Gary Marcus: Is AI mostly hype?

Gary Marcus and Ernest Davis provide a lucid assessment of the current science in AI, explaining what today’s AI can and cannot do. They argue that current AI systems, based on deep learning, are narrow and brittle, and that achieving true artificial general intelligence requires moving beyond statistical analysis and large data sets. The authors suggest that by incorporating knowledge-driven approaches and common sense, we can build AI systems that are reliable and trustworthy in various aspects of our lives, such as homes, cars, and medical offices.

In 'Cosmos: A Personal Voyage,' Carl Sagan takes readers on a journey through space and time, exploring the origins of the universe, the nature of stars and galaxies, and the possibility of extraterrestrial life. The book is a companion to the popular PBS television series of the same name and combines science, philosophy, and history to provide a broad perspective on the cosmos and humanity's place within it.

Gary Marcus's "Kluge" explores the human mind's design as a collection of workarounds and hacks rather than a perfectly engineered system. He argues that our cognitive abilities are a patchwork of evolved mechanisms, often inefficient and prone to errors. The book uses examples from various fields, including psychology, neuroscience, and computer science, to illustrate the kludgy nature of human thought. Marcus emphasizes the importance of understanding these limitations to improve our decision-making and problem-solving skills. He suggests that by acknowledging the imperfections of our cognitive architecture, we can develop strategies to mitigate biases and make more rational choices.