What do you think?
Rate this book
Artificial Intelligence: An Illustrated History: From Medieval Robots to Neural Networks
An illustrated journey through the past, present, and future of artificial intelligence, from popular science author Cliff Pickover.
“A enjoyable diversion to read cover to cover, follow along common strands, or dip into for random bits.� �Booklist
From medieval robots and Boolean algebra to facial recognition, artificial neural networks, and adversarial patches, this fascinating history takes readers on a vast tour through the world of artificial intelligence. Award-winning author Clifford A. Pickover (The Math Book, The Physics Book, Death & the Afterlife) explores the historic and current applications of AI in such diverse fields as computing, medicine, popular culture, mythology, and philosophy, and considers the enduring threat to humanity should AI grow out of control. Across 100 illustrated entries, Pickover provides an entertaining and informative look into when artificial intelligence began, how it developed, where it’s going, and what it means for the future of human-machine interaction.
“A enjoyable diversion to read cover to cover, follow along common strands, or dip into for random bits.� �Booklist
From medieval robots and Boolean algebra to facial recognition, artificial neural networks, and adversarial patches, this fascinating history takes readers on a vast tour through the world of artificial intelligence. Award-winning author Clifford A. Pickover (The Math Book, The Physics Book, Death & the Afterlife) explores the historic and current applications of AI in such diverse fields as computing, medicine, popular culture, mythology, and philosophy, and considers the enduring threat to humanity should AI grow out of control. Across 100 illustrated entries, Pickover provides an entertaining and informative look into when artificial intelligence began, how it developed, where it’s going, and what it means for the future of human-machine interaction.
211 pages, Hardcover
Published October 1, 2019
101 people are currently reading
291 people want to read
About the author
Clifford A. Pickover
82books232followersClifford Alan Pickover is an American author, editor, and columnist in the fields of science, mathematics, science fiction, innovation, and creativity. For many years, he was employed at the IBM Thomas J. Watson Research Center in Yorktown, New York, where he was editor-in-chief of the IBM Journal of Research and Development. He has been granted more than 700 U.S. patents, is an elected Fellow for the Committee for Skeptical Inquiry, and is author of more than 50 books, translated into more than a dozen languages.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 19 of 19 reviews
October 19, 2020
The author seems cautious but fair when addressing topics, even if the treatments are brief. Some technophiles will find anything other than open-armed welcome of every A.I. development to be the mark of a technophobe. Pickover is cautious, yes, but also delightfully curious about artificial intelligence and its many precursors and offshoots.
He draws on various fields of study: games, medicine, robotics, astrophysics, etc. to briefly tour through the development and implications of AI.
Quite a number of the illustrations aren't directly related, or of, the topic of that pair of pages. That minor quibble aside, the book is an enjoyable read and a point of departure for numerous paths into sci-fi, history, and philosophy reading.
He draws on various fields of study: games, medicine, robotics, astrophysics, etc. to briefly tour through the development and implications of AI.
Quite a number of the illustrations aren't directly related, or of, the topic of that pair of pages. That minor quibble aside, the book is an enjoyable read and a point of departure for numerous paths into sci-fi, history, and philosophy reading.
August 12, 2021
A solid overview of the history of A.I. and the inventions and ideas leading up to it. It's a great read for people curious about the subject as it touches on nearly all of the popular subcategories of AI. The book gives one page to each historical event and due to that brevity there are many ideas that aren't explored as deeply as they might deserve. The point, though, seems to be a light introduction to the ideas and concepts in AI throughout history and it does that very well!
February 12, 2020
Best part of the book is the short bibliography on each page pertaining to the item of AI presented which is in chronological order. The short illustrated format makes for a quick read encompassing the historical development of AI. A good launching point for delving into any particular aspect of the field which may be of special interest.
August 17, 2020
Science as religion would be better called Scientism. Pickover is a preacher for Scientism and he will use any Wikipedia page to show how a wooden toy somehow is part of Artificial Intelligence, which he seems to fear, but that makes sense because he does not get it. So why Artificial Intelligence of all subjects? Because Pickover hopes it will sell based on the keywords thrown in.
November 11, 2022
Buen repaso sobre la historia de la robótica y la inteligencia artificial, te hace ver lo grandes que están siendo los avances tecnológicos últimamente y hace reflexionar sobre como estaremos en 100-200 años, lograremos cosas que ahora son impensables?
“It has been easier to build a computer program to guide a spacecraft to Mars than to build a robot able to navigate over rough terrain with anything like the skill of a billy goat.�
"The key, of course, is not to let artificial intelligence run wild and out of sight, but to already be cyborgs and part machines ourselves, so that we can plug right into it wherever it leads.�
"What other laws might we add to the Asimov set? Should robots never pretend they are human? Should robots “know� that they are robots? Should they always be able to explain why they acted as they have? What if a terrorist used multiple robots to harm people, without each robot knowing the entire plan, and thus not violating the First Law?"
"If AI methods and models are already being used to help determine who gets hired for a job, who we date, who makes parole, who is likely to develop a psychiatric disorder, and how to autonomously drive cars and drones, then how much control over our lives will we give to AIs of the future?"
“It has been easier to build a computer program to guide a spacecraft to Mars than to build a robot able to navigate over rough terrain with anything like the skill of a billy goat.�
"The key, of course, is not to let artificial intelligence run wild and out of sight, but to already be cyborgs and part machines ourselves, so that we can plug right into it wherever it leads.�
"What other laws might we add to the Asimov set? Should robots never pretend they are human? Should robots “know� that they are robots? Should they always be able to explain why they acted as they have? What if a terrorist used multiple robots to harm people, without each robot knowing the entire plan, and thus not violating the First Law?"
"If AI methods and models are already being used to help determine who gets hired for a job, who we date, who makes parole, who is likely to develop a psychiatric disorder, and how to autonomously drive cars and drones, then how much control over our lives will we give to AIs of the future?"
September 13, 2022
I kinda like how the authors managed to put everything in a choronological order not only the history of modern A.I (as we know of today) but also the history behind the logic that founded the very core of Artificial intellegence (tic-tac-toe, aristotle's organon, and even the abacus).
If you're interested in understanding the A.I field thoroughly without getting technical and don't know where to start, this is definitely a good book to read (it sparks my interest in A.I, maybe it would do the same to you).
The only reason I gave it 4 stars instead of 5 because I think even though it contains lots of chapters but most of them are briefly explained. If it were just a bit longer, it would definitely give it 5 stars.
If you're interested in understanding the A.I field thoroughly without getting technical and don't know where to start, this is definitely a good book to read (it sparks my interest in A.I, maybe it would do the same to you).
The only reason I gave it 4 stars instead of 5 because I think even though it contains lots of chapters but most of them are briefly explained. If it were just a bit longer, it would definitely give it 5 stars.
December 31, 2023
Clifford Pickover has a knack for explaining scientific concept in easily-readable form, as evidenced by his many books in this domain. His book on the history of artificial intelligence is no exception. True to his style, Pickover describes major systems and milestones in the history of AI, with each of the ~100 concise entries accompanied by a full-page illustration.
All important developments, be they fictional ("The Terminator") or real (the Rumba robotic vacuum cleaner), receive a mention. The book can be read from cover to cover like a sumptuous meal or be explored by snacking on the entries that look inviting.
All important developments, be they fictional ("The Terminator") or real (the Rumba robotic vacuum cleaner), receive a mention. The book can be read from cover to cover like a sumptuous meal or be explored by snacking on the entries that look inviting.
March 11, 2025
This book compiles an interesting and thought provoking list of achievements relatable to artificial intelligence. I especially enjoyed the latest 100 years, and was surprised with the first definition of artificial intelligence, by which a calender could be considered artificial intelligence! I admit that part of my rating might be because I expected to hear some specific stories (for example related to war and image recognition algorithms, which were not contemplated)... but still was positively impressed with this book! Give it a go.
December 12, 2024
There is some good information, but a lot of information isn't really AI but more in the fields of automation. It may be somewhat adjacent in that it research that leads to the current AI, but much of this book isn't really on topic. A lot of the information is written in a manner that doesn't make it come to life but just some cold, hard facts you can say. Decent, though, for some intellectual growth.
March 11, 2023
Очень бегло прошлись по истории предшественников ИИ, причём средневековые Големы явно автора интересуют больше, чем более современные Тамагочи. Частые указания пальцами на этические вопросы, но никакого обсуждения, думаю, автору хочется ненавязчиво вызвать мысли у читателя, но получается истошное школьное «что вы вынесли из этого произведения».
June 18, 2024
Well compiled list of historical to modern versions of AI. It also reasons what future iterations of the same AI might be like too. However, I feel the intellect and interest of the author brings the overall experience of the book down. He over-details uninteresting and unnecessary things whilst not having the space to elaborate on the implications or benefits.
February 1, 2023
A good collection of the most important development and milestones in the field of AI. This book is not a serious book on AI technologies, but offers a very good landscape of the major AI ideas and developments.
December 7, 2024
Краткая история искусственного интеллекта без углубления в алгоритмы, но с интересными древними и вымышленными примерами. Хорошо справляется с задачей быстрого и поверхностного изучения хронологии развития ИИ.
January 11, 2025
This is a nice coffee table book which talks about the history of AI from its earliest beginnings. It's a light read to get a glimpse of what's coming, but with a knowledge cutoff at 2019, so basically no AI last revolution yet (GPT era). Read mostly for curiosity, not knowledge.
January 24, 2021
Great coffee table style book
June 5, 2023
Fun read in digestible bits of two pages or less. Recommended, especially for lay people interested in the topic without technical obstacles of more detailed aspects.
September 5, 2023
Light but ok
August 24, 2024
Nice illustrated History of AI, a bit too popular for my taste. Unfortunately published shortly before the advent of large language models.
May 14, 2022
An insightful book with a lot of enlightening facts. Given how fast things can change in this field, the author should update it within a decade or so, if not earlier.
Displaying 1 - 19 of 19 reviews
Can't find what you're looking for?
Get help and learn more about the design.