In 'Machines of Loving Grace', John Markoff explores the intricate relationship between humans and technology, weaving a narrative that spans from the dawn of artificial intelligence to its contemporary implications. The book delves into the minds of pioneering inventors and the ethical dilemmas arising from our reliance on machines. Markoff poses provocative questions about autonomy, creativity, and the future coexistence of humanity with its creations. As machines become increasingly capable and aware, will they enhance our lives or challenge our very essence? This thought-provoking journey invites readers to ponder the fine line between love and dependence in our relationship with technology.
By John Markoff
Published: 2016
"In the dance between human creativity and machine efficiency, we must navigate the shadows of our own making."
As robots are increasingly integrated into modern society—on the battlefield and the road, in business, education, and health—Pulitzer-Prize-winning New York Times science writer John Markoff searches for an answer to one of the most important questions of our age: will these machines help us, or will they replace us? In the past decade alone, Google introduced us to driverless cars, Apple debuted a personal assistant that we keep in our pockets, and an Internet of Things connected the smaller tasks of everyday life to the farthest reaches of the internet. There is little doubt that robots are now an integral part of society, and cheap sensors and powerful computers will ensure that, in the coming years, these robots will soon act on their own. This new era offers the promise of immense computing power, but it also reframes a question first raised more than half a century ago, at the birth of the intelligent machine: Will we control these systems, or will they control us? In Machines of Loving Grace, New York Times reporter John Markoff, the first reporter to cover the World Wide Web, offers a sweeping history of the complicated and evolving relationship between humans and computers. Over the recent years, the pace of technological change has accelerated dramatically, reintroducing this difficult ethical quandary with newer and far weightier consequences. As Markoff chronicles the history of automation, from the birth of the artificial intelligence and intelligence augmentation communities in the 1950s, to the modern day brain trusts at Google and Apple in Silicon Valley, and on to the expanding tech corridor between Boston and New York, he traces the different ways developers have addressed this fundamental problem and urges them to carefully consider the consequences of their work. We are on the verge of a technological revolution, Markoff argues, and robots will profoundly transform the way our lives are organized. Developers must now draw a bright line between what is human and what is machine, or risk upsetting the delicate balance between them.
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“In the dance between human creativity and machine efficiency, we must navigate the shadows of our own making.”
Machines of Loving Grace
By John Markoff
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John Markoff is a renowned American journalist and author, celebrated for his insightful explorations of technology, society, and their intricate relationship. A former senior writer for the New York Times, Markoff has a distinct writing style that combines rigorous research with accessible prose, making complex subjects understandable to a broad audience. His notable works include 'What the Dormouse Said: How the Sixties Counterculture Shaped the Personal Computer Industry' and 'Machines of Loving Grace: The Quest for Common Ground Between Humans and Robots.' Through his work, Markoff has skillfully chronicled the evolution of technology and its impact on our lives, earning recognition as a leading voice in technology journalism.
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In 'Excession' by Iain Banks, the Culture's advanced starship, the Sleeper Service, encounters a mysterious and powerful object known as the Excession, which transcends known reality. As factions within the Culture and beyond scramble to understand and control this enigmatic phenomenon, political intrigue and philosophical questions about power, consciousness, and existence come to the forefront. Characters from various backgrounds—human and AI—find themselves ensnared in a web of manipulation and unexpected alliances. The narrative ebbs and flows with the tension of impending conflict and the quest for knowledge, leaving readers questioning the nature of intelligence itself. Will the secrets of the Excession unlock a greater understanding, or bring about catastrophic consequences?
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