In the popular imagination, conflict between humans and machines is seen as inevitable and its outcome all too predictable. Russell argues that this scenario can be avoided, but only if we rethink AI from the ground up. He explores the idea of intelligence in humans and in machines, describes the near-term benefits we can expect from intelligent personal assistants and accelerated scientific research, and outlines the AI breakthroughs that still have to happen before we reach superhuman AI. Russell also spells out the ways humans are already misusing AI, from lethal autonomous weapons to viral sabotage. -- adapted from jacket.
