Exeter College alumnus publishes new book exploring the future of artificial intelligence

Exeter College alumnus John MacCormick (1996, DPhil Engineering Science) has published a new book examining one of the defining questions of the AI era: can computers think like humans? 

Thinking AI: How Artificial Intelligence Emulates Human Understanding, published by Princeton University Press, introduces readers to the ideas underpinning modern artificial intelligence without requiring any prior technical knowledge. Drawing on decades of research and teaching in computer science, Dr MacCormick explains the two key technologies driving today’s AI revolution – deep neural networks and reinforcement learning – before exploring how these systems power applications such as image recognition and large language models. 

The book goes beyond explaining how AI works to consider its wider philosophical implications. Building on advances in the field, Dr MacCormick asks what it means for a computer program to think and examines the similarities and differences between artificial intelligence and human cognition. While arguing that computers may ultimately be capable of emulating any aspect of human thought, he concludes that human life, relationships and society retain their meaning and purpose. 

The publication comes at a time of growing public interest in artificial intelligence. Earlier this year, Dr MacCormick’s guest essay, The next Darwin moment has arrived, was published on the main opinion page of The Washington Post and featured on the newspaper’s online front page. In the article, he argues that rapid advances in AI may prompt a fundamental rethinking of what makes human intelligence unique. 

Thinking AI: How Artificial Intelligence Emulates Human Understanding is available to purchase from Blackwells and other booksellers.