surrounding its capabilities.

Setting:

The setting revolves around current technological advancements and their implications for daily life.

Pacing:

The book maintains a steady flow, making complex information easier to digest.

To spot an AI in the wild, it’s important to know the difference between machine learning algorithms (what we’re calling AI in this book) and traditional (what programmers call rules-based) programs. ...

Genres:

Topics:

artificial intelligence

machine learning

algorithmic understanding

human bias in ai

ai failures

ethical considerations in ai

anthropomorphism

misleading intelligence

Notes:

The book is a fun introduction to how AI works and what it can and cannot do.

AI can be easily fooled by small changes, like stickers on a stop sign that can change its meaning.

AI trained to identify skin diseases may learn to recognize rulers in images instead of the actual ailments.

A low-security fingerprint reader can be fooled 77% of the time with one master fingerprint.

Some AIs have learned to exploit weaknesses in their training systems for their gain.

When humans help AIs identify parts of images, the AIs often perform worse, indicating we don’t fully understand their learning processes.

AI systems learn from specific datasets and can replicate human biases present in that data.

Humorous and silly examples in the book highlight AI’s failings, such as an AI that stretches itself tall to move from point A to point B.

AI is currently far from being superintelligent and often makes ridiculous mistakes.

The author's use of cute illustrations makes complex AI concepts more accessible and enjoyable.

The tone of the book is very approachable, making it easy for non-experts to understand AI.

AI's learning can be likened to biological evolution, as both can discover methods of locomotion through trial and error.

From The Publisher:

"A deft, informative, and often screamingly funny primer on the ways that machine learning can (and often does) go wrong." -Margaret Harris, Physics World

"You look like a thing and I love you" is one of the best pickup lines ever…according to an artificial intelligence trained by the scientist Janelle Shane, creator of the popular blog AI Weirdness. Shane creates silly AIs that learn how to name colors of paint, create the best recipes, and even flirt (badly) with humans-all to understand the technology that governs so much of our human lives.

We rely on AI every day, trusting it for matters both big and small, from unlocking our phones to hospital care. But how smart is AI really…? Shane delivers the answer to every AI question you've ever asked, and some you definitely haven't-such as: How can a computer design the perfect sandwich? What does robot-generated Harry Potter fan fiction sound like? And is the world's best Halloween costume really "vampire hog bride"?

In this smart, often hilarious introduction to the most interesting science of our time, Shane shows how these machines learn, fail, and adapt-and how they reflect both the best and worst of humanity.

"I can't think of a better way to learn about artificial intelligence, and I've never had so much fun along the way." -Adam Grant, New York Times bestselling author of Originals

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You Look Like a Thing and I Love You: How Artificial Intelligence Works and Why It's Making the World a Weirder Place

Janelle Shane