Artificial Intelligence: A Guide for Thinking Humans
Melanie Mitchell · first published 2019 · ISBN 9780374257835
Mitchell traces AI's evolution from early symbolic approaches (getting computers to follow logical rules) to today's neural networks, which instead learn patterns from data. She explains what modern AI systems can and cannot do, and addresses the gap between hype and reality. The book grounds itself in actual technical achievements while remaining skeptical of breathless predictions.
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The Best Books About Artificial Intelligence
This is the go-to primer for understanding how and why AI developed differently than 1950s researchers imagined. Mitchell writes from decades inside the field and structures the book around real capabilities, not speculation, making it essential first reading.