My Review: The Fourth Age

The Fourth Age: Smart Robots, Conscious Computers, and the Future of Humanity: by Byron Reese

My review via my read, just submitted:

Very well done.  Have been following author Byron Reese's GigaOm podcast interviews with experts in AI,  and the book often has opinions that come from this group.    The Fourth Age is defined as the age of Robots and AI.   He takes care to define Narrow AI vs General AI.   Good, since in our hype-ridden world people are quick to assume we are very close to General AI.   I like that he uses the first three ages to set the direction, and also makes the point that the speed of related changes approaching the Fourth Age is increasing quickly.    So this means that we will have to react more quickly than before to keep from some negative side effects.    

The AI Winter,  a lull in new development,  is mentioned as a consequence,  and it might be, especially if we don't carefully define AI narrowly.   Will it take our jobs?   He does a good job of sketching out why not.  And even advises regarding Robot-Proof jobs.   Makes a clear case that we are no where close to building artificial brains,  but still may have to consider the ethics of results from devices we treat like brains.    Great, non technical read.  Does not have a index, because its a 'popular' rather than technical book. ....