Life 3.0 : being human in the age of artificial intelligence
(Book)

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Published
New York : Alfred A. Knopf, c2017.
Status
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Description

New York Times Best SellerHow will Artificial Intelligence affect crime, war, justice, jobs, society and our very sense of being human? The rise of AI has the potential to transform our future more than any other technology—and there’s nobody better qualified or situated to explore that future than Max Tegmark, an MIT professor who’s helped mainstream research on how to keep AI beneficial.   How can we grow our prosperity through automation without leaving people lacking income or purpose? What career advice should we give today’s kids? How can we make future AI systems more robust, so that they do what we want without crashing, malfunctioning or getting hacked? Should we fear an arms race in lethal autonomous weapons? Will machines eventually outsmart us at all tasks, replacing humans on the job market and perhaps altogether? Will AI help life flourish like never before or give us more power than we can handle?   What sort of future do you want? This book empowers you to join what may be the most important conversation of our time. It doesn’t shy away from the full range of viewpoints or from the most controversial issues—from superintelligence to meaning, consciousness and the ultimate physical limits on life in the cosmos.

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Format
Book
Physical Desc
xii, 364 pages : Illustrations ; 24 cm
Language
English
ISBN
9781101946596, 1101946598

Notes

General Note
"This is a Borzoi Book published by Alfred A. Knopf."
Bibliography
Includes bibliographical references (pages 337-347) and index.
Description
"How will artificial intelligence affect crime, war, justice, jobs, society and our very sense of being human? The rise of AI has the potential to transform our future more than any other technology--and there's nobody better qualified or situated to explore that future than Max Tegmark, an MIT professor who's helped mainstream research on how to keep AI beneficial. How can we grow our prosperity through automation without leaving people lacking income or purpose? What career advice should we give today's kids? How can we make future AI systems more robust, so that they do what we want without crashing, malfunctioning or getting hacked? Should we fear an arms race in lethal autonomous weapons? Will machines eventually outsmart us at all tasks, replacing humans on the job market and perhaps altogether? Will AI help life flourish like never before or give us more power than we can handle? What sort of future do you want? This book empowers you to join what may be the most important conversation of our time. It doesn't shy away from the full range of viewpoints or from the most controversial issues--from superintelligence to meaning, consciousness and the ultimate physical limits on life in the cosmos."--Jacket.

Table of Contents

Prologue: The tale of the Omega Team
Welcome to the most important conversation of our time. A brief history of complexity ; The three stages of life ; Controversies ; Misconceptions ; The road ahead
Matter turns intelligent. What is intelligence? ; What is memory? ; What is computation? ; What is learning?
The near future: breakthroughs, bugs, laws, weapons and jobs. Breakthroughs ; Bugs vs. robust AI ; Laws ; Weapons ; Jobs and wages ; Human-level intelligence?
Intelligence explosion?. Totalitarianism ; Prometheus takes over the world ; Slow takeoff and multiple scenarios ; Cyborgs and uploads ; What will actually happen?
Aftermath: the next 10,000 years. Libertarian utopia ; Benevolent dictator ; Egalitarian utopia ; Gatekeeper ; Protector God ; Enslaved God ; Conquerors ; Descendants ; Zookeeper ; 1984 ; Reversion ; Self-destruction ; What do you want?
Our cosmic endowment: the next billion years and beyond. Making the most of your resources ; Gaining resources through cosmic settlement ; Cosmic hierarchies ; Outlook
Goals. Physics: the origin of goals ; Biology: the evolution of goals ; Psychology: the pursuit of and rebellion against goals ; Engineering: outsourcing goals ; Friendly AI: aligning goals ; Ethics: choosing goals ; Ultimate goals?
Consciousness. Who ares? ; What is consciousness? ; What's the problem? ; Is consciousness beyond science? ; Experimental clues about consciousness ; Theories of consciousness ; Controversies of consciousness ; How might AI consciousness feel? ; Meaning
Epilogue: The tale of the FLI Team.

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Published Reviews

Choice Review

Simply stated, Life 3.0 ponders two themes: where is digital technology taking us, and are we ready to go there? It is important to note that the book's prelude should not be overlooked, as it offers a significant introduction to the topic. In the early chapters, Tegmark (physics, MIT) presents his views on the "near future" of artificial intelligence (AI). These and other chapters present the interaction between intelligence, memory, computation, and learning; discuss the impact of AI; and offer a philosophical, long-term view of the topic (as well as Tegmark's view of "the next 10,000 years" and "the next billion years"). The closing chapters examine AI goals from the perspectives of physics, biology, psychology, and engineering, and delve into the topic of consciousness. Each chapter contains a superb summary called "The Bottom Line"--this is an excellent aspect of the book. In addition, the work provides a helpful "Notes" section, which presents the references to each chapter, and a well-constructed index, both of which will serve as advantageous tools for further research. Summing Up: Recommended. Graduate students, faculty, and professionals. --John Beidler, University of Scranton

Copyright American Library Association, used with permission.
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Booklist Review

What's the most important issue of our time? In the view of MIT physicist Tegmark (Our Mathematical Universe, 2014), it's not nuclear weapons, climate change, terrorism, or pestilence and poverty. It's the possibility of superhuman artificial intelligence (AI). Tegmark's brainstorming survey opens with a sci-fi-like scenario in which a computer intelligence named Prometheus takes over the world. Tegmark then summarizes the opinions of researchers about whether such a thing is possible or desirable. Assuring readers that it could happen, Tegmark sketches 12 conceivable types of superhuman intelligence that might arise, bestowing such names as libertarian utopia, benevolent dictator, and conqueror, the latter an AI that destroys humanity. How to safely control an AI is thus critical to the future, and apparently, this is a common topic of discussion among scientists and tech-industry moguls, given Tegmark's accounts of conferences he has attended or organized. Stretching the superhuman AI idea to intergalactic proportions by envisioning its colonization of the universe, Tegmark enthusiastically lays out concepts of AI, to the delight or disturbance of readers.--Taylor, Gilbert Copyright 2017 Booklist

From Booklist, Copyright (c) American Library Association. Used with permission.
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Publisher's Weekly Review

MIT physicist Tegmark explores the pivotal role that artificial intelligence will play in the future of humankind. From chores around the house and what employment will look like to how death might be rethought and even what it will mean to live among the stars, Tegmark considers what self-replicating and self-improving intelligent beings will mean for humans from many angles. Shapiro has a gentle and nonchalant voice that moves effortlessly through technical descriptions of AI technology and its potential upheaval of society. His steady but deliberate narration helps listeners maintain focus and feel comfortable with a variety of topics that Tegmark touches upon, such as how AI works and what it could mean for law enforcement, employment, and political organization. Even as Tegmark veers toward the philosophical, Shapiro keeps listeners attuned. A Knopf hardcover. (Aug.) © Copyright PWxyz, LLC. All rights reserved.

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Library Journal Review

Tegmark (physics, MIT; Our Mathematical Universe) is a cofounder (along with his wife and colleagues) of the nonprofit Future of Life Institute, which focuses on improving the future through technology, an idea that inspired the creation of this book. The narrative begins with a fictional tale of a team that creates an artificial intelligence (AI) called Prometheus, which has the ability to learn and adapt and possibly take over multiple industries. The story of Prometheus is brought up again in later chapters when human-level AI is discussed and leads into what the author deems the most important conversation of our time. According to the author, AI has real-world applications that are already being implemented such as self-driving cars, computer viruses, manufacturing robots, and even weaponry. These technologies are discussed along with the possible future of the next billion years. The technical and scientific reading material is divided by illustrations and graphs, and Tegmark provides bulleted key points at the end of every chapter. VERDICT A must-read for those entrenched in technology and future AI applications; however, this work is not for the casual reader.-Natalie -Browning, J. Sargeant Reynolds Community Coll. Lib., Richmond, VA © Copyright 2017. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.

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Kirkus Book Review

The founder of the Future of Life Institute explores one of the most intriguing scientific frontiers, artificial general intelligence, and how humans can grow along with it.Nowadays, computers read, learn, recognize faces, translate languages, and consult other computers. They don't yet think, but the contingent of researchers who believe that they will never be smarter than humans is steadily shrinking. In this expert but often wildly speculative rumination, Tegmark (Physics/MIT; Our Mathematical Universe: My Quest for the Ultimate Nature of Reality, 2014, etc.) joins the fierce debate on what will happen when AGI reaches human level and beyond. He dismisses tabloid scenarios of rampaging robots but warns, "we might create societies that flourish like never beforeor a Kafkasque global surveillance state so powerful that it could never be toppled." The author defines intelligence as the ability to accomplish complex goals. This sounds trivial until he points out that both brains and computers are able to do this. Since computers are improving faster than brains, superhuman AGI will happen, and a beneficial outcome is not guaranteed. Thus, autonomous, self-driving cars will save lives. Autonomous battlefield drones will save soldiers' lives, but keeping them away from rogue nations, terrorists, and criminals will prove impossible. In the early chapters, Tegmark portrays near futures that range from Utopian to Orwellian. Later in the book, he delivers a vision of the far future: a universe filled with the products of superintelligence, with organic Homo sapiens a distant memory. Throughout, the author lays out his ideas in precisely detailed scenarios. Many read like science fiction; others, such as a fine chapter on the nature of consciousness, are simply good popular science. Prophesies have a dreadful record, but they are also endlessly fascinating. Readers may balk now and thenTegmark's solutions to inevitable mass unemployment are a stretchbut most will find the narrative irresistible. Copyright Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.

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Booklist Reviews

What's the most important issue of our time? In the view of MIT physicist Tegmark (Our Mathematical Universe, 2014), it's not nuclear weapons, climate change, terrorism, or pestilence and poverty. It's the possibility of superhuman artificial intelligence (AI). Tegmark's brainstorming survey opens with a sci-fi-like scenario in which a computer intelligence named Prometheus takes over the world. Tegmark then summarizes the opinions of researchers about whether such a thing is possible or desirable. Assuring readers that it could happen, Tegmark sketches 12 conceivable types of superhuman intelligence that might arise, bestowing such names as "libertarian utopia," "benevolent dictator," and "conqueror," the latter an AI that destroys humanity. How to safely control an AI is thus critical to the future, and apparently, this is a common topic of discussion among scientists and tech-industry moguls, given Tegmark's accounts of conferences he has attended or organized. Stretching the superhuman AI idea to intergalactic proportions by envisioning its colonization of the universe, Tegmark enthusiastically lays out concepts of AI, to the delight or disturbance of readers. Copyright 2017 Booklist Reviews.

Copyright 2017 Booklist Reviews.
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Library Journal Reviews

Tegmark (physics, MIT; Our Mathematical Universe) is a cofounder (along with his wife and colleagues) of the nonprofit Future of Life Institute, which focuses on improving the future through technology, an idea that inspired the creation of this book. The narrative begins with a fictional tale of a team that creates an artificial intelligence (AI) called Prometheus, which has the ability to learn and adapt and possibly take over multiple industries. The story of Prometheus is brought up again in later chapters when human-level AI is discussed and leads into what the author deems the most important conversation of our time. According to the author, AI has real-world applications that are already being implemented such as self-driving cars, computer viruses, manufacturing robots, and even weaponry. These technologies are discussed along with the possible future of the next billion years. The technical and scientific reading material is divided by illustrations and graphs, and Tegmark provides bulleted key points at the end of every chapter. VERDICT A must-read for those entrenched in technology and future AI applications; however, this work is not for the casual reader.—Natalie Browning, J. Sargeant Reynolds Community Coll. Lib., Richmond, VASensible tips for new homeowners, reining in an unstoppable flame & the freedom of mustangs

Copyright 2017 Library Journal.

Copyright 2017 Library Journal.
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Publishers Weekly Reviews

The robot takeover will ignite an explosion of "awe-inspiring" life even if humans don't survive, according to this exhilarating, demoralizing primer. MIT physicist Tegmark (Our Mathematical Universe) surveys advances in artificial intelligence such as self-driving cars and Jeopardy-winning software, but focuses on the looming prospect of "recursive self-improvement"—AI systems that build smarter versions of themselves at an accelerating pace until their intellects surpass ours. Tegmark's smart, freewheeling discussion leads to fascinating speculations on AI-based civilizations spanning galaxies and eons—and knotty questions: Will our digital overlords be conscious? Will they coddle us with abundance and virtual-reality idylls or exterminate us with bumblebee-size attack robots? While digerati may be enthralled by the idea of superintelligent civilizations where "beautiful theorems" serve as the main economic resource, Tegmark's future will strike many as a one in which, at best, humans are dependent on AI-powered technology and, at worst, are extinct. His call for strong controls on AI systems sits awkwardly beside his acknowledgment that controlling such godlike entities will be almost impossible. Love it or hate it, it's an engrossing forecast. (Sept.)

Copyright 2017 Publishers Weekly.

Copyright 2017 Publishers Weekly.
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Citations

APA Citation, 7th Edition (style guide)

Tegmark, M. (2017). Life 3.0: being human in the age of artificial intelligence . Alfred A. Knopf.

Chicago / Turabian - Author Date Citation, 17th Edition (style guide)

Tegmark, Max. 2017. Life 3.0: Being Human in the Age of Artificial Intelligence. New York: Alfred A. Knopf.

Chicago / Turabian - Humanities (Notes and Bibliography) Citation, 17th Edition (style guide)

Tegmark, Max. Life 3.0: Being Human in the Age of Artificial Intelligence New York: Alfred A. Knopf, 2017.

Harvard Citation (style guide)

Tegmark, M. (2017). Life 3.0: being human in the age of artificial intelligence. New York: Alfred A. Knopf.

MLA Citation, 9th Edition (style guide)

Tegmark, Max. Life 3.0: Being Human in the Age of Artificial Intelligence Alfred A. Knopf, 2017.

Note! Citations contain only title, author, edition, publisher, and year published. Citations should be used as a guideline and should be double checked for accuracy. Citation formats are based on standards as of August 2021.

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