Don’t get left behind in the technological age! Check out our guide to the 10 best cybernetics of computer science.
Table of Contents
Cybernetics of Computer Science: Amazon.com
Cybernetics is the science of communication and control in animals and machines. The term was first coined in 1948 by Norbert Wiener, a mathematician and engineer who recognized that electronic circuits and living organisms share fundamental similarities. His work laid the foundation for the field of artificial intelligence and robotics.
In the simplest terms, cybernetics is the study of how systems communicate and control themselves. This includes everything from simple feedback loops to complex networks of interconnected devices. Cybernetic systems can be found in nature (e.g. the immune system) and man-made (e.g. the internet).
At its core, cybernetics is about understanding how information flows through systems. This knowledge can be used to design more efficient systems, or to improve existing ones. For example, cybernetic principles have been used to develop better control systems for airplanes and factories.
Wiener’s work was largely theoretical, but it paved the way for practical applications in the field of engineering. In the 1950s and 1960s, cybernetics was used to develop new control systems for missiles and spacecraft. Today, cybernetic principles are applied in a wide range of fields, including medicine, economics, and even sociology.
The field of computer science owes a debt of gratitude to cybernetics. Many of the concepts and techniques developed by early cyberneticists have been essential to the development of modern computing. For example, Wiener’s work on feedback loops led directly to the development of error-correcting code, which is used in nearly all digital devices today.
Cybernetics has also had a profound impact on artificial intelligence (AI). Early AI researchers were heavily influenced by Wiener’s work, and many of the concepts they developed (such as learning by trial and error) have their roots in cybernetics. Today, AI is an integral part of many cybernetic systems, such as self-driving cars and intelligent search engines.
The study of cybernetics is an interdisciplinary field that draws from a variety of disciplines, including mathematics, engineering, psychology, biology, and sociology. Cyberneticists strive to understand how information flows through complex systems, and how these systems can be designed to function more efficiently.
Introduction to Cybernetics: Amazon.com
In 1948, Norbert Wiener’s cybernetics defined a new interdisciplinary field devoted to the study of control and communication in the animal and machine. It quickly became one of the hottest topics of the postwar era, with applications in everything from mechanical engineering to child development to brain research. In this classic work, first published in 1961, Wiener himself surveys the state of cybernetics at midcentury, providing an overview of such topics as feedback mechanisms, data processing, automata theory, artificial intelligence, and more. He also discusses the ethical implications of cybernetic technology and its potential impact on human evolution.
A half century later, cybernetics is more relevant than ever, as our society grows ever more reliant on computers and other forms of automation. This new edition features a new introduction by David Mindell that places Wiener’s work in the context of 21st-century concerns about the increasing power and sophistication of artificial intelligence. It is essential reading for anyone who wants to understand the origins and future of one of the most important scientific fields of our time.
The Society of Mind: Amazon.com
In Marvin Minsky’s “Society of Mind” he tackles the daunting task of nothing less than trying to explain the workings of the human mind. In so doing, he weaves together a fascinating tapestry of ideas from many disparate sources: computer science, psychology, philosophy, mathematics, biology, and more. The result is a work that is both erudite and accessible, with something to offer everyone from the layperson to the expert.
Minsky begins by asking what it means to say that something is alive. He then argues that there is no fundamental distinction between living and non-living things, and that therefore it should be possible to build a machine that is intelligent. He goes on to explore the nature of intelligence, and introduces the idea of “the society of mind”: the notion that the mind is not a single entity, but rather a society of many different agents working together.
Each of these agents is itself quite simple, but the overall behavior of the system is complex and intelligent. This is analogous to the way in which a group of people can behave in a way that is much more intelligent than any one individual. Minsky then applies this idea to various aspects of mental life, such as perception, memory, language, and problem solving.
The book is full of intriguing ideas, and Minsky writes in a clear and engaging style. Highly recommended for anyone who is interested in artificial intelligence or the workings of the mind.
The Singularity Is Near: When Humans Transcend Biology: Amazon.com
In The Singularity Is Near, Ray Kurzweil presents a stunning and provocative vision of the future in which the ever-accelerating pace of technical innovation culminates in a moment when humans are transformed by technology in a way that is unprecedented in history. This singularity, he argues, will be triggered by the creation of intelligent machines that can improve upon their own designs, resulting in exponential growth in computing power and eventual human-machine merger.
Kurzweil is not content merely to sketch this exciting future; he backs up his predictions with detailed analysis and rigorous argument. His book is thus far more than a work of science fiction; it is a thoughtful and penetrating examination of the most important trend in our history.
The implications of the coming singularity are staggering. Once machines become smarter than us, they will be able to design even better machines, and the cycle will accelerate until humans are left behind. As Kurzweil notes, this process has already begun: computers now design many of the chips used in other computers, and software programs routinely write other software programs. What happens to humanity when the machines we have created surpass us in intelligence?
This is not a new question, but Kurzweil’s treatment is original and provocative. His book is certain to generate much debate about the future of humanity and the role of technology in our lives.
How to Create a Mind: The Secret of Human Thought Revealed: Amazon.com
How to Create a Mind: The Secret of Human Thought Revealed is a book about the mind, artificial intelligence, and the future of humanity by Ray Kurzweil. In the book, Kurzweil discusses how the mind works and how it can be replicated by machines. He also explores the implications of this technology on the future of humanity.
The book starts with a brief history of artificial intelligence (AI) and the various approaches that have been taken to create intelligent machines. Kurzweil then discusses the brain and how it works. He describes how the brain is organized into regions, each of which performs different functions. He also describes how the brain learns and remembers information.
Kurzweil then turns to artificial intelligence. He discusses how AI has been used to create chess-playing computers, medical diagnosis systems, and other expert systems. He also describes how AI can be used to create robots that can walk and talk like humans. Kurzweil describes how he believes AI will eventually be able to replicate all of the functions of the human mind.
Kurzweil then turns to the future of humanity. He discusses how AI will eventually surpass human intelligence, leading to a “singularity” in which machines will be smarter than humans. He also describes how this event will change the course of history. Kurzweil ends the book with a discussion of the ethical implications of creating intelligent machines.
The Future of the Mind: The Scientific Quest to Understand, Enhance, and Empower the Mind: Amazon.com
The Future of the Mind is a book about the scientific quest to understand, enhance, and empower the mind. The book explores the latest findings in neuroscience and shows how these discoveries are leading to new ways of thinking about the mind. The book also discusses the ethical implications of these findings and argues that we need to be careful about how we use this new knowledge.
The Future of the Mind is written by Michio Kaku, a professor of theoretical physics at the City College of New York. Kaku is also the author of several popular books about science, including The Physics of the Impossible and The Elegant Universe.
The Second Machine Age: Work, Progress, and Prosperity in a Time of Brilliant Technologies: Amazon.com
The Second Machine Age: Work, Progress, and Prosperity in a Time of Brilliant Technologies is about the extraordinary possibilities that arise when we combine powerful new technologies with the immense brainpower of humans. It’s also about how to make sure those possibilities are realized for everyone, not just a fortunate few.
In this book, Erik Brynjolfsson and Andrew McAfee—two thinkers at the forefront of their field—reveal the forces driving the reinvention of our lives and our economy. As the full impact of digital technologies is felt, we will realize vast improvements in our ability to communicate, travel, and work. Machines will not only create more wealth than ever before; they will also enable us to reallocate resources to create even more value—to cure disease, reduce poverty, and protect our environment.
Yet as these dramatic changes unfold, there is no guarantee that everyone will benefit. While some jobs will disappear, others will grow and change; some workers will find themselves better off than ever before while others may struggle to keep up. The key question facing us today is whether technological progress will lead to widespread prosperity or increased inequality and polarization.
Brynjolfsson and McAfee argue that it doesn’t have to be one or the other—we can have both. But only if we seize the opportunities created by these new technologies and ensure that everyone has a fair share in their benefits. With insight and passion, The Second Machine Age charts a thrilling road map for our future.
Superintelligence: Paths, Dangers, Strategies: Amazon.com
Superintelligence: Paths, Dangers, Strategies is a book about the future of AI and its implications for humanity. The author, Nick Bostrom, is a professor at the University of Oxford and the director of the Future of Humanity Institute. In this book, he explores the different paths that AI could take in the future, the dangers it poses to humanity, and the strategies we can use to avoid these dangers.
Bostrom begins by discussing the history of AI and how it has evolved over time. He then goes on to discuss the different paths that AI could take in the future. He discusses three possible futures for AI: a future where AI is beneficial to humanity, a future where AI is harmful to humanity, and a future where AI is both beneficial and harmful to humanity. He then goes on to discuss the risks posed by AI, such as the risk of superhuman intelligence, the risk of job loss, and the risk of existential risk. Finally, he discusses the strategies we can use to avoid these risks, such as regulating AI development, developing friendly AI, and increasing public engagement with AI.
Overall, Superintelligence: Paths, Dangers, Strategies is a well-written and thought-provoking book about the future of AI. It is sure to interest anyone who is interested in the topic of AI or the future of technology.
Life 3.0: Being Human in the Age of Artificial Intelligence: Amazon.com
A.I. is reshaping our world in ways that we’re only just beginning to understand. In Life 3.0, Max Tegmark, one of the world’s leading A.I. researchers, takes us on a tour of this transformative technology, explaining how it will impact every aspect of our lives—from work and play to crime and warfare. He shares his vision for how A.I. can be used to enhance humans rather than replace them, and offers a guide for navigating the challenges posed by this powerful technology.
The future is already here—A.I. is transforming our world in ways that we’re only just beginning to understand. In Life 3.0, one of the world’s leading A.I. researchers, Max Tegmark, takes us on a tour of this transformative technology, explaining how it will impact every aspect of our lives—from work and play to crime and warfare.
A.I. is not just another technology; it’s a fundamental change in the way we live and work. And as with any fundamental change, there are risks as well as opportunities. Tegmark explores both sides of the A.I. coin, sharing his vision for how A.I. can be used to enhance humans rather than replace them, and offering a guide for navigating the challenges posed by this powerful technology.
Life 3.0 is essential reading for anyone who wants to understand the impact of A.I.—and what we can do to shape its future.
Homo Deus: A Brief History of Tomorrow: Amazon.com
Homo Deus: A Brief History of Tomorrow is a book by Yuval Noah Harari, first published in 2015. It examines the future of humanity and argues that the 21st century will be marked by a shift from the political and economic domination of Homo sapiens to the technological domination of Homo Deus. The book has been praised for its insights into future trends and its warnings about the dangers of technology. It has also been criticized for its lack of concrete solutions to the problems it identifies.
The book begins with a brief history of Homo sapiens, charting our development from hunter-gatherers to farmers to modern industrialists. Harari then argues that we are now on the brink of a new era, in which we will be dominated by Homo Deus, a new species of superintelligent beings created through artificial intelligence and genetic engineering. He goes on to explore the implications of this shift, and the challenges we will face in a world where technology can control and even predict our behavior.
The book has generated a great deal of debate, with some reviewers praising its vision and others dismissing it as alarmist. However, there is no doubt that it is a thought-provoking work that raises important questions about our future.