Facts, fictions, forecasts about AI: why it was worth writing a book

Over the next weeks, I’m going to be sharing excerpts and stories from my book, The Ethics of AI: Facts, Fictions, and Forecasts in this article series. The Ethics of AI launched on August 22, 2021 on Amazon, here is the link to buy it! If you want to connect, you can reach me here via email or connect with me on social: LinkedIn, Twitter.

The first thing I want to share is why.

Why is it worth writing about AI and the ethical angle? Doesn’t the media already cover enough of this?

I thought so. But when I read titles such as “Artificially Intelligent Painters Invent New Styles of Art”, seemingly ripped from the pages of a science fiction novel, I realized how little we understand about artificial intelligence.

Sensation sells. Companies and governments have economical interests in attracting investments for technology that increases automation, productivity and efficiency. Science fiction gave us the imagery of sentient machines that can make our lives either heaven or hell.

I’ve spent more than ten years working in data science and solving problems at the cross-section of math, algorithmic decision-making, economics, and behavioral science. I was first an actuary, then a machine learning developer, consultant, and lately a product manager. I’ve built two companies and helped other entrepreneurs build products that use forms of AI.

I went on a career break and decided to take a PhD in Computer Science. I research about natural language processing and dialogue systems. Missing the real-world applications, I started a new job at Tesla, where I’m in charge of building a technical team devoted to a new product we’ll see in Europe some time next year.

I learned what it takes to build a technology product that uses AI from the ground up. In the business wold, I faced the challenge of making moral decisions in challenging situations. In academia, I learned some of the key ideas behind the modern advancement of AI.

I felt compelled to write to let these experiences shed an original light on understanding AI and the social, ethical, and cultural implications this technology is already generating.

I want to share what I learned to achieve two main objectives:

1. Make AI more approachable, realistic, and down to earth.
2. I want to challenge the anthropological model behind modern businesses and products. There’s more to us than the sum of our genes and experiences, and humanity deserves more self respect.

Throughout the book I demystify some preconcepts and assumptions about technology and science.

Here are some contents that received the most praise by early reviewers of my manuscript:

• Digestible definitions of AI and machine learning, offering examples and bringing down to earth what these technologies can really do.
• Challenging the idea that all technology is inevitable and brings about human progress. Not all “progress” makes us develop into better humans.
• Understanding data. Do you really believe that data is objective, honest and tells the whole truth? I explore what data is, and what purpose it serves.
• I uncover the limitations of AI. There are inherent ones (limits AI will always have), and obstacles it has right now and could be overcome.
• I’ll speak about movies — lots of them! Yes, I’m a big sci-fi pop culture fan. So, if you are too, you’ll really enjoy reading my book. I visit what fiction can teach us as well as what misguided ideas it can give.
• I’ll speak about behavioral science and its consequences on human freedom. This is crucial to understand why and how many AI techniques power everyday products like YouTube, Twitter, Amazon.
• I’ll go over case studies highlighting the good, the bad and the ugly of AI, as well as some grey areas.
• I’ll explore what historians, philosophers, and spiritual leaders say about being human, and how that applies to developing AI-powered applications.
• I interview a bunch of interesting folks such as moral philosopher and author Jonathan Haidt, former lead of psychology at Cambridge Analytica Patrick Fagan and Charles Radclyffe, founder and CEO of the first rating agency for ESG/Ethical AI.

You will read about what AI really is, how it is connected with behavioral change, forces that move social trends, and the broader economy.

Artificial Intelligence is a fantastic technology. Many of its promises might be a bit too inflated, but it indeed has the potential to create new opportunities.

Armed with education and a commitment to addressing deep questions about truth and meaning, we can decide what products, services, and governance models we should build for serving the person as a whole, rather than treating people like machines. As with any stepping-stone of human progress, this allows us to step back and reflect on what kind of future we want to build.