Flynn Coleman

“Flynn Coleman will forever change the way you think about computers and our future. More important, though, she will change the way you think about humanity.”

“Amidst an increasingly interconnected and divided world, humanity is facing a critical need for moral leadership and character to solve the issues of our present and future. A Human Algorithm reminds us powerfully to recognize the importance of developing a moral framework for our world’s next major stakeholder – artificial intelligence – in shaping a more just and equal society.”

“The era of thinking machines is no longer the stuff of science fiction; it is our present reality. In this compulsively readable, mind-bending book, Flynn Coleman encourages us to start grappling now with the daunting challenges ‘the Intelligent Machine Age’ presents to our conception of what it means to be human. A Human Algorithm is more than a book; it is a manifesto for our times.
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“This book is urgently needed. Humanity can’t afford to ignore the horrendous possibilities that lie ahead should we fail to imbue artificial intelligence with the values of empathy and compassion. We need to consciously protect and nurture our deepest values as we forge new technological frontiers. The time to do it is now, and this is the book to show us how.
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“In this beautifully written tome, A Human Algorithm, Flynn Coleman captures the essence of a world where compassionate and empathetic AI is possible. This book is a must-read for parents, educators, and anyone who wants to build a better world. ”

“What does artificial intelligence mean, where is it going, and how will it affect us? We’re currently on a very steep part of the technology curve, and Flynn Coleman is a wonderfully astute, perceptive, and reliable guide as we ascend into our future.”

“[An] earnest, meaty investigation of the ideal future of how we work with intelligent technologies . . . Coleman necessarily operates in the realm of conjecture because she grapples with age-old questions and the unframed future. However, AI’s rapidly expanding capacity for autonomy suggests that these are the very questions that must be addressed now . . . An energetic, holistic consideration of AI’s potentialities to impact our lives in profound ways.”

“How do we define artificial intelligence (AI)? Is it emotional intelligence or purely factual knowledge? Coleman addresses these questions in this gripping, personal first book on the triumphs and dangers of technology . . .With quotes and research from scientists, researchers, authors, and even poets, Coleman mixes her own viewpoints with those of scholars in this easy-to-read work . . . This book changes the typical conversation from the effects that technology has on humans to the effects that humans (in their politics, faith, biases) have on technology. It’s a must read for both the cyber crowds and those interested in human psychology.”

“Coleman clearly grasps the gravity of the moment and the complex forces at play, describing in eloquent terms not only the changes already at hand but the ones right around the corner in the “next wave” that will push the frontiers of human control and consciousness . . . A Human Algorithm is intentionally positioned as an optimistic book, one that recognizes the challenges but affirms our human capacity to rise up to them. History shows (and the book details) that people have a marked capacity to integrate new technologies into their lives, even as both horrific and honorable applications may ensue. The Digital Age (which Coleman wisely pronounces as ‘now ending’) may be unique for the rate and magnitude of the changes being experienced and the unprecedented nature of the frontiers being pushed, but the general patterns remain intact . . . In A Human Algorithm, Flynn Coleman admirably has uploaded a clear data point on the side of the good. The book is not, however, an idealistic portico onto a rose-colored tomorrow; Coleman is keenly aware of the existential implications and the narrow window of opportunity at hand. The urgent task is to rapidly reclaim and amplify the best of ourselves, and this book is a step on that journey. In addition to urging people to read it—especially those directly involved with writing the algorithms that will set tomorrow’s template—one sincerely hopes the machines will do so as well.””

““[Coleman] argues that the algorithms of machine learning — if they are instilled with human ethics and values — could bring about a new era of enlightenment.” ”

“It was with immense relief that I read Flynn Coleman’s book. Finally, here is a book on AI that any that citizen can read and understand without having degrees in computer science and philosophy. And yet it still contained a breadth of content that I found astonishing. It really is a book that gives people what they need to know so that someday it will be possible to realize the immense benefit of AI without having to flirt with a disaster that could rank up there with climate change (the ultimate demise of the human race). It’s a scary subject, to be sure, but the added beauty of Ms Coleman’s book is that, beyond successfully blending the pitfalls with the promise of AI and explaining the steps we need to take to insure the promise, she extrapolates what this promise can mean to our society as a whole. It’s far more than being vastly more efficient and smarter. If we’re going to continue full steam ahead with making machines that are infinitely more intelligent than we are, we’re going to have make sure that these machines also have a moral and ethical code the likes of which humans have only dreamed of, things like true equality and the elimination of bias. That could be the prettiest picture of the future of the human race we can imagine. But it will require work, really smart work. Probably the smartest thing we’ve ever done. But Ms Coleman has shown us the way.

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“Enlightening and disturbing.”

“Named one of the Best Books of 2019 (Big Ideas & New Perspectives)”

“Named one of the best books on AI for beginners, business, and beyond”