Books on artificial intelligence fall into two broad categories: the explanatory and the exclamatory ... But few take the time to introduce us to the surprisingly small group of colorful characters who created this transformational field. This is what Cade Metz’s Genius Makers: The Mavericks Who Brought AI to Google, Facebook, and the World sets out to do ... Readers will come away with a clear understanding of how we got to where we are today ... People are left out, and contributions are overlooked. But this will bother only those who know the broad outlines of the story already. For everyone else, Genius Makers puts meat on the bones of AI and illuminates many of the most important faces. For those who know the names, the book is filled with enlightening anecdotes that add texture and drama to the story ... Metz foreshadows the growing and potentially dangerous power of AI to fool human perception. But Genius Makers does an admirable job of staying out of the algorithmic weeds or drifting into hyperbole, the twin sins of most books on AI. Metz tells a story that touches all of our lives today. While there will be many people who will feel left out the book’s strength is in its portrayals of the personalities behind the science and of the serendipity of scientific discovery.
Read Full Review >>