The Rationalist's Guide to the Galaxy by Tom Chivers, Paperback, 9781474608794 | Buy online at The Nile
Departments
 Free Returns*

The Rationalist's Guide to the Galaxy

Superintelligent AI and the Geeks Who Are Trying to Save Humanity's Future

Author: Tom Chivers  

Paperback

A deep-dive into the weird and wonderful world of the rationalists

Read more
New
$29.76
Or pay later with
Check delivery options
Paperback

PRODUCT INFORMATION

Summary

A deep-dive into the weird and wonderful world of the rationalists

Read more

Description

'A fascinating and delightfully written book about some very smart people who may not, or may, be about to transform humanity forever' JON RONSON

'Beautifully written, and with wonderful humour, this is a thrilling adventure story of our own future' LEWIS DARTNELL, author of THE KNOWLEDGE and ORIGINS

Are paperclips going to destroy life as we know it?

What can Mickey Mouse teach us about how to programme AI?

Could a more rational approach to life be what saves us all?

This is a book about about a community of people who are trying to think rationally about intelligence and what insight they can and can't give us about the future of the human race. It explains why these people are worried about an AI apocalypse, why they might be right, and why they might be wrong. It is a book about the cutting edge of our thinking on intelligence and rationality right now by the people who stay up all night worrying about it.

Read more

Critic Reviews

“Tom Chivers' meticulously researched book is intriguing, persuasive and eye-opening. His writing is warm and witty as he takes us on a surprisingly moving journey to decide - rationally - whether we really are playing Russian roulette with our future-- HANNAH FRY, author of HELLO WORLD”

A fascinating and delightfully written book about some very smart people who may not, or may, be about to transform humanity forever

Artificial Intelligence, of a superhuman level, is coming. But how soon will it emerge, and how will it impact our world? Will it offer us salvation or bring apocalypse? In this utterly captivating book, Tom Chivers meets both the computer engineers working to build an AI and the Rationalists striving to prevent the worst. Beautifully written, and with wonderful humour, this is a thrilling adventure story of our own future

Tom Chivers' meticulously researched book is intriguing, persuasive and eye-opening. His writing is warm and witty as he takes us on a surprisingly moving journey to decide - rationally - whether we really are playing Russian roulette with our future

An intellectual history of our times - THE TIMES

Read more

About the Author

Tom Chivers is a science writer and author. He was given Royal Statistical Society 'Statistical Excellence in Journalism' awards in 2018 and 2020, and was declared the Science Writer of the Year by the Association of British Science Writers in 2021. His two previous books are The Rationalist's Guide to the Galaxy and How to Read Numbers (with David Chivers).

Read more

More on this Book

'A fascinating and delightfully written book about some very smart people who may not, or may, be about to transform humanity forever' JON RONSON 'Beautifully written, and with wonderful humour, this is a thrilling adventure story of our own future' LEWIS DARTNELL, author of THE KNOWLEDGE and ORIGINS Are paperclips going to destroy life as we know it? What can Mickey Mouse teach us about how to programme AI? Could a more rational approach to life be what saves us all? This is a book about about a community of people who are trying to think rationally about intelligence and what insight they can and can't give us about the future of the human race. It explains why these people are worried about an AI apocalypse, why they might be right, and why they might be wrong. It is a book about the cutting edge of our thinking on intelligence and rationality right now by the people who stay up all night worrying about it.

Read more

Product Details

Publisher
Orion Publishing Co | Weidenfeld & Nicolson
Published
7th January 2021
Pages
304
ISBN
9781474608794

Returns

This item is eligible for free returns within 30 days of delivery. See our returns policy for further details.

New
$29.76
Or pay later with
Check delivery options