8 results for "Computers"

Algorithms for the people: democracy in the age of AI

Simons, Josh
"Artificial intelligence and machine learning are reshaping our world. Police forces use them to decide where to send police officers, judges to decide whom to release on bail, welfare agencies to decide which children are at risk of abuse, and Facebook and Google to rank content and distribute ads. In these spheres, and many others, powerful prediction tools are changing how decisions are made, narrowing opportunities for the exercise of judgment, empathy, and creativity. In Algorithms for the People, Josh Simons flips the narrative about how we govern these technologies. Instead of examining the impact of technology on democracy, he explores how to put democracy at the heart of AI governance. Drawing on his experience as a research fellow at Harvard University, a visiting research scientist on Facebook’s Responsible AI team, and a policy advisor to the UK’s Labour Party, Simons gets under the hood of predictive technologies, offering an accessible account of how they work, why they matter, and how to regulate the institutions that build and use them. He argues that prediction is political: human choices about how to design and use predictive tools shape their effects. Approaching predictive technologies through the lens of political theory casts new light on how democracies should govern political choices made outside the sphere of representative politics. Showing the connection between technology regulation and democratic reform, Simons argues that we must go beyond conventional theorizing of AI ethics to wrestle with fundamental moral and political questions about how the governance of technology can support the flourishing of democracy." -- Publisher's description.
Princeton University Press 2025-07-08 303 pages

The human use of human beings: cybernetics and society

Wiener, Norbert
"In 1950, mathematician-philosopher Norbert Wiener ended this classic book on the place of machines in society with a warning: "We shall never receive the right answers to our questions unless we ask the right questions.... The hour is very late, and the choice of good and evil knocks at our door." Wiener, the founder of the science of cybernetics--the study of the relationship between computers and the human nervous system--was widely mislabeled as an advocate for the automation of human life. As The Human Use for Human Beings reveals, his vision was much more complex and interesting, and is more relevant in today's world of AI than anyone could have anticipated. In his new introduction, Brian Christian aptly calls Wiener the "progenitor of contemporary AI-safety discourse." Wiener hoped that machines would release people from relentless and repetitive drudgery to achieve more creative pursuits, yet he anticipated the danger of dehumanizing and displacement. His pioneering views on the human-machine relationship as a "communicative process" are only more crucial now, as we carry in our pockets AI devices that we can literally speak to. His prescient warnings illuminate our contemporary relationships with language, art, and even social media. The Human Use of Human Beings examines the implications of cybernetics for education, law, language, science, technology, as Wiener anticipates the enormous impact--in effect, a third industrial revolution--that the computer has had on our lives."-- Provided by publisher
Mariner Classics 2025-08-12 240 pages

Manipulation: what it is, why it's bad, what to do about it

Sunstein, Cass R.
"New technologies are offering companies, politicians, and others unprecedented opportunity to manipulate us. Sometimes we are given the illusion of power - of freedom - through choice, yet the game is rigged, pushing us in specific directions that lead to less wealth, worse health, and weaker democracy. In, Manipulation, nudge theory pioneer and New York Times bestselling author, Cass Sunstein, offers a new definition of manipulation for the digital age, explains why it is wrong; and shows what we can do about it. He reveals how manipulation compromises freedom and personal agency, while threatening to reduce our well-being; he explains the difference between manipulation and unobjectionable forms of influence, including 'nudges'; and he lifts the lid on online manipulation and manipulation by artificial intelligence, algorithms, and generative AI, as well as threats posed by deepfakes, social media, and 'dark patterns,' which can trick people into giving up time and money. Drawing on decades of groundbreaking research in behavioral science, this landmark book outlines steps we can take to counteract manipulation in our daily lives and offers guidance to protect consumers, investors, and workers." --
Cambridge University Press 2025-08-28 219 pages

Writers.net: every writer's essential guide to online resources and opportunities

Gach, Gary
Most writers today are more familiar with printers and modems than with typewriter ribbons. Personal computers and the Internet are changing the way writers create and communicate. With twenty-four-hour information and instant memory, these modern conveniences are radically altering the face of the literary community. In "writers.net, veteran Internet trainer and best-selling author Gary Gach gives writers of every medium valuable insight into using the Net in many aspects of their writing. From poetry and romance to technical writing and science fiction, Gach directs writers to appropriate forums, magazines, publishers, home pages, and many other resources that will help writers stay on top of developments in their field of specialty. "Writers.net also covers the most common uses of the Internet for writers including finding writing assignments, conducting research, improving one's writing, and carrying on discussions with other writers.For those new to the Internet, Gach provides an Internet Primer for Writers that includes basic terminology, a guided tour, and an essay that puts the Net in perspective for beginners. He also discusses the new worlds of electronic publishing, interactive and collaboratory writing, Net censorship, and cyberjournalism. "Getting information from the Internet can be like trying to get a glass of water off an open fire hydrant," warns Gach, but with "writers.net, writers now have a handbook to help them control the unlimited resources that make up the Internet.About the Author Veteran Internet instructor and widely published writer Gary Gach is the author of the recent bestseller "The Pocket Guide to the Internet.Join other readers of"writers.net for an unmoderated online forum. E-mail [email protected]. In the message body put "subscribe writersnet." Prepublished and published writers are equally welcome. Discussion topics will span the subjects covered in the book and beyond. This is a free service to the writing community. Visit the author's web site for //updates to the book The title of this book is not intended to suggest any affiliation or sponsorship of any particular web site. It should be noted, however, that Writers.Net is a trademark of Internet Concepts, an internet hosting and content provider. This book is not affiliated with, sponsored or licensed by Internet Concepts.
Prima Pub 1997-02-26 373 pages