These Strange New Minds: How AI Learned to Talk and What It Means

“for readers fascinated by the future of AI, this book is an eye-opening exploration of a revolution unfolding before our eyes.”

What does it mean when machines start to think? In These Strange New Minds, Christopher Summerfield—an Oxford cognitive neuroscientist and AI researcher—tackles this question head-on, offering a deep dive into the intersection of human intelligence and artificial intelligence.

Summerfield presents a sweeping history of AI, from its origins in the 1950s to the rise of deep neural networks and models like ChatGPT, which racked up 100 million users in just eight weeks. He argues that AI represents a different kind of intelligence—one that challenges our assumptions about reasoning, knowledge, and even consciousness. Yet, despite AI's rapid advancement, we still don’t fully understand what it means for humans to think.

The book is packed with fascinating insights, such as the idea that humans alone have historically generated knowledge—until now. As AI evolves into a form of "automated knowledge," we must ask: Should AI systems have political views? Could they become expert coders? Should robots have rights? And what happens when people fall in love with chatbots?

While These Strange New Minds is undeniably thought-provoking, it's not always an easy read. Summerfield weaves in elements of humour and pop culture, but the subject matter remains dense. Those unfamiliar with neuroscience or machine learning may find some sections challenging. However, for readers fascinated by the future of AI, this book is an eye-opening exploration of a revolution unfolding before our eyes.