Review by Terry Winograd

There is a great deal of speculation today about the potential for a "singularity" in which superintelligence emerges, and there is a great deal of debate about what will happen as a result. The scientific and philosophical arguments for and against these speculations are less interesting than the fact that many serious people take this as a topic of interest. In reading the diverse and well-chosen perspectives in this volume, we can get insights into the underlying views of rationality, human nature, scientific and social progress, and of hopes and fears for the future. The editors have provided a valuable overview of the singularity debate, and the style of articles with responses provides the reader with entry into the dialog. There is much to be gained from reading them and understanding the interpretations they represent. I am happy to recommend the book both for artificial intelligence researchers and for the more general public interested in the future of computing.

Terry Winograd, Professor of Computer Science, Stanford University