In 2022, a woman attending a concert in New York City, accompanied by her young daughter, was refused entry. Facial recognition technology had identified her as an attorney pursuing active litigation against the company that owned the venue. ‘Computer says no.’ Even schools are using ‘smart cameras’ to monitor for potentially bored, distracted, or untrustworthy students.
Is this an acceptable use of AI? Who gets to decide? Would you like a say? Author Verity Harding believes that ‘you don’t need to be an AI expert to have an informed opinion about AI.’
AI is undoubtedly in the spirit of the age. I’ve been intrigued to read and review several recently published AI-related books. So, how is this one different? Apart from outlining AI’s potential and pitfalls, an intelligently disillusioned Harding explores humanity’s shadow self (greed, meanness, lust, power …) framed and supported by a few captivating history lessons.
The author parallels other complex technological advancements (1960s space race, 1970s test-tube babies, 1990s/2000s internet) and their fundamental and profound impact on humanity. Commercial, political, and/or ideological factors are often in the mix, and the human factor is sometimes forgotten in the rush.
AI Needs You concludes with a 1964 speech from Dr Martin Luther King: ‘We are learning to fly the air like birds and swim the sea like fish, but we have not learned the simple art of living together as brothers.’
AI Needs You emphasises the timely responses needed to guide this established, yet still rapidly emerging, technology. AI is a complex technology requiring global trust, governance, and cooperation. It’s a long way from ChatGPT!
Reviewed by Mark Parry
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Politics and public policy. Verity Harding is Founder of Formation Advisory Ltd, a bespoke technology consultancy firm, and Director of the AI & Geopolitics Project at Cambridge University’s Bennett Institute for Public Policy.
Her debut book ‘AI Needs You’ was published in March 2024.
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