Released: 5th July 2018
Genre: Non-Fiction, Technology
Number of Pages: 335
As a leading figure in the field of artificial intelligence, Max Tegmark shares his views on this new technology and where it is going in Life 3.0, a deeply speculative dive into the future technology and science.
The book is split between a number of elements across nine chapters including extended descriptive paragraphs, a large use of statistics and a set of illustrations to better map the author’s thought process. Tegmark talks about a wide range of topics from breakthroughs afforded by AI to the advancements it could provide so long as we are able to tune it to humanity’s own goals. He closes with a window into his own work and the collaboration between countless researchers and engineers around the world.
The first half of the book is certainly the most interesting, in which Tegmark conjures up a wide range of thought-provoking scenarios that demonstrate the direction these new tools could take. What if a super-intelligent AI overtook its creators and became the benevolent ruler of humanity? The many different directions proposed in Life 3.0 will really get you thinking about future events, while also sharing in the author’s own excitement; unfortunately, these moments are rather rare.
When Max goes into greater detail about the cosmos, complex laws of physics and other forms of matter, I felt the conversation shifted too far away from the central topic. There’s a lot of prolonged debates about scientific theory and how it applies to AI that only experts in the topic will be able to understand; as a result, I found myself less engaged in the book. While it’s true that AI can help us expand our ambitions in space, the details and questions are too far off to make an impression.
Recommended?
MAYBE: Life 3.0 is a very long-winded and often complicated book with some fascinating ideas placed against scientific discussions that drag on and outstay their welcome, at least in my opinion. While Tegmark himself is clearly very enthusiastic about everything he’s talking about, the chapters vary in terms of interest and engagement. Technology and science enthusiasts alongside those working in both sectors will be thrilled by what the author has to say, but for a general audience, my recommendation is more cautious. I would instead point you to Rise of the Robots by Martin Ford for a more succinct read.
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