The Fourth Age, Byron Reese
The Fourth Age, Byron Reese
18 Rating(s)
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The Fourth Age
Smart Robots, Conscious Computers, and the Future of Humanity

Author: Byron Reese

Narrator: Danny Campbell

Unabridged: 11 hr 4 min

Format: Digital Audiobook Download

Published: 04/24/2018


Synopsis

As we approach a great turning point in history when technology is poised to redefine what it means to be human, The Fourth Age offers fascinating insight into AI, robotics, and their extraordinary implications for our species. “If you only read just one book about the AI revolution, make it this one” (John Mackey, cofounder and CEO, Whole Foods Market).

In The Fourth Age, Byron Reese makes the case that technology has reshaped humanity just three times in history: 100,000 years ago, we harnessed fire, which led to language; 10,000 years ago, we developed agriculture, which led to cities and warfare; 5,000 years ago, we invented the wheel and writing, which lead to the nation state.

We are now on the doorstep of a fourth change brought about by two technologies: AI and robotics. “Timely, highly informative, and certainly optimistic” (Booklist), The Fourth Age provides an essential background on how we got to this point, and how—rather than what—we should think about the topics we’ll soon all be facing: machine consciousness, automation, changes in employment, creative computers, radical life extension, artificial life, AI ethics, the future of warfare, superintelligence, and the implications of extreme prosperity.

By asking questions like “Are you a machine?” and “Could a computer feel anything?”, Reese leads you through a discussion along the cutting edge in robotics and AI, and provides a framework by which we can all understand, discuss, and act on the issues of the Fourth Age and how they’ll transform humanity.

About Byron Reese

Byron Reese is the CEO and publisher of the technology research company Gigaom, and the founder of several high-tech companies. He has spent the better part of his life exploring the interplay of technology with human history. Reese has obtained or has pending patents in disciplines as varied as crowdsourcing, content creation, and psychographics. The websites he has launched, which cover the intersection of technology, business, science, and history, have together received over a billion visitors. He is the author of the acclaimed book, Infinite Progress. He lives in Austin, Texas.


Reviews

Goodreads review by Edward on October 16, 2018

Excellent Read. The focus of his book is around Artificial Intelligence (AI) and more specifically around AGI -Artificial General Intelligence i.e the ability of Computers to Learn, to apply existing knowledge to new unique scenarios and to derive a new resolution not previously known to them. The a......more

Goodreads review by Becky on May 29, 2019

This book was awesome. Very philosophical, but not very opinionated. I appreciate when an author can present a deep and developed exploration of ideas without inserting himself into it. This book is a great intro to the philosophy behind AI and the future of work, especially as we stand on the preci......more

Goodreads review by Izabela on August 11, 2020

It is a nice book to read if you want to have understanding what are concerns related do further AI development. There are multiple well-asked questions, that encourage the contemplation. However it's not the life-changing book, or if a reader already has some knowledge about the topic, they won't f......more

Goodreads review by Petr on November 25, 2024

Originál vyšel 2022. Takže historický úvod super, ale odhady o AI už trochu mimo, jakož i postřehy, že válka už nehrozí, protože se nikomu nevyplatí.......more

Goodreads review by Paul on September 02, 2018

Compelling, terrifying, and ironically optimistic, all at once.......more