"Is the human race really racing down the road to its own extinction through the engineering of AIs that are smarter than we are? AI expert Zarkadakis explores this and related questions with remarkable ingenuity, clarity and breadth, weaving together a tapestry of material drawn from a range of disciplines—not only computer science but history, philosophy, psychology and neuroscience."

– Scientific American Mind

"A delightfully lucid combination of the history, philosophy, and science behind thinking machines."

– Kirkus Reviews

"Is the human race really racing down the road to its own extinction through the engineering of AIs that are smarter than we are? AI expert Zarkadakis explores this and related questions with remarkable ingenuity, clarity and breadth, weaving together a tapestry of material drawn from a range of disciplines—not only computer science but history, philosophy, psychology and neuroscience."

– Scientific American Mind

"A mindful and historical look at the hope, hype and reality of artificial consciousness."

– Stuart Hameroff, author of CONSCIOUSNESS AND THE UNIVERSE

"Zarkadakis rigorously and richly weaves together narrative threads on technology, philosophy, and literature to provide a fascinating history of AI. The most comprehensive history of AI for our digital age. With a rare combination of literary know-how and scientific knowledge, he demonstrates a keen ability to convey scientific, philosophical, and technical expertise."

– Publishers Weekly

"George Zarkadakis knows AI. Unlike a lot of the people writing and thinking about it, he has real cultural breadth, too."

– AEON Magazine

"Fascinating and rich. Interweaves sci-fi visions with explorations of the philosophy, technology and deep history of artificial super-intelligence."

– The Financial Times