What to read in times of ChatGPT

I love reading (and listening to) books. And for quite some time this has included books about our brains, and more recently also about artificial intelligence. Seeing the latest advances of AI tools such as ChatGPT, I want to share some books that I enjoyed and recommend.

I think – but may be wrong – that AI and human intelligence are approaching each-other. AI is advancing fast, yet at the same time it seems to me that the more we understand how our own brain works, deconstructing thought processes down to their components, the human way of thinking may not be that far from the processes of machine learning. Again, I may be wrong. I want to understand, read a lot, and still have doubts. But if I take the latest advances as presented in “A Thousand Brains” by Jeff Hawkins, the way we ourselves work can increasingly be explained by physical processes and regressions that take place in our brain – just as AI. What do you think, Dave?

FIRST, BOOKS ABOUT OUR OWN BRAIN

• Jeff Hawkins: “A Thousand Brains: A New Theory of Intelligence” (2021) - Introduces the groundbreaking "thousand brains" theory, which redefines our understanding of how the brain processes information and forms intelligence. With a foreword by Richard Dawkins, which is in itself already worth reading. Mind boggling. A breakthrough in understanding how our brain(s) work.
• Ogi Ogas: “Journey of the Mind: How Thinking Emerged from Chaos” (2021) - Chronicles the evolution of human cognition, exploring the development of our brains and the emergence of complex thought. The amazing story of our brain's evolution.
• Daniel Levitin: “The Changing Mind - A Neuroscientist's Guide to Ageing Well” (2020) - Offers practical advice and insights on maintaining cognitive health and wellbeing throughout the aging process. One of my favorite authors. All of his books are fascinating – including about music, productivity, and this one about us getting older (yes, that’s me, too).
• David Eagleman: “The Brain - The Story of You” (2015) - Provides an engaging and accessible overview of the human brain and its role in shaping our lives, identities, and experiences. One of several good books about the brain by this author.
• Daniel Dennett: “From Bacteria to Bach and Back - The Evolution of Minds” (2017) - Explores the origins of consciousness and its development through the lens of evolutionary biology and philosophy. One of my favorite philosophers. In line with his earlier works on consciousness et al.
• Frans De Waal: “Primates and Philosophers: How Morality Evolved” (2006) - Investigates the evolutionary origins of morality by examining the social behaviors and interactions of primates. Learning from and about our cousins.
• Susan Blackmore: “The Meme Machine” (1999) - Argues that cultural evolution is driven by memes, which are self-replicating units of information that spread through human minds and societies. Becoming more relevant, I think, as the evolution of intelligence and human culture is picking up speed.
• Dick Swaab: “We Are Our Brains: From the Womb to Alzheimer's” (2014) - Explores the intricate relationship between our brains and our sense of self, from prenatal development to age-related neurological disorders. When you speak about yourself, you actually speak about your brain. ?
• Henry Marsh: “Do No Harm: Stories of Life, Death, and Brain Surgery” (2014) - Offers an intimate and candid look into the world of neurosurgery, with both its triumphs and challenges. True stories, told by a brain surgeon (who did some harm, too).
• Norman Doidge: “The Brain That Changes Itself: Stories of Personal Triumph from the Frontiers of Brain Science” (2007) - Highlights the remarkable ability of the brain to adapt and rewire itself, even in the face of significant trauma or injury. And I’d still try to avoid having half of my brain taken out. ?
• Oliver Sacks: "The Man Who Mistook His Wife for a Hat: And Other Clinical Tales" (1985) - Presents a collection of intriguing case studies that reveal the complexity and resilience of the human brain. A classic. Amazing tales and case studies from and about our brain. And no, we cannot think and feel without it.
• Steven Pinker: “How the Mind Works” (1997) - Explores the cognitive and evolutionary underpinnings of human thought, behavior, and culture, with an optimistic outlook on human progress. Another classic. Perhaps too classic by now, but still a good start. I share the overall optimistic approach of Steven Pinker, also about human development, enlightenment, rationality et al.

SECOND, BOOKS ABOUT AI

• Start with a brainstorming with some of the most knowledgeable brains. “What do you think about Machines that think” (2015) - A collection of essays from leading thinkers exploring diverse perspectives on the implications and possibilities of artificial intelligence. Leading thinkers’ thinking, edited by John Brockman.
• Also edited by John Brockman: “Possible Minds - Twenty-Five Ways of Looking at AI” (2019) - Offers a wide array of viewpoints on AI, its development, and potential consequences from prominent scientists and philosophers. I love the “edge” series of John Brockman. Introduced me to many new authors, as he asks good questions, and identifies a wide range or philosophers and scientists who provide different answers.
• Nick Bostrom: “Superintelligence - Paths, Dangers, Strategies” (2014) - Explores the potential development of superintelligent AI and the ethical considerations and risks associated with it. A classic. Great introduction to the issues.
• Max Tegmark: “Life 3.0: Being Human in the Age of Artificial Intelligence” (2017) - Examines the profound impact AI could have on society, as well as the ethical and existential questions it raises. It starts with a short story that makes you shudder. And shudder again while you engage with ChatGPT. A good book to start with when reading about AI.
• Ray Kurzweil: “How to Create a Mind: The Secret of Human Thought Revealed” (2012) - Investigates the nature of human thought and consciousness, and how it can inform the development of artificial intelligence. Not quite a Do It Yourself guide, but you get the gist of it.
• Ajay Agrawal, Joshua Gans, Avi Goldfarb: “Prediction Machines - The Simple Economics of Artificial Intelligence” (2018) - Provides insights into the economic implications and practical applications of AI in various industries. A more practical book about applying AI.
• Kai-Fu Lee: “AI Superpowers - China, Silicon Valley, and the New World Order” (2018) - Explores the global race for AI dominance between the United States and China, while highlighting the unique strengths and approaches of each region. Lee offers insights into the societal and economic implications of AI advancements and emphasizes the importance of collaboration and empathy in shaping the future of AI technologies.
• Henry Kissinger, Eric Schmidt, and Daniel Huttenlocher: “The Age of AI: And Our Human Future” (2021) - Provides a comprehensive examination of the historical, technological, and philosophical aspects of artificial intelligence, authored by experts from various fields. The book delves into the transformative potential of AI, the challenges of integrating AI into society, and the importance of establishing a global framework to ensure the responsible development and deployment of AI technologies.
• Stuart Russell: “Human Compatible - Artificial Intelligence and the Problem of Control” (2019) - Warns of the potential dangers of AI development and proposes a framework for creating AI systems that are aligned with human values. A warning.
• James Barrat: “Our Final Invention: Artificial Intelligence and the End of the Human” (2013) - Highlights the potential risks associated with unchecked AI development and its possible consequences for humanity. Another warning.
• Pedro Domingos: “The Master Algorithm: How the Quest for the Ultimate Learning Machine Will Remake Our World” (2015) - Domingos explores the quest for a unifying algorithm that could revolutionize AI, and its potential impact on various aspects of human life, from healthcare to education. An overall optimistic approach which I share.
• Mustafa Suleyman with Michael Bhaskar: "The Coming Wave" (2023) - A critical examination of AI's risks and its impact on global order, exploring the challenge of controlling powerful technologies. Suleyman, co-founder of AI company DeepMind, discusses the balance between technological prosperity and threats to the nation-state, emphasizing the importance of maintaining control over these advancements to navigate between potential progress and dystopia. As regards the danger of losing jobs to the new technologies, he says that this time it's different (i.e. we may really lose more jobs than we create).
• Ray Kurzweil: “The Singularity Is Near: When Humans Transcend Biology” (2005) - His seminal work that popularized the concept of the technological singularity, in which accelerating advancements in AI, genetics, and nanotechnology lead to a point where machines become indistinguishable from humans or even surpass human capabilities. The book delves into the implications of this transition and how society might change as a result. Seeing were we are now, two decades later, I think he is being proven right on many accounts. So I pre-ordered his new book scheduled for 2024 "The Singularity is nearer". We are certainly getting closer.
• Brian Christian: "The Alignment Problem: How Can Machines Learn Human Values?" (2021). As algorithms make ever more decisions on our behalf, how do we ensure they do what we want? And fairly? This conundrum - dubbed 'The Alignment Problem' by experts - is the subject of this book. From the AI program which cheats at computer games to the sexist algorithm behind Google Translate, the author explains how, as AI develops, we approach a collision between artificial intelligence and ethics.
• Gerd Gigerenzer: "How to Stay Smart in a Smart World: Why Human Intelligence Still Beats Algorithms" (2023) - very skeptical of the progress made with/ thanks to AI, he doubts the benefits of dating apps, self-driving cars, and facial recognition in the justice system. He suggests that humans are often the greatest source of uncertainty and when people are involved, unwavering trust in complex algorithms can become a recipe for disaster.
• And now it's out: Ray Kurzweil: “The Singularity is Nearer” (2024) - a sequel of "The Singularity is Near", this latest book presents the transformative potential of AI and its implications for the future of us/ humanity. Kurzweil highlights the accelerating pace of technological progress and predicts the convergence of human and machine intelligence. At times frightening (to me), a visionary work that pushes the boundaries of what we thought was possible. From what he writes, many of his forecasts over the last 30 years were proven right, including the timing of the appearance of tools like ChatGPT. He may well be right with his forecasts for the next 30 years.

FINALLY, NOVELS AND MORE

Even more enjoyable and thought provoking: fiction that involves the evolution of the brain, futurology, language and AI. A selection of my favorites:

• Why not reread Mary Shelley: “Frankenstein” (1818) - A timeless novel that explores the consequences of unchecked scientific ambition and the ethical responsibilities of creators. Highly recommended. And if you are in Geneva, visit the statue.?The book was mostly written here. ?
• Kai-Fu Lee, Chen Qiufan: “AI 2041 - Ten Visions for Our Future” (2021) - Presents a collection of science fiction stories exploring the potential impact of AI on various aspects of society by 2041. Not so far away Science Fiction. Or rather, we are getting there faster than we might have thought.
• Raphaela-Edelbauer: “Dave” (2020) - A German novel that delves into the complex relationship between humans and AI, raising questions about identity and consciousness. And you could imagine the spoiler.
• Ian McEwan: “Machines Like Me” (2019) - Explores the emotional and ethical complexities that arise when humans form relationships with highly advanced humanoid robots. Would you get jealous of a machine?
• Kazuo Ishiguro: “Klara and the Sun” (2021) - Follows the perspective of an AI-driven robot, Klara, as she navigates the world and contemplates the nature of consciousness and humanity. Have empathy: Put yourself in the mind of a machine.
• Simon Prentis: “SPEECH – How Language Made Us Human” (2022) - Examines the pivotal role of language in human evolution and its influence on shaping our species. Lots of interesting history about human evolution and the role of language.
• James Lovelock: “Novacene - The Coming Age of Hyperintelligence” (2019) - Speculates on the emergence of a new era in which advanced AI will play a significant role in shaping the future of the planet. The author passed away last year and left a legacy of working on sustainable human development.
• Hannah Fry: “Hello World: How to be Human in the Age of the Machine” (2018) - Explores the impact of algorithms and AI on our lives and questions how we can maintain our humanity in a rapidly evolving technological landscape. RATM - Rage against the Machine.
• Philip K. Dick: “Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep?” (1968) - You may have seen it as "Blade Runner" in the movies. Set in a post-apocalyptic world, this novel explores the moral and existential dilemmas faced by a bounty hunter tasked with "retiring" rogue androids indistinguishable from humans. A deep dive into what it means to be human, with electric sheep symbolizing the blurring lines between reality and artificiality.

I keep reading, and keep doubting.

"Da steh' ich nun, ich armer Tor, / Und bin so klug als wie zuvor! / Hei?e Magister, hei?e Doktor gar, / Und ziehe schon an die zehen Jahr' / Herauf, herab und quer und krumm / Meine Schüler an der Nase herum – / Und sehe, da? wir nichts wissen k?nnen! (Johann Wolfgang von Goethe)

More specifically, in line with Susan Blackmore in response to one of the annual edge questions:

"As for giving up the sense of an inner conscious self altogether—this is very much harder. I just keep on seeming to exist. But though I cannot prove it—I think it is true that I don't."

Any thoughts and further book recommendations? ?Please drop me a line!