Auntie’s event to explore artificial intelligence
(Photo: GCN.com)
We’ve all heard about artificial intelligence. Not a day goes by, in fact, that a story doesn’t move in some format that talks about how wonderful AI is – or how horrible it potentially can be.
Michael Kanaan knows all about the topic. He’s even written a book about it, with an appropriately long title: “T-Minus AI: Humanity’s Countdown to Artificial Intelligence and the New Pursuit of Global Power” (BenBella Books).
Kanaan will share much of what he knows during a special Zoom event at noon on Thursday. Sponsored by Auntie’s Bookstore, the “Meet the Author” event will be moderated by Linda Bond.
Because of her own interest in AI, Bond says, “I requested an early copy of ‘T-Minus AI,’ which led to a review and conversations with the publisher rep about the potential of a book club event.”
As co-chair of Artificial Intelligence for the U.S. Air Force at the Pentagon, Kanaan “guides the research, development, and implementation strategies for AI technology and machine learning activities across Air Force global operations.”
His book doesn’t just explain what AI does but to what ends it can be used. And not all of them are positive.
In a Harvard Business Review article, writer Gardiner Morse says that Kanaan “is keenly aware that some nations aggressively deploy AI to create antidemocratic agendas,” and he cites China’s use of AI to track its own citizens as a prime example.
“Kanaan is therefore,” Morse continues, “calling for an urgent conversation about the implications of unconstrained AI and how we can put up guardrails to preserve our liberty and security.”
An article in the Washington Book Review goes even further: “ ‘T-Minus AI’ provides deep insight in the history and future of artificial intelligence. It may appear a blessing, but there are hidden social, military, and other threats which will surface in the future.”
All this and more likely will be covered in Thursday’s Zoom event.
If you’re not already on an Auntie’s Book Club list and still want to attend, you can contact Bond at auntiesbooks@gmail.com and she’ll send you a link.