What do you think?
Rate this book
Code Dependent: Living in the Shadow of AI
A riveting story of what it means to be human in a world changed by artificial intelligence, revealing the perils and inequities of our growing reliance on automated decision-making
On the surface, a British poet, an UberEats courier in Pittsburgh, an Indian doctor, and a Chinese activist in exile have nothing in common. But they are in fact linked by a profound common experience―unexpected encounters with artificial intelligence. In Code Dependent, Murgia shows how automated systems are reshaping our lives all over the world, from technology that marks children as future criminals, to an app that is helping to give diagnoses to a remote tribal community.
AI has already infiltrated our day-to-day, through language-generating chatbots like ChatGPT and social media. But it’s also affecting us in more insidious ways. It touches everything from our interpersonal relationships, to our kids’ education, work, finances, public services, and even our human rights.
By highlighting the voices of ordinary people in places far removed from the cozy enclave of Silicon Valley, Code Dependent explores the impact of a set of powerful, flawed, and often-exploitative technologies on individuals, communities, and our wider society. Murgia exposes how AI can strip away our collective and individual sense of agency, and shatter our illusion of free will.
The ways in which algorithms and their effects are governed over the coming years will profoundly impact us all. Yet we can’t agree on a common path forward. We cannot decide what preferences and morals we want to encode in these entities―or what controls we may want to impose on them. And thus, we are collectively relinquishing our moral authority to machines.
In Code Dependent, Murgia not only sheds light on this chilling phenomenon, but also charts a path of resistance. AI is already changing what it means to be human, in ways large and small, and Murgia reveals what could happen if we fail to reclaim our humanity.
On the surface, a British poet, an UberEats courier in Pittsburgh, an Indian doctor, and a Chinese activist in exile have nothing in common. But they are in fact linked by a profound common experience―unexpected encounters with artificial intelligence. In Code Dependent, Murgia shows how automated systems are reshaping our lives all over the world, from technology that marks children as future criminals, to an app that is helping to give diagnoses to a remote tribal community.
AI has already infiltrated our day-to-day, through language-generating chatbots like ChatGPT and social media. But it’s also affecting us in more insidious ways. It touches everything from our interpersonal relationships, to our kids’ education, work, finances, public services, and even our human rights.
By highlighting the voices of ordinary people in places far removed from the cozy enclave of Silicon Valley, Code Dependent explores the impact of a set of powerful, flawed, and often-exploitative technologies on individuals, communities, and our wider society. Murgia exposes how AI can strip away our collective and individual sense of agency, and shatter our illusion of free will.
The ways in which algorithms and their effects are governed over the coming years will profoundly impact us all. Yet we can’t agree on a common path forward. We cannot decide what preferences and morals we want to encode in these entities―or what controls we may want to impose on them. And thus, we are collectively relinquishing our moral authority to machines.
In Code Dependent, Murgia not only sheds light on this chilling phenomenon, but also charts a path of resistance. AI is already changing what it means to be human, in ways large and small, and Murgia reveals what could happen if we fail to reclaim our humanity.
320 pages, Hardcover
First published March 21, 2024
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 187 reviews
February 29, 2024
Code Dependent is an investigation into the human side of AI: the ordinary, non-Silicon Valley people affected by and involved in areas relating to artificial intelligence. Journalist Madhumita Murgia tells the stories of people and communities impacted by AI from people labelling AI training data to people whose lives are changed by the decisions of AI systems or having deep fake videos made of them. Not everything is negative: there's also healthcare benefits, if only these technologies can be made freely available and in places that most need them. And as the book moves towards the ending, Murgia argues that these stories give us principles we should consider going forward to ensure AI works for ordinary people, not the other way around.
Notably, this book focuses on the human side of technology, rather than the technological side, and foregrounds the experiences of people and the complexity of AI's role. Even for areas that are often discussed in other books, such as predictive policing, this book offers examples I've not seen before and direct interviews with people affected, not something all technology books have. At the same time, it does provide an accessible description of a lot of AI-related technologies; for example, it's the first time I've seen—as someone who reads a lot about AI—a simple explanation of what a 'transformer' is and why it has been so important for generative AI. This combination makes Code Dependent useful both for people who do read tech books, but are interested in human stories rather than the same talking points, and people who are newer to the topic and would like a way in that focuses on people.
Sometimes I found the framing or phrasing a bit simplistic or lacking nuance and complexity, but generally, it was an accessible book about AI that tells stories rather than just facts, and takes areas we might have heard or read plenty about and shows specific people's lives in relation to these topics. The parting message about religions coming together to discuss AI was not where I expected the book to go and I'm not quite sure how I feel about that being the conclusion (given that high up people in a religion aren't really 'ordinary people' necessarily), but I do appreciate that this was a book about AI that had a lot of things I'd not read about before, or at least not in this form.
Given the current hype and fear around AI, Code Dependent is likely to become a much-talked-about book, offering people a different way in to reading and thinking about artificial intelligence and what it means for our lives.
Notably, this book focuses on the human side of technology, rather than the technological side, and foregrounds the experiences of people and the complexity of AI's role. Even for areas that are often discussed in other books, such as predictive policing, this book offers examples I've not seen before and direct interviews with people affected, not something all technology books have. At the same time, it does provide an accessible description of a lot of AI-related technologies; for example, it's the first time I've seen—as someone who reads a lot about AI—a simple explanation of what a 'transformer' is and why it has been so important for generative AI. This combination makes Code Dependent useful both for people who do read tech books, but are interested in human stories rather than the same talking points, and people who are newer to the topic and would like a way in that focuses on people.
Sometimes I found the framing or phrasing a bit simplistic or lacking nuance and complexity, but generally, it was an accessible book about AI that tells stories rather than just facts, and takes areas we might have heard or read plenty about and shows specific people's lives in relation to these topics. The parting message about religions coming together to discuss AI was not where I expected the book to go and I'm not quite sure how I feel about that being the conclusion (given that high up people in a religion aren't really 'ordinary people' necessarily), but I do appreciate that this was a book about AI that had a lot of things I'd not read about before, or at least not in this form.
Given the current hype and fear around AI, Code Dependent is likely to become a much-talked-about book, offering people a different way in to reading and thinking about artificial intelligence and what it means for our lives.
July 19, 2024
Both very informative and scary non fiction at the same time. The way AI effects people so negative and the terrible use of it is sad and terrifying.
July 7, 2024
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the eARC!
Full Rating: 4.75 stars rounded up
In "Code Dependent: Living in the Shadow of AI," Madhumita Murgia presents a meticulously researched and deeply unsettling exploration of how artificial intelligence is reshaping humanity and society. Murgia’s central question, “How is AI changing what it means to be human?” is both poignant and haunting. This book doesn’t just delve into the mechanics of AI but interrogates its broader implications, echoing the impact of past technological revolutions like industrialization and the advent of social media.
One of the most striking aspects of Murgia’s work is her ability to articulate complex concepts such as “surveillance capitalism” and “data colonialism” in an accessible and engaging manner. The idea that "if a product is free, you become the product" is a powerful reminder of how deeply entrenched we are in capitalist systems that commodify our very existence. The book's exploration of how AI perpetuates these systems is both eye-opening and alarming, drawing parallels to historical abuses and exploitations driven by profit motives.
Murgia’s exploration of the labor dynamics within the AI industry is particularly compelling. She vividly illustrates how the tech industry thrives on cheap labor, reinforcing capitalism’s relentless drive for cost minimization at the expense of human dignity and safety. The anecdotes about exploited laborers and the emotional toll on AI trainers—who suffer from nightmares and depression due to their work—are harrowing. These stories underscore the human cost of our technological advancements and the ethical implications of prioritizing profit over people.
The book’s examination of AI’s inherent biases is equally powerful. Murgia deftly exposes the fallacy of AI’s supposed objectivity, demonstrating how human prejudices are embedded within these systems. For instance, the discussion around facial recognition technology and its disproportionate impact on marginalized communities highlights the dangers of unchecked AI deployment. The chilling reality that AI could exacerbate existing inequalities and perpetuate systemic biases is a central theme throughout the book.
Throughout the book, Murgia does not shy away from the darker aspects of AI's impact on society. She examines how AI-driven surveillance affects culture and individuality, raising critical questions about privacy, autonomy, and the potential for a homogenized society. The surveillance of the Uyghur people, for example, serves as a grim illustration of how AI can be weaponized to control and oppress.
"Code Dependent" is a sobering yet essential read for anyone interested in understanding the profound and often troubling implications of AI. Murgia’s ability to weave together technical analysis, ethical concerns, and human stories makes this book a compelling call to action. As we hurtle towards an increasingly AI-driven future, Murgia reminds us that none of us are truly free until all of us are free, urging us to scrutinize and challenge the systems that shape our lives.
📖 Recommended For: Tech Enthusiasts Interested in Social Justice, Readers Who Appreciate Intersectional Activism, Fans of Investigative Journalism, Those Curious About the Intersection of Technology and Identity.
🔑 Key Themes: The Ethics of Artificial Intelligence, Intersectionality in Technology, Marginalized Experiences in Tech, Social Justice and Cyber Activism, Exploration of Identity in Digital Spaces, Surveillance Capitalism.
Full Rating: 4.75 stars rounded up
In "Code Dependent: Living in the Shadow of AI," Madhumita Murgia presents a meticulously researched and deeply unsettling exploration of how artificial intelligence is reshaping humanity and society. Murgia’s central question, “How is AI changing what it means to be human?” is both poignant and haunting. This book doesn’t just delve into the mechanics of AI but interrogates its broader implications, echoing the impact of past technological revolutions like industrialization and the advent of social media.
One of the most striking aspects of Murgia’s work is her ability to articulate complex concepts such as “surveillance capitalism” and “data colonialism” in an accessible and engaging manner. The idea that "if a product is free, you become the product" is a powerful reminder of how deeply entrenched we are in capitalist systems that commodify our very existence. The book's exploration of how AI perpetuates these systems is both eye-opening and alarming, drawing parallels to historical abuses and exploitations driven by profit motives.
Murgia’s exploration of the labor dynamics within the AI industry is particularly compelling. She vividly illustrates how the tech industry thrives on cheap labor, reinforcing capitalism’s relentless drive for cost minimization at the expense of human dignity and safety. The anecdotes about exploited laborers and the emotional toll on AI trainers—who suffer from nightmares and depression due to their work—are harrowing. These stories underscore the human cost of our technological advancements and the ethical implications of prioritizing profit over people.
The book’s examination of AI’s inherent biases is equally powerful. Murgia deftly exposes the fallacy of AI’s supposed objectivity, demonstrating how human prejudices are embedded within these systems. For instance, the discussion around facial recognition technology and its disproportionate impact on marginalized communities highlights the dangers of unchecked AI deployment. The chilling reality that AI could exacerbate existing inequalities and perpetuate systemic biases is a central theme throughout the book.
Throughout the book, Murgia does not shy away from the darker aspects of AI's impact on society. She examines how AI-driven surveillance affects culture and individuality, raising critical questions about privacy, autonomy, and the potential for a homogenized society. The surveillance of the Uyghur people, for example, serves as a grim illustration of how AI can be weaponized to control and oppress.
"Code Dependent" is a sobering yet essential read for anyone interested in understanding the profound and often troubling implications of AI. Murgia’s ability to weave together technical analysis, ethical concerns, and human stories makes this book a compelling call to action. As we hurtle towards an increasingly AI-driven future, Murgia reminds us that none of us are truly free until all of us are free, urging us to scrutinize and challenge the systems that shape our lives.
📖 Recommended For: Tech Enthusiasts Interested in Social Justice, Readers Who Appreciate Intersectional Activism, Fans of Investigative Journalism, Those Curious About the Intersection of Technology and Identity.
🔑 Key Themes: The Ethics of Artificial Intelligence, Intersectionality in Technology, Marginalized Experiences in Tech, Social Justice and Cyber Activism, Exploration of Identity in Digital Spaces, Surveillance Capitalism.
August 11, 2024
There has been an explosion of books about the impact of current AI/ML on all facets of society in the last ~5 years. Murgia's 2024 contribution, Code Dependent, focuses on the interface between humans and AI/ML technology, and she travels and reports extensively in the developing world and among immigrant communities in Western countries who try to eke out a living as part of the AI/ML workforce, i.e., the eponymous "code dependent." The first part of the book focuses on people in developing countries and refugees who work to train AI/ML through tasks like image recognition, which reminded me of Dr. Fei-Fei Li's ways of training her ImageNet database by employing college students, then Amazon mechanical turk (see The Worlds I See: Curiosity, Exploration, and Discovery at the Dawn of AI). Later sections of the book focus heavily on the gig economy and people who try to make a living wage working as independent contractors for companies like Uber, UberEats, etc. (this topic has been covered pretty extensively in books like James Bloodworth's Hired: Six Months Undercover in Low-Wage Britain, and is evocative of older, non-tech-focused books like Barbara Ehrenreich's Nickel and Dimed: On (Not) Getting By in America.
Further reading: hidden job sectors
Making It in America: The Almost Impossible Quest to Manufacture in the U.S.A. by Rachel Slade
To Dye For: How Toxic Fashion Is Making Us Sick--and How We Can Fight Back by Alden Wicker
Wasteland: The Secret World of Waste and the Urgent Search for a Cleaner Future by Oliver Franklin-Wallis
Ninety Percent of Everything: Inside Shipping, the Invisible Industry That Puts Clothes on Your Back, Gas in Your Car, and Food on Your Plate by Rose George
Arriving Today: From Factory to Front Door-Why Everything Has Changed About How and What We Buy by Christopher Mims
My statistics:
Book 169 for 2024
Book 1772 cumulatively
Further reading: hidden job sectors
Making It in America: The Almost Impossible Quest to Manufacture in the U.S.A. by Rachel Slade
To Dye For: How Toxic Fashion Is Making Us Sick--and How We Can Fight Back by Alden Wicker
Wasteland: The Secret World of Waste and the Urgent Search for a Cleaner Future by Oliver Franklin-Wallis
Ninety Percent of Everything: Inside Shipping, the Invisible Industry That Puts Clothes on Your Back, Gas in Your Car, and Food on Your Plate by Rose George
Arriving Today: From Factory to Front Door-Why Everything Has Changed About How and What We Buy by Christopher Mims
My statistics:
Book 169 for 2024
Book 1772 cumulatively
April 11, 2024
Shortlisted for the @womensprize for Non-Fiction, Code Dependent by the AI Editor of the Financial Times Madhumita Murgia is a remarkable book charting the rise of generative AI and its impacts on humanity, primarily through the prism of some of the world’s poorest communities.
Murgia meets gig workers, doctors, mothers, tech workers, teenage girls, activists and many others, most of them living and working in marginalised communities around the world, from Bulgaria to Kenya, China to the Netherlands, and shines a light on the insidious effects AI algorithms have on people who are already disenfranchised and poor.
Murgia masterfully navigates through complex concepts, making them accessible to the lay reader. Her insightful analysis sheds light on the profound impact of coding on our daily lives, and will make you think twice about the apps you use daily, the companies you patronise and the impact AI has on your daily life, your health and your children’s education.
With thought-provoking narratives and meticulous research, I found this a more profound and meaningful read than Doppelgänger by Naomi Klein, another shortlisted book that while also interesting, gets a little repetitive. There’s also nuance and balance here; while code is not neutral, it’s not all bad either.
I listened to Code Dependent on audiobook on Audible. There’s a bonus interview at the end with the author which is interesting; I found it much more optimistic about the future of humanity than I did the book itself! I’d be delighted to see this one scoop the big prize. 4.5/5⭐️
“While I remain actively optimistic about the social value of AI, I believe no matter how exceptional a tool is, it only has utility when it preserves human dignity”.
Murgia meets gig workers, doctors, mothers, tech workers, teenage girls, activists and many others, most of them living and working in marginalised communities around the world, from Bulgaria to Kenya, China to the Netherlands, and shines a light on the insidious effects AI algorithms have on people who are already disenfranchised and poor.
Murgia masterfully navigates through complex concepts, making them accessible to the lay reader. Her insightful analysis sheds light on the profound impact of coding on our daily lives, and will make you think twice about the apps you use daily, the companies you patronise and the impact AI has on your daily life, your health and your children’s education.
With thought-provoking narratives and meticulous research, I found this a more profound and meaningful read than Doppelgänger by Naomi Klein, another shortlisted book that while also interesting, gets a little repetitive. There’s also nuance and balance here; while code is not neutral, it’s not all bad either.
I listened to Code Dependent on audiobook on Audible. There’s a bonus interview at the end with the author which is interesting; I found it much more optimistic about the future of humanity than I did the book itself! I’d be delighted to see this one scoop the big prize. 4.5/5⭐️
“While I remain actively optimistic about the social value of AI, I believe no matter how exceptional a tool is, it only has utility when it preserves human dignity”.
October 2, 2024
Code Dependent explores the complex relationship between humans and the algorithms that increasingly govern our lives. The book breaks down how deeply technology has become intertwined with our daily routines, from social media feeds to job searches, and how our growing reliance on code shapes society in ways we may not fully understand.
The author's skill in explaining complex concepts in a clear, engaging manner is a standout feature of the book. This makes it accessible to all readers, regardless of their technical background. It’s a blend of informative and eye-opening, revealing how algorithms influence everything from the news we see to the opportunities we’re presented with. The book also thoughtfully examines the ethical implications of our increasing reliance on these systems, particularly how bias can be embedded and disproportionately affect marginalized groups.
One of the book’s strengths is its ability to balance technical depth with real-world examples, helping readers grasp algorithms' power and potential dangers. The writing is sharp and direct, often prompting reflection on how much control we’ve surrendered to the invisible systems that shape our choices and behaviors.
Overall, Code Dependent is a must-read for anyone interested in the intersection of technology, society, and ethics. It’s a timely and thought-provoking exploration of how our reliance on algorithms is shaping the future, for better or worse, and is particularly relevant to current societal issues.
I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
The author's skill in explaining complex concepts in a clear, engaging manner is a standout feature of the book. This makes it accessible to all readers, regardless of their technical background. It’s a blend of informative and eye-opening, revealing how algorithms influence everything from the news we see to the opportunities we’re presented with. The book also thoughtfully examines the ethical implications of our increasing reliance on these systems, particularly how bias can be embedded and disproportionately affect marginalized groups.
One of the book’s strengths is its ability to balance technical depth with real-world examples, helping readers grasp algorithms' power and potential dangers. The writing is sharp and direct, often prompting reflection on how much control we’ve surrendered to the invisible systems that shape our choices and behaviors.
Overall, Code Dependent is a must-read for anyone interested in the intersection of technology, society, and ethics. It’s a timely and thought-provoking exploration of how our reliance on algorithms is shaping the future, for better or worse, and is particularly relevant to current societal issues.
I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
July 14, 2024
Undoubtedly important research/journalism but I found neither the approach nor the style particularly engaging.
July 27, 2024
3,5*
Damn, AI (Dirbtinis intelektas) - man viena iš įdomiausių temų tiek fantastikos, tiek negrožinėse knygose. Tačiau šioji - ne apie dirbtinį intelektą, bet labiau apie žmones dirbančius prie jo. Nesakau, kad buvo neįdomu, bet tikrai ne tai ko tikėjausi.
Damn, AI (Dirbtinis intelektas) - man viena iš įdomiausių temų tiek fantastikos, tiek negrožinėse knygose. Tačiau šioji - ne apie dirbtinį intelektą, bet labiau apie žmones dirbančius prie jo. Nesakau, kad buvo neįdomu, bet tikrai ne tai ko tikėjausi.
March 21, 2024
Firstly, I'd like to express my gratitude to Henry Holt & Co for providing me with the ARC. I had been searching for a copy since it was longlisted for the Women's Prize for Nonfiction and out of all the books, this topic resonated with me a lot.
I've read approximately 50% up to Chapter 5 "Your Freedom" and have also read the "Epilogue" and now I have decided to DNF it.
Initially, the start was a little long-winded, with a broad narrative voice that irked me a little, but I didn't mind it that much and continued. However all of the chapters seemed to lack depth and nuance. The first chapter "Your Livelihood" was much better than the others in this aspect, providing a balanced view with pros and cons. The second chapter "Your Body" discussed the important topic of deepfake technology and how it's weaponized for promoting non-consensual pornographic content and the flimsiness of internet regulations. This chapter was interesting to read, especially because of the addition of victims' and activists' viewpoints, rather than solely focusing on commentary on the nature of internet regulation (which was discussed at quite a minute level). However, things went downhill in Chapter 3, where the author talked about the use of facial recognition. Not only did the author fail to frame the chapter in a critical point, but their points seemed to echo "facial recognition is always bad" too many times. It didn't sit well with me how someone who's supposed to be an "expert" simplified things too much. Coupled with the fact that the author cut off news on crucial parts and framed them in an ambiguous stance, such as the author's reporting on the 2021 Indian Republic Day farmers storming the Red Fort while destroying public property and hoisting the union's flag and Sikh religious flag. Chapters 4, "Your Health," and 5, "Your Freedom," were better than the earlier chapter but still seemed to echo the same sentiments and factual similarities with other chapters, along with dabbling in long and emotional narrative supposed to invoke empathy.
Then I peeked at the "Epilogue" where I had hoped the author would discuss some consolidated form of solutions which can supposedly be implemented to regulate AI from exploiting people, and darn it was quite the disappointment. It offered no real solution but propagated the same rhetoric the author always warned us against—wealthy big corps and individuals dictating the lives of marginalized people, but in the form of "more" corrupt religious institutions (which thrives on dogmatism, fearmongering, and economic corruption) signing a treaty for regulation of AI. Not to mention, the treaty seemed toothless and ornamental. This portion of the book seems like a huge disappointment. This would have been in the 3-4 star area if there weren't so many glaring faults in this book. I am rating it 2 stars out of 5 because this book did give me some, although a very tiny amount of food for thought and important factual information that I should care more about. You can read this book if you want a discussion only of the worst aspects of being dependent on AI.
I've read approximately 50% up to Chapter 5 "Your Freedom" and have also read the "Epilogue" and now I have decided to DNF it.
Initially, the start was a little long-winded, with a broad narrative voice that irked me a little, but I didn't mind it that much and continued. However all of the chapters seemed to lack depth and nuance. The first chapter "Your Livelihood" was much better than the others in this aspect, providing a balanced view with pros and cons. The second chapter "Your Body" discussed the important topic of deepfake technology and how it's weaponized for promoting non-consensual pornographic content and the flimsiness of internet regulations. This chapter was interesting to read, especially because of the addition of victims' and activists' viewpoints, rather than solely focusing on commentary on the nature of internet regulation (which was discussed at quite a minute level). However, things went downhill in Chapter 3, where the author talked about the use of facial recognition. Not only did the author fail to frame the chapter in a critical point, but their points seemed to echo "facial recognition is always bad" too many times. It didn't sit well with me how someone who's supposed to be an "expert" simplified things too much. Coupled with the fact that the author cut off news on crucial parts and framed them in an ambiguous stance, such as the author's reporting on the 2021 Indian Republic Day farmers storming the Red Fort while destroying public property and hoisting the union's flag and Sikh religious flag. Chapters 4, "Your Health," and 5, "Your Freedom," were better than the earlier chapter but still seemed to echo the same sentiments and factual similarities with other chapters, along with dabbling in long and emotional narrative supposed to invoke empathy.
Then I peeked at the "Epilogue" where I had hoped the author would discuss some consolidated form of solutions which can supposedly be implemented to regulate AI from exploiting people, and darn it was quite the disappointment. It offered no real solution but propagated the same rhetoric the author always warned us against—wealthy big corps and individuals dictating the lives of marginalized people, but in the form of "more" corrupt religious institutions (which thrives on dogmatism, fearmongering, and economic corruption) signing a treaty for regulation of AI. Not to mention, the treaty seemed toothless and ornamental. This portion of the book seems like a huge disappointment. This would have been in the 3-4 star area if there weren't so many glaring faults in this book. I am rating it 2 stars out of 5 because this book did give me some, although a very tiny amount of food for thought and important factual information that I should care more about. You can read this book if you want a discussion only of the worst aspects of being dependent on AI.
June 27, 2024
4.5 stars. Very good, learned a lot, would recommend 👍🏽
Read
May 20, 2024An accessible, yet gutting insight into one of the buzziest topics that has taken over the cultural zeitgeist (and, indeed, all of our lives). CODE DEPENDENT brings together a plethora of aspects of our lives and culture that AI influences, and, indeed, often damages and endangers.
July 22, 2024
My local library has bought the entire Women’s Prize for Non-Fiction shortlist, and I’m gradually reading my way through it. Madhumita Murgia's Code Dependent: Living in the Shadow of AI is currently second in my rankings, behind A Flat Place but ahead of the actual winner, Doppelgänger, which I felt would have been better as a long essay. As the title suggests, this one is a series of case studies of the impact of AI systems on people’s lives. At first, I found Code Dependent too journalistic and too familiar. The first three chapters showcase material I’d already seen in news reporting and on social media, dealing with ‘deepfakes’, face recognition apps, data-tagging jobs and the hideousness of getting workers in the Global South to filter out violent material from our social media feeds. All important issues, but I not only knew about them but felt they’d been addressed better in fiction, from Cory Doctorow’s prescient For The Win to Lisa Ko’s short story ‘The Contractors'. The last couple chapters, on legal and societal frameworks, were also too broad-brush for me, and I was frustrated by a throwaway sentence that referenced a much more interesting story that Murgia wrote for the Financial Times, on a woman who challenged a new algorithm the NHS uses to allocate livers for transplant (I imagine the FT didn’t allow her to reproduce it here, but such a shame!).
But the middle of the book is much stronger, with great chapters on how the Uber app screws over riders, how AI-powered diagnosis tools can improve healthcare in rural India, and how data collected from families living in Salta, in north-west Argentina, was supposed to improve outcomes for teenage mothers but ended up surveilling families pointlessly. I was most struck by Murgia’s case study of the ProKid machine learning system used in Amsterdam, that collates a list of young people supposedly at risk of committing crimes but, unsurprisingly, both over-represents teenagers of colour and labels them in a way that makes things worse. Not only did young people on the list feel set up for failure, the list was actually used by drug gangs to recruit ‘easy targets’. So much resonance here with the way young people were policed in England and Wales in the inter-war and post-war periods, when, even though there was no AI, their family circumstances and supposed vulnerabilities were used to determine what happened to them in the criminal justice system. So Code Dependent may be patchy, but it’s worth reading, and I was especially impressed by its global reach.
But the middle of the book is much stronger, with great chapters on how the Uber app screws over riders, how AI-powered diagnosis tools can improve healthcare in rural India, and how data collected from families living in Salta, in north-west Argentina, was supposed to improve outcomes for teenage mothers but ended up surveilling families pointlessly. I was most struck by Murgia’s case study of the ProKid machine learning system used in Amsterdam, that collates a list of young people supposedly at risk of committing crimes but, unsurprisingly, both over-represents teenagers of colour and labels them in a way that makes things worse. Not only did young people on the list feel set up for failure, the list was actually used by drug gangs to recruit ‘easy targets’. So much resonance here with the way young people were policed in England and Wales in the inter-war and post-war periods, when, even though there was no AI, their family circumstances and supposed vulnerabilities were used to determine what happened to them in the criminal justice system. So Code Dependent may be patchy, but it’s worth reading, and I was especially impressed by its global reach.
March 20, 2024
A stunner of a book that goes into the dangers of AI and how AI has become a digital Frankenstein's monster. Madhumita Murgia's "Code Dependent: Living in the Shadow of AI" divides the book into chapters that explore the effects of AI on underrepresented people: data miners, deep fake victims, shift workers, the disenfranchised, the poor, children, minority populations. etc. She methodically details how uses of AI have contributed to what she terms data colonialism--"human lives converted into continuous streams of data.” Corporations will often use the talents of "low-wage workers" to data mine and do the work needed for these AI programs to prosper. However, this is another form of exploitation as the companies hire vulnerable people (usually refugees or immigrants) who often have no other source of income. It’s maddening to read Murgia’s interviews with these workers, and how they are treated by the companies who profit so much from their work. As Murgia writes, “Data workers are the invaluable human links in the global AI supply chain.”
Murgia shows us how uber drivers, doctors, researchers, teenagers, and mothers struggle with and are often harmed by AI and its uses. We read about women who are stalked and harassed by men who use their images as part of pornographic deep fakes. Delivery drivers who are cheated and underpaid. Young girls in an impoverished part of Argentina who are scanned into databases because they are allegedly at risk for teenage pregnancy (a faulty and another cruel use of AI). We see young immigrant boys treated as criminals by programs that use AI. Again and again, Murgia highlights how AI has become so prevalent in our society, and how it has become a tool for corporations. As Murgia writes in the book, corporations now have more power than governments.
If there's a tiny drawback to the book, it's that the epilogue is a bit too long, as it makes points Murgia already covered. By the end of the epilogue, Murgia has made her case and she leaves us with ten important questions. The book is a warning to all of us who don’t pay attention to the dangers because we think it won’t impact us. It has and it will. This book is essential reading for today’s world.
Murgia shows us how uber drivers, doctors, researchers, teenagers, and mothers struggle with and are often harmed by AI and its uses. We read about women who are stalked and harassed by men who use their images as part of pornographic deep fakes. Delivery drivers who are cheated and underpaid. Young girls in an impoverished part of Argentina who are scanned into databases because they are allegedly at risk for teenage pregnancy (a faulty and another cruel use of AI). We see young immigrant boys treated as criminals by programs that use AI. Again and again, Murgia highlights how AI has become so prevalent in our society, and how it has become a tool for corporations. As Murgia writes in the book, corporations now have more power than governments.
If there's a tiny drawback to the book, it's that the epilogue is a bit too long, as it makes points Murgia already covered. By the end of the epilogue, Murgia has made her case and she leaves us with ten important questions. The book is a warning to all of us who don’t pay attention to the dangers because we think it won’t impact us. It has and it will. This book is essential reading for today’s world.
May 8, 2024
Absolutely fascinating insight into the construction and implementation of AI from the viewpoint of the citizens building it, and those largely negatively affected by it (as opposed to the more common Silicon Valley reporting we see). It gave me a greater understanding of the components of AI I hadn’t considered previously, as well as the vast scale of data colonisation at play.
May 11, 2024
Hmm it’s interesting to learn about the behind the scenes human aspect of AI, but you could swap AI with any recent technology and have the same book.
April 28, 2024
4.5 ⭐️ Mindblowing! And threw me into feelings of existential dread. This is short-listed for the Women's Prize for Non-Fiction and I can see why!
SYNOPSIS:
Code Dependent explores how AI is subtly changing our lives, from healthcare to education, raising concerns about its growing influence and potential threat to our free will. The book highlights real-life stories to showcase the impact of AI on everyday people and urges us to take control before it's too late.
MY THOUGHTS:
- This gripped me immediately Murgia's ability to focus on the human side and impact of AI in a VERY accessible way.
- The impact on data labourers, app-based workers, content moderators the the inequity that AI and algorithms have on their working lives: gamifying their work and the prize is their livelihood!
- I consumed this book in 24hrs it was so absorbing and easy to read given the topic
- It felt like a non-fiction version of Black Mirror
- The fact that AI has the potential to erode our sense of free will and what it means to be human!
- It terrified me and filled me with despair BUT there is a glimmer of hope in that to truly ensure we don't sleepwalk into a world of AI without any control we have to demand that it's built with values and ethics, honesty, justice and transparency.
HIGHLY RECOMMEND!
SYNOPSIS:
Code Dependent explores how AI is subtly changing our lives, from healthcare to education, raising concerns about its growing influence and potential threat to our free will. The book highlights real-life stories to showcase the impact of AI on everyday people and urges us to take control before it's too late.
MY THOUGHTS:
- This gripped me immediately Murgia's ability to focus on the human side and impact of AI in a VERY accessible way.
- The impact on data labourers, app-based workers, content moderators the the inequity that AI and algorithms have on their working lives: gamifying their work and the prize is their livelihood!
- I consumed this book in 24hrs it was so absorbing and easy to read given the topic
- It felt like a non-fiction version of Black Mirror
- The fact that AI has the potential to erode our sense of free will and what it means to be human!
- It terrified me and filled me with despair BUT there is a glimmer of hope in that to truly ensure we don't sleepwalk into a world of AI without any control we have to demand that it's built with values and ethics, honesty, justice and transparency.
HIGHLY RECOMMEND!
October 2, 2024
Čisto drugačno branje od pričakovanega. Pričakovala sem (zdaj ne vem več zakaj, saj je z naslova jasno), da mi bo knjiga dala poljudnoznanstveni vpogled v moderno umetno inteligenco, a sem dobila iz nje ��isto nekaj drugega. Tista senca v naslovu pove vse.
Avtorica na podlagi izkušenj ljudi po celem svetu pokaže senčne strani eksplozivno hitrega razvoja aplikacij umetne inteligence (AI) na vse več področjih.
Prekarni delavci v tretjem svetu za zanemarljiv denar "učijo" AI - bolj ko bodo pri tem uspešni, prej bodo ob službo. Drugi prekarni delavci delajo za mastodonte kot npr uber, a se o vseh praktičnih stvareh od razporeditve dela do pritožb pri napačnem (seveda prenizkem) plačilu lahko "pogovarjajo" samo s chatboti, ne s pravimi ljudmi.
Deep fake obdelava slik je dostopna vsakem in veliko je žrtev deep fake maščevalne pornografije.
Veliko AI aplikacij je nepreverjenih ali pa naučenih na neprimernih podatkih (npr preveč homogeni ali premajhna količina podatkov za učenje), kar lahko rezultira v napačnih diagnozah, napačnih aretacijah in obsodbi, neuporabnosti tehnologije. To se, predvidljivo, dogaja predvsem osebam, ki nimajo bele barve kože.
Kje je osebna svoboda, kdo lahko uporabi tvoje osebne podatke in komu jih lahko da naprej?
Zakonodaja ne zmore napredovati tako hitro kot se tehnologija razvija. Vse več smo odvisni od tehnoloških mastodontov.
Toplo priporočam!
Avtorica na podlagi izkušenj ljudi po celem svetu pokaže senčne strani eksplozivno hitrega razvoja aplikacij umetne inteligence (AI) na vse več področjih.
Prekarni delavci v tretjem svetu za zanemarljiv denar "učijo" AI - bolj ko bodo pri tem uspešni, prej bodo ob službo. Drugi prekarni delavci delajo za mastodonte kot npr uber, a se o vseh praktičnih stvareh od razporeditve dela do pritožb pri napačnem (seveda prenizkem) plačilu lahko "pogovarjajo" samo s chatboti, ne s pravimi ljudmi.
Deep fake obdelava slik je dostopna vsakem in veliko je žrtev deep fake maščevalne pornografije.
Veliko AI aplikacij je nepreverjenih ali pa naučenih na neprimernih podatkih (npr preveč homogeni ali premajhna količina podatkov za učenje), kar lahko rezultira v napačnih diagnozah, napačnih aretacijah in obsodbi, neuporabnosti tehnologije. To se, predvidljivo, dogaja predvsem osebam, ki nimajo bele barve kože.
Kje je osebna svoboda, kdo lahko uporabi tvoje osebne podatke in komu jih lahko da naprej?
Zakonodaja ne zmore napredovati tako hitro kot se tehnologija razvija. Vse več smo odvisni od tehnoloških mastodontov.
Toplo priporočam!
July 18, 2024
Interesting as an introduction to issues that arise from contemporary technology, but not really about AI. It's a journalistic or story-by-story account of people who've been screwed over by the lack of legal accountability in the tech industry. Very accessible and interesting if you're not aware of these things by now. But personally, I have a deep interest in the subject and found it to be too simplistic and kind of already outdated from what I prefer. It's still good and I would still recommend it BUT I would first recommend my favorite books on AI so far—Kate Crawford's Atlas of AI and Matteo Pasquinelli's The Eye of the Master—for more in-depth and technical analyses of AI.
October 28, 2024
This is a fascinating book. Rather than being technical, it is about how the increasing use of imperfect technology impacts peoples' lives. Each chapter focuses on a different topic. We meet victims of deep fake revenge porn, Uber Eats drivers who are shorted money, and workers in developing countries who are paid a few dollars a day to be content moderators for social media platforms, often at the expense of their emotional well being. The author makes a convincing case that as it is now AI benefits the wealthy and discriminates against people of color. Essential and alarming.
April 17, 2024
(ab) An accessible and interesting intro to AI. I had little insights before into social issues with AI like the exploitative labor markets. Eye opening and unsettling, but also felt quite grounded.
October 14, 2024
Fantastic reporting with fascinating interviews. Asks some thought provoking questions about who AI benefits, and who it exploits. Great writing, read this in a couple of days.
April 2, 2024
It seems so obvious that States all over the world should already legislate about AI so that it remains a great tool and not a threat, yet this book was written to show how far we are from reaching a peaceful ground. I must say that I learned a lot about aspects in which AI is used in very weird and precise ways in countries such as Kenya or Argentina, where it controls more than just some aspects of the people’s work, but has a hold on bodies and spirits. The essay feels very documented, and as a reader I felt very challenged to look around me and watch how little things are changing in the direction of technology to the detriment of (obviously) the poorer classes. On a day-to-day basis, we often hear about how artists’ existences are threatened by AI since it feeds itself on pre-existing works, we hear about Chat GPT, deepfake, or we read sci-fi where robots get too much of a conscience. But here, the examples are more mundane and diverse, impacting the daily life of a plethora of workers. I found the part about health the most dreadful, about how AI has made its ways into medical exams and diagnosis, I believe patients should definitely be treated by fleshed out doctors. However, I know that Madhumita Murgia is an expert and I will not question her work, but I thought it lacked a bit of nuance and positivity; just regarding health again, AI seem to do wonders in some domains such as cellular biology. I believe that this essay is a great milestone in the discussion about such a current topic, but maybe too pessimistic to be considered the only way to tackle it. It is a good instructive read, but maybe overly incriminating?
May 31, 2024
With everything that’s happening these days about advances in AI, ChatGPT and more, I knew I had to read this book. But what the author presented here is so much more. The implications of using black box AIs to diagnose adverse health conditions, the poor data laborers suffering from PTSD due to the incessant exposure to violent content, the uber drivers and gig workers not knowing how they are paid and why they may get suspended, or crime prediction AIs being used to put marginalized people further on lists and marking them for adverse outcomes, deepfake technologies, and extreme surveillance - while the author and many others are optimistic about the opportunities AI provides in various fields, the human stories necessitate the need to look at the consequences and impacts on lives, rights, and society as a whole from a moral and ethical POV.
This is a very accessible book about AI which explains technical stuff in a simple and nuanced manner, while going more into details about the humans directly impacted by it, positively or negatively. It’s immensely readable, very impactful, and leaves us with many questions to ponder as we go about our lives using various AI applications and supporting big corporations without thinking about their outsize societal impacts. Definitely recommend this, whether you are an avid reader about these emerging technologies or someone who just wants to learn about it all.
This is a very accessible book about AI which explains technical stuff in a simple and nuanced manner, while going more into details about the humans directly impacted by it, positively or negatively. It’s immensely readable, very impactful, and leaves us with many questions to ponder as we go about our lives using various AI applications and supporting big corporations without thinking about their outsize societal impacts. Definitely recommend this, whether you are an avid reader about these emerging technologies or someone who just wants to learn about it all.
May 14, 2024
Before anything else, Madhumita Murgia deserves all the praise for her ability put very complex issues in layman's terms. I wouldn't have needed my background in IT to enjoy or gain value from this book. If you know how to text someone, take a picture of them, and surf the web - I think you'll get through this just fine; if nothing else, from context.
Breaking down the ways in which AI is sneakily learning nearly everything, you're guided through the industry and warned of its possibilities. The warnings don't feel biased though, they're conclusions you've come to on your own as you learn more - it's just nice to have someone else to put them into words to eloquently.
I highly recommend this for anyone interested in IT, AI, Big Tech, social media, e-commerce & our relationship to tech.
(Thank you NetGalley & publisher for ARC Audiobook)
Breaking down the ways in which AI is sneakily learning nearly everything, you're guided through the industry and warned of its possibilities. The warnings don't feel biased though, they're conclusions you've come to on your own as you learn more - it's just nice to have someone else to put them into words to eloquently.
I highly recommend this for anyone interested in IT, AI, Big Tech, social media, e-commerce & our relationship to tech.
(Thank you NetGalley & publisher for ARC Audiobook)
October 5, 2024
(4.75 stars) A really fascinating look at how AI directly impacts human lives. I feel like most other books of this genre focus on how this products and algorithms work, and while that's also interesting, I appreciated how this book focused on the stories of real people. I'm an AI hater/skeptic for the most part and I like books like this that help me learn more to support my opinions in ways I hadn't considered before.
July 16, 2024
(4.5)
I constantly refuse to become more technology-dependent, but it's hard not to given how convenient some of it is. I realize I rely on it more than I think. I don't own a smart watch but I sell used clothes on Facebook. I benefit from it, and so do millions of people around the world. So, while I might not be biggest AI enthusiast, I cannot deny its capabilities. But I also cannot deny the danger it poses—and has already caused.
This book sheds light on AI in a highly informative and eye-opening way. The outstanding work Madhumita Murgia put into it is evident. She went and interviewed people, did research, and put everything into pages so we could sit and read it—while perhaps asking Alexa to turn on the lights and thus making it a truly AI-immersive reading experience.
The content leans more on the negative side of AI, which I consider a good thing because the truth is we cannot talk about AI without talking about implications, ethics, and even consent. Because AI is oh, so much more than chatGPT. Behind AI, there are humans, and I don't mean CEOs.
There are two main things I took away from this book. First, that a lot of AI systems are built on human exploitation. I quote as this is very well explained in chapter 1: "𝘋𝘢𝘵𝘢 𝘸𝘰𝘳𝘬𝘦𝘳𝘴 𝘢𝘳𝘦 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘪𝘯𝘷𝘢𝘭𝘶𝘢𝘣𝘭𝘦 𝘩𝘶𝘮𝘢𝘯 𝘭𝘪𝘯𝘬𝘴 𝘪𝘯 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘨𝘭𝘰𝘣𝘢𝘭 𝘈𝘐 𝘴𝘶𝘱𝘱𝘭𝘺 𝘤𝘩𝘢𝘪𝘯. 𝘛𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘸𝘰𝘳𝘬𝘧𝘰𝘳𝘤𝘦 𝘪𝘴 𝘭𝘢𝘳𝘨𝘦𝘭𝘺 𝘧𝘳𝘢𝘨𝘮𝘦𝘯𝘵𝘦𝘥 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘮𝘢𝘥𝘦 𝘶𝘱 𝘰𝘧 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘮𝘰𝘴𝘵 𝘱𝘳𝘦𝘤𝘢𝘳𝘪𝘰𝘶𝘴 𝘸𝘰𝘳𝘬𝘦𝘳𝘴 𝘪𝘯 𝘴𝘰𝘤𝘪𝘦𝘵𝘺. […] 𝘛𝘩𝘦𝘪𝘳 𝘭𝘢𝘣𝘰𝘳 𝘪𝘴 𝘭𝘢𝘳𝘨𝘦𝘭𝘺 𝘨𝘩𝘰𝘴𝘵𝘸𝘰𝘳𝘬 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘺 𝘳𝘦𝘮𝘢𝘪𝘯 𝘢𝘯 𝘶𝘯𝘥𝘦𝘳𝘷𝘢𝘭𝘶𝘦𝘥 𝘣𝘦𝘥𝘳𝘰𝘤𝘬 𝘰𝘧 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘈𝘐 𝘪𝘯𝘥𝘶𝘴𝘵𝘳𝘺."
Second, that humans are the reason AI has gone wrong. "𝘛𝘩𝘦 𝘱𝘳𝘰𝘣𝘭𝘦𝘮 𝘵𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘸𝘦 𝘩𝘢𝘷𝘦 𝘪𝘵'𝘴 𝘯𝘰𝘵 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘢𝘭𝘨𝘰𝘳𝘪𝘵𝘩𝘮𝘴, 𝘣𝘶𝘵 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘩𝘶𝘮𝘢𝘯𝘴." I was especially appalled at everything that was revealed about Uber. Truly disgraceful. And don't get me started on deepfakes.
Access to data and invasion to our bodies and identities is something that has been abused with AI technology (notice I used "with" and not "by". The party at fault here is humans). It is progressing faster than regulations and legislation can and that is a danger I believe we are unable to fully comprehend or measure right now.
There are so many systemic problems that we as a society need not ignore when it comes to developing and improving AI systems. What are AI-powered oximeters worth if the data that fuels them is discriminatory and the results inaccurate for people with dark skin? Whether you use AI in your life or not, getting informed is key. And using it responsibly even more. Artificial intelligence has, is, and will continue to affect us all.
On a slightly less serious tone, something I personally loved was that Ted Chiang and The Story of Your Life—my favorite short story—were mentioned near the end! The author talks about Chiang's 2023 essay: 𝘊𝘩𝘢𝘵𝘎𝘗𝘛 𝘐𝘴 𝘢 𝘉𝘭𝘶𝘳𝘳𝘺 𝘑𝘗𝘌𝘎 𝘰𝘧 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘞𝘦𝘣, which I went on to read afterward and found really educational and interesting.
I constantly refuse to become more technology-dependent, but it's hard not to given how convenient some of it is. I realize I rely on it more than I think. I don't own a smart watch but I sell used clothes on Facebook. I benefit from it, and so do millions of people around the world. So, while I might not be biggest AI enthusiast, I cannot deny its capabilities. But I also cannot deny the danger it poses—and has already caused.
This book sheds light on AI in a highly informative and eye-opening way. The outstanding work Madhumita Murgia put into it is evident. She went and interviewed people, did research, and put everything into pages so we could sit and read it—while perhaps asking Alexa to turn on the lights and thus making it a truly AI-immersive reading experience.
The content leans more on the negative side of AI, which I consider a good thing because the truth is we cannot talk about AI without talking about implications, ethics, and even consent. Because AI is oh, so much more than chatGPT. Behind AI, there are humans, and I don't mean CEOs.
There are two main things I took away from this book. First, that a lot of AI systems are built on human exploitation. I quote as this is very well explained in chapter 1: "𝘋𝘢𝘵𝘢 𝘸𝘰𝘳𝘬𝘦𝘳𝘴 𝘢𝘳𝘦 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘪𝘯𝘷𝘢𝘭𝘶𝘢𝘣𝘭𝘦 𝘩𝘶𝘮𝘢𝘯 𝘭𝘪𝘯𝘬𝘴 𝘪𝘯 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘨𝘭𝘰𝘣𝘢𝘭 𝘈𝘐 𝘴𝘶𝘱𝘱𝘭𝘺 𝘤𝘩𝘢𝘪𝘯. 𝘛𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘸𝘰𝘳𝘬𝘧𝘰𝘳𝘤𝘦 𝘪𝘴 𝘭𝘢𝘳𝘨𝘦𝘭𝘺 𝘧𝘳𝘢𝘨𝘮𝘦𝘯𝘵𝘦𝘥 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘮𝘢𝘥𝘦 𝘶𝘱 𝘰𝘧 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘮𝘰𝘴𝘵 𝘱𝘳𝘦𝘤𝘢𝘳𝘪𝘰𝘶𝘴 𝘸𝘰𝘳𝘬𝘦𝘳𝘴 𝘪𝘯 𝘴𝘰𝘤𝘪𝘦𝘵𝘺. […] 𝘛𝘩𝘦𝘪𝘳 𝘭𝘢𝘣𝘰𝘳 𝘪𝘴 𝘭𝘢𝘳𝘨𝘦𝘭𝘺 𝘨𝘩𝘰𝘴𝘵𝘸𝘰𝘳𝘬 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘺 𝘳𝘦𝘮𝘢𝘪𝘯 𝘢𝘯 𝘶𝘯𝘥𝘦𝘳𝘷𝘢𝘭𝘶𝘦𝘥 𝘣𝘦𝘥𝘳𝘰𝘤𝘬 𝘰𝘧 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘈𝘐 𝘪𝘯𝘥𝘶𝘴𝘵𝘳𝘺."
Second, that humans are the reason AI has gone wrong. "𝘛𝘩𝘦 𝘱𝘳𝘰𝘣𝘭𝘦𝘮 𝘵𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘸𝘦 𝘩𝘢𝘷𝘦 𝘪𝘵'𝘴 𝘯𝘰𝘵 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘢𝘭𝘨𝘰𝘳𝘪𝘵𝘩𝘮𝘴, 𝘣𝘶𝘵 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘩𝘶𝘮𝘢𝘯𝘴." I was especially appalled at everything that was revealed about Uber. Truly disgraceful. And don't get me started on deepfakes.
Access to data and invasion to our bodies and identities is something that has been abused with AI technology (notice I used "with" and not "by". The party at fault here is humans). It is progressing faster than regulations and legislation can and that is a danger I believe we are unable to fully comprehend or measure right now.
There are so many systemic problems that we as a society need not ignore when it comes to developing and improving AI systems. What are AI-powered oximeters worth if the data that fuels them is discriminatory and the results inaccurate for people with dark skin? Whether you use AI in your life or not, getting informed is key. And using it responsibly even more. Artificial intelligence has, is, and will continue to affect us all.
On a slightly less serious tone, something I personally loved was that Ted Chiang and The Story of Your Life—my favorite short story—were mentioned near the end! The author talks about Chiang's 2023 essay: 𝘊𝘩𝘢𝘵𝘎𝘗𝘛 𝘐𝘴 𝘢 𝘉𝘭𝘶𝘳𝘳𝘺 𝘑𝘗𝘌𝘎 𝘰𝘧 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘞𝘦𝘣, which I went on to read afterward and found really educational and interesting.
August 3, 2024
*‘There were people who were proud that they moved fast and broke things,’ [Microsoft President] Smith told me. ‘But eventually, we realized that we don’t really want so many things to be broken.’*
Murgia has presented a tightly organised book, which delves into this moment around Artificial Intelligence computer systems. In chapters with second person titles like "Your Body", "Your Rights" she presents the stories of dozens of people working on, working with or affected by AI. These range from the workers scattered in low-income countries training technology they don't get to access, to delivery drivers, to parents of young people deemed algorithmically to be at risk, and subsequently brought under surveillance, to technologists, to human rights activists in China.
Her focus is tightly on harm and risk of harm, but within this she gives voice to the ambitions and hopes for this technology as well. This is most evident perhaps around health care, where she speaks with doctors deploying AI to reach communities unable to afford to travel to specialist care, and to speed up triage in crisis situations. Murgia only occasionally explictly discusses how the social framework around technology shapes - again, most explictly in pointing out how companies use healthcare costs as inputs for understanding health, for example, or in discussing how the relentless drive for efficiency coded into apps over-rides more human concerns - but the analysis is often implicit.
Overall, Murgia paints a picture of a world in which existing harms are perpetuated at best, and turbo charged at worst. The removal of human intervention in daily decision making enables an increasingly brutal outcome for many, one with little chance of having empathy intervene. It isn't that the humans are less flawed, but that the tech takes bias and a drive for profit as the guiding principles, and takes that to places we didn't easily see.
I have already begun recommending this book widely. Not only because it is up to date, and nicely focused on contemporary technology (many of the best books on automated decision making focus on older tech), but because the human-centered approach of the book makes it easy to understand and relate to. Which is in itself, a critique of an excitement about the promise of doing the opposite.
Murgia has presented a tightly organised book, which delves into this moment around Artificial Intelligence computer systems. In chapters with second person titles like "Your Body", "Your Rights" she presents the stories of dozens of people working on, working with or affected by AI. These range from the workers scattered in low-income countries training technology they don't get to access, to delivery drivers, to parents of young people deemed algorithmically to be at risk, and subsequently brought under surveillance, to technologists, to human rights activists in China.
Her focus is tightly on harm and risk of harm, but within this she gives voice to the ambitions and hopes for this technology as well. This is most evident perhaps around health care, where she speaks with doctors deploying AI to reach communities unable to afford to travel to specialist care, and to speed up triage in crisis situations. Murgia only occasionally explictly discusses how the social framework around technology shapes - again, most explictly in pointing out how companies use healthcare costs as inputs for understanding health, for example, or in discussing how the relentless drive for efficiency coded into apps over-rides more human concerns - but the analysis is often implicit.
Overall, Murgia paints a picture of a world in which existing harms are perpetuated at best, and turbo charged at worst. The removal of human intervention in daily decision making enables an increasingly brutal outcome for many, one with little chance of having empathy intervene. It isn't that the humans are less flawed, but that the tech takes bias and a drive for profit as the guiding principles, and takes that to places we didn't easily see.
I have already begun recommending this book widely. Not only because it is up to date, and nicely focused on contemporary technology (many of the best books on automated decision making focus on older tech), but because the human-centered approach of the book makes it easy to understand and relate to. Which is in itself, a critique of an excitement about the promise of doing the opposite.
August 6, 2024
I was excited for this one from the start and it did not disappoint. A knowledgeable tech writer’s exploration of “AI” (I especially love the resigned acceptance that we’re stuck with that term now despite its inaccuracy toward the end) that should be required reading for anyone who tosses the term around or believes anything they read in the “summary” on Google or Facebook.
The book’s purpose isn’t to criticize applied statistics in any and all forms - it’s to point out that there is nothing magical or sentient about Artificial Intelligence, that it amplifies the biases of any algorithm’s creators, and that the implications of its applications have generally not been fully explored prior to it’s implementation. The case studies are eye opening even for those of us who have previously questioned practices such as stealing and regurgitating artistic and literary works, the shift to the gig economy etc.
Seriously - whatever you think you know about AI, read this. Then make your parents and/or kids read it.
Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC.
The book’s purpose isn’t to criticize applied statistics in any and all forms - it’s to point out that there is nothing magical or sentient about Artificial Intelligence, that it amplifies the biases of any algorithm’s creators, and that the implications of its applications have generally not been fully explored prior to it’s implementation. The case studies are eye opening even for those of us who have previously questioned practices such as stealing and regurgitating artistic and literary works, the shift to the gig economy etc.
Seriously - whatever you think you know about AI, read this. Then make your parents and/or kids read it.
Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 187 reviews