The Alignment Problem: How Can Machines Learn Human Values?

Description

Artificial intelligence is rapidly dominating every aspect of our modern lives influencing the news we consume, whether we get a mortgage, and even which friends wish us happy birthday. But as algorithms make ever more decisions on our behalf, how do we ensure they do what we want? And fairly? This conundrum - dubbed 'The Control Problem' by experts - is the subject of this timely and important book. From the AI program which cheats at computer games to the sexist algorithm behind Google Translate, bestselling author Brian Christian explains how, as AI develops, we rapidly approach a collision between artificial intelligence and ethics. If we stand by, we face a future with unregulated algorithms that propagate our biases - and worse - violate our most sacred values. Urgent and fascinating, this is an accessible primer to the most important issue facing Al researchers today.

Brian Christian is the bestselling author of The Most Human Human and co-author, with Tim Griffiths, of Algorithms to Live By. He regularly contributes to The New Yorker, Guardian, Wall Street Journal and Paris Review. He has lectured at Google, Facebook, Microsoft, and has won several awards for his work.

'Essential reading. Christian brings much needed clarity to a subject that is often talked about but little understood.' - Tim O'Reilly - founder and CEO of O'Reilly Media 'Vital reading. This is the book on artificial intelligence we need right now. Brian Christian takes us on a technically fluent (yet widely accessible) journey through the most important questions facing AI and humanity.' - Mike Krieger, co-founder of Instagram 'An abundantly researched and captivating book that explores the road humanity has taken to create a successor for itself-a road that's rich with surprising discoveries, unexpected obstacles, ingenious solutions and, increasingly, hard questions about the soul of our species.' - Jaan Tallinn, cofounder of Skype and the Future of Life Institute 'A fascinating, provocative, and insightful tour of all the ways that AI goes wrong and all the ways people are trying to fix it. Essential reading if you want to understand where our world is heading.' - Stuart Russell, professor of computer science, University of California, Berkeley, and author of Human Compatible 'Required reading for anyone influencing policy where algorithms are in play - which is everywhere. But unlike much required reading, the book is a delight to read, a playful romp through personalities and relatable snippets of science history that put the choices of our present moment into context.' - Jennifer Pahlka, founder of Code for America and former deputy CTO of the United States