Written by a linguist and a sociologist, this book contrasts what so-called "artificial intelligence" or AI is and the hype surrounding it. In the process, they provide a litany of much-needed criticisms of the technology, little heard in the mainstream as developers and tech try to cram it into everything. An important book that needs to be read by the majority of people. Highly recommended.

THE AI CON by Emily M. Bender and Alex Hanna offers a unique perspective on "How to Fight Big Tech's Hype and Create the Future We Want." In fact, Kirkus describes this book as "a refreshingly contrarian take on AI" and includes it in a list of "5 Essential New Books That Challenge Big Tech" (Careless People, on my TBR pile, is also included). Bender is a Linguistics professor at the University of Washington and Hanna, a former member of the ethical AI team at Google, is now Director of Research at the Distributed AI Research Institute (DAIR); both have been critical about promises made and potential societal impact of AI. They have crafted this book with the following goal: "preventing harm from AI hype. [They believe] When people can spot AI hype, they make better decisions about how and when to use automation, and they are in a better position to advocate for policies to constrain the use of automation by others." Bender and Hanna raise issues such as surveillance (including facial recognition often coupled with biased algorithms) or devaluing creativity, and they point to the importance of more discussion and evaluation. They focus on the application of automation in the areas of decision-making, classification, recommendation, transcription/translation, and text/image generation. Bender and Hanna provide an entire chapter containing questions which "we can each ask, whenever we are in a position to make decisions about automation or influence others who are doing so." Prompting more thoughtful consideration, they certainly ignited my desire to investigate further with sources such as The Conversation, Journalist’s Resource, CNET’s ai atlas, and think tanks like Brookings Institution or reports from CQ Researcher (citing AI Now Institute, Center for Democracy & Technology, MIT, Pew Research Center, and The Stanford Institute for Human Centered AI, as just a few examples). As an aide to critical thinking and accountability, roughly a third of THE AI CON is devoted to notes and an index. Interested readers may also want to explore their podcast: Mystery AI Hype Theater 3000.
4.5 stars overall

What a satisfying take down of genAI and the hype surrounding it! So funny and so timely, this book reflects on every role AI tools are being made to play in our lives and all the ways it is already failing.

"The AI Con: How to Fight Big Tech's Hype and Create the Future We Want" by Emily M. Bender and Alex Hanna is a critical examination of the artificial intelligence landscape, focusing on debunking the myths and hype surrounding AI technology. The book addresses several key points:

Debunking AI Hype:
Bender and Hanna make it clear that many claims about AI capabilities are overblown. They argue that AI systems, particularly large language models, are not intelligent in the human sense but are rather sophisticated pattern matchers or, as they've famously put it in their "Stochastic Parrots" paper, machines that mimic human language without true understanding.

Ethical and Societal Implications:
The authors delve into the real-world implications of AI hype, including data theft, surveillance capitalism, and the devaluation of human creativity. They highlight how AI hype often serves to mask profit-driven motives of big tech companies, potentially leading to exploitation of workers and consumers.
Educational and Policy Recommendations:
A significant portion of the book is dedicated to providing readers with tools to recognize AI hype, offering insights on how to critically assess AI claims in media, workplace, and policy-making. They advocate for a shift in how AI is discussed and regulated, pushing for transparency, accountability, and a focus on actual societal benefits rather than mere technological advancement.
Case Studies and Examples: Throughout the book, Bender and Hanna use real-world examples and case studies to illustrate their points, from the energy consumption of data centers to the biases inherent in AI systems, providing a grounded perspective on AI's impact.

Analysis:

Strengths:
One of the book's strongest aspects is its clarity and accessibility. Despite dealing with complex topics, the writing is incisive and engaging, making it digestible for those outside the field of AI. The authors' backgrounds in linguistics and sociology lend a unique perspective that enriches the discussion on AI's societal impact. Their critique is well-researched and backed by their extensive experience and public scholarship.
Weaknesses:
While the book excellently deconstructs AI hype, some readers might find the tone occasionally too skeptical, potentially overshadowing the nuanced discussions needed for some AI applications that do bring benefits. Additionally, while the book offers critiques and deconstruction, it could expand more on actionable steps beyond awareness for individuals and policymakers to counteract AI misuse.

Conclusion:

"The AI Con" is an essential read for anyone interested in understanding the broader implications of AI beyond the tech hype. Emily M. Bender and Alex Hanna successfully strip away the veneer of AI achievements to reveal the underlying mechanisms, ethical concerns, and the socio-economic impacts. This book doesn't just critique; it educates, empowering readers to question the AI narrative they encounter daily. For those looking to engage with AI from a critical standpoint, this book serves as both a guide and a call to action for creating a future where technology serves humanity with integrity and transparency.

This review draws on information from various sources discussing the work of Bender and Hanna, including their podcast "Mystery AI Hype Theater 3000," interviews, articles, and book descriptions available online.