Machines of Loving Grace – John Markoff

Robots are poised to transform society as completely as the Internet did twenty years ago: will these robots help us or will they replace us? Pulitzer-Prize-winning science writer John Markoff confronts one of the most important questions we face today

“This thoughtful analysis by Markoff, a reporter for The New York Times, wades into the ethical and philosophical questions that such technological advances inevitably raise.” (New York Times Paperback Row)

“Mr. Markoff focuses on the personalities, since technology depends on the values of its creators. The human element makes the subject accessible. (His chapter on the history of AI is superb.)” (The Economist)

“Neither alarmist nor affirmative [Machines of Loving Grace] contain[s] urgent, compelling and relevant calls to consciously embed our values in the systems we design, and to critically engage with our choices…. Before welcoming our robotic overlords, read [this] book.” (New Scientist)

“John Markoff of The New York Times highlights the compelling contrast between AI and intelligence amplification (IA). He chronicles the fascinating and often antagonistic evolution of these fields since 1956, when both terms were coined.” (Nature)

“Markoff did his homework and capably tackles interesting things.” (San Francisco Chronicle)

“[F]ascinating, informative, thought-provoking…” (San Jose Mercury News)

“A detailed, engrossing history of robotics…This revealing look at profound technological and economic developments will unsettle anyone who has a job to lose.” (Publishers Weekly)