Artificial Intelligence and Life in the Fourth Industrial Revolution

This book considers the core theoretical concepts central to understanding Artificial Intelligence (AI) and the Fourth Industrial Revolution, providing a clear view of what machines can achieve and what sets them apart from humans. Adopting a balance between an overly critical view fuelled by fear and an uncritical openness based upon the potential benefits, the author argues human uniqueness isn't inherently threatened by these new technologies, but this does not mean we should use them without restrictions or care. Importantly, he considers the ways human uniqueness will have to evolve as more of our current tasks become automated, and the potential for great improvements in the human condition this might bring as we are forced to shift our attention towards the tasks only we can fully achieve. This accessible, thorough analysis offers anyone interested in the positive and negative implications of AI, autonomous robots, machine-learning, and other technologies of the Fourth Industrial Revolution to enjoy a broad, accessible, and theoretically sound overview of what the new technologies mean to us as humans.

Jean-François Caron is Associate Professor at the Department of Political Science and International Relations at Nazarbayev University and Research Fellow at the Institute of Political Science and Administration at the University of Opole.

Chapter 1: The power of artificial intelligence: what it can achieve and its limitations Chapter 2: The dream of a democratic revival Chapter 3: Come with me if you want to live Chapter 4: An unbiased world Chapter 5: Whose Fault is it? Chapter 6: Beyond human Chapter 7: The future of education Chapter 8: (Dis)connecting people: love and care Chapter 9: A jobless world Chapter 10: The Battleground of the Fourth Industrial Revolution