Here is the introduction to How AI Ate the World by Chris Stokel-Walker.

Imagine a world where machines could think, learn, and make decisions just like humans. A world where robots could understand human emotions, drive cars without human intervention, and even create art or compose music. This world, once confined to the realm of science fiction, has now become a tangible reality,
thanks to the remarkable journey of artificial intelligence (AI).

The story of AI begins in the 1950s when pioneering researchers such as Alan Turing and John McCarthy laid the groundwork for the field. These visionaries believed that machines could be created to mimic human intelligence, and their groundbreaking ideas sparked a new era of scientific exploration and technological innovation.

In the early years, AI was mostly confined to academic and research settings, with limited practical applications. But as computing power grew exponentially and algorithms became more sophisticated, AI began to evolve rapidly, transforming from a theoretical concept to a practical tool.

One of the most significant breakthroughs came in the 1960s when researchers at Stanford University developed the first AI program that could understand and respond to natural language. This groundbreaking achievement laid the foundation for modern-day language processing technologies, such as virtual assistants like Siri and Alexa, which have become ubiquitous in our daily lives.

As the years passed, AI continued to make strides in diverse domains. In the 1970s, AI systems were developed for medical diagnosis, and in the 1980s, AI was used in industrial automation and robotics. In the 1990s, AI-powered search engines revolutionised the way we access information on the internet.

However, the field of AI has not been without its challenges. During the 1980s and 1990s, the field experienced a period of disillusionment, known as the 'AI winter', as progress stalled, and funding declined. But AI, like a phoenix rising from the ashes, made a remarkable comeback in the 21st Century.

In recent years, we have witnessed unprecedented advancements in AI. Machine learning, a subset of AI, has enabled computers to learn from data without explicit programming, leading to breakthroughs in image recognition, natural language processing, and recommendation systems. Deep learning, a form of machine learning, has pushed the boundaries of AI even further, enabling machines to recognise patterns and make decisions at a level previously thought impossible.

The impact of AI has extended far beyond the realm of academia and research. Today, AI is being used in various industries, including healthcare, finance, transportation, and entertainment, to improve efficiency, enhance decision-making, and create new business models.

Despite the remarkable progress, AI is not without its controversies. Ethical concerns, such as bias in AI algorithms, privacy issues, and the impact of AI on the job market, have sparked debates and discussions. The rise of powerful AI technologies has also raised concerns about transparency, accountability, and the potential for misuse.

As we stand at the cusp of a new era of AI, it is crucial to reflect on the incredible journey of AI from science fiction to scientific fact. What was once a mere idea in the minds of visionary scientists has now become a transformative force that is reshaping our world. In the following chapters, we will delve deeper into the history, challenges, and implications of AI, exploring its evolution, impact on industries, ethical concerns, and the potential risks and dangers. Through this journey, we will strive to uncover the true potential of AI and its implications for humanity, and offer insights and recommendations for policymakers, scientists, and society at large to navigate the uncharted territory of AI responsibly and shape a future where AI benefits all of humanity.

…

Not bad, huh? Those 593 words took only two minutes – and the power of artificial intelligence – to produce. It’s an indication of how far AI has advanced in the last 18 months that ChatGPT, the 'large language model' developed by OpenAI in the United States, could produce something so lucid in a matter of moments.

I gave the AI model six bullet points summarising the overview in my contract for this book and asked for a detailed chapter structure. It produced a reasonable outline for eight chapters, though it was quite vague. The first chapter on The Evolution of Artificial Intelligence introduced the concept of AI and its science-fiction origins, traced its history from the 1950s to today, and highlighted its key developments from theoretical concepts to practical reality.

So I typed four words into ChatGPT and hoped for the best: ‘Please write chapter one.’ What you see above is what it produced. Without editing. Without further prompting.

This book will not be as clever again – I promise. Nor will it be the product of AI. You didn’t pay for this book to learn what AI thinks about itself (or rather, its understanding of our species’ recorded collective thoughts on the subject), but for the narrative craft, investigative journalism, and deep thinking that comes from a human brain. But it’s important to know what we’re dealing with, given the way AI is changing the way we think and work. And it’s interesting to find out what AI thinks about its own story.

Its findings may be imprecise, vague and full of generalisations, but at a broad sweep, they are right. We are on the cusp of a world ‘where machines can think, learn, and make decisions just like humans... understand human emotions, drive cars without human intervention, and even create art or compose music.’

Indeed, one early cover idea for this book, a cartoonishly anthropomorphised pink and blue planet devouring the world’s knowledge, was the product of Microsoft Bing’s AI image generator. I generated 14 others in a variety of different styles in 15 minutes. (The cover you see was designed by a human. Why that’s
important, you’ll learn in subsequent chapters.)

It's also true to say ‘we have witnessed unprecedented advancements in AI’ in the last few years.

Since the release of ChatGPT in November 2022, AI has reached even dizzier heights. It is mutating and spreading like a virulent pandemic.

Some companies, sectors and industries already lie mortally wounded in the wake of its relentless onslaught. It’s an attack that is also changing humanity: AI boosters or AI pessimists will tell you we’re being either supercharged or suborned by its power.

Like a pandemic, there are tough questions about what we should do. Should we just let AI explode and hope for the best, or try to contain it? As the world’s richest companies develop ever more extraordinary AI systems, is it too late to even hold this discussion?

We’ll answer all those questions and more in the coming chapters. But first let me take you on a detour. Unlike computers, humans can be impulsive.