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  • The Alignment Problem

  • Machine Learning and Human Values
  • By: Brian Christian
  • Narrated by: Brian Christian
  • Length: 13 hrs and 33 mins
  • 4.7 out of 5 stars (116 ratings)
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The Alignment Problem

By: Brian Christian
Narrated by: Brian Christian
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Summary

A jaw-dropping exploration of everything that goes wrong when we build AI systems and the movement to fix them.

Today’s “machine-learning” systems, trained by data, are so effective that we’ve invited them to see and hear for us - and to make decisions on our behalf. But alarm bells are ringing. Recent years have seen an eruption of concern as the field of machine learning advances. When the systems we attempt to teach will not, in the end, do what we want or what we expect, ethical and potentially existential risks emerge. Researchers call this the alignment problem.

Systems cull résumés until, years later, we discover that they have inherent gender biases. Algorithms decide bail and parole - and appear to assess Black and White defendants differently. We can no longer assume that our mortgage application, or even our medical tests, will be seen by human eyes. And as autonomous vehicles share our streets, we are increasingly putting our lives in their hands.

The mathematical and computational models driving these changes range in complexity from something that can fit on a spreadsheet to a complex system that might credibly be called “artificial intelligence.” They are steadily replacing both human judgment and explicitly programmed software.

In best-selling author Brian Christian’s riveting account, we meet the alignment problem’s “first-responders,” and learn their ambitious plan to solve it before our hands are completely off the wheel. In a masterful blend of history and on-the-ground reporting, Christian traces the explosive growth in the field of machine learning and surveys its current, sprawling frontier. Listeners encounter a discipline finding its legs amid exhilarating and sometimes terrifying progress. Whether they - and we - succeed or fail in solving the alignment problem will be a defining human story.

The Alignment Problem offers an unflinching reckoning with humanity’s biases and blind spots, our own unstated assumptions and often contradictory goals. A dazzlingly interdisciplinary work, it takes a hard look not only at our technology but at our culture - and finds a story by turns harrowing and hopeful. 

©2020 Brian Christian (P)2020 Brilliance Publishing, Inc., all rights reserved.

What listeners say about The Alignment Problem

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Learnt 12% of what AI A Guide For Humans offered

Take quotes from interviewees + same old AlphaZero amazements + assumptions that everything is fungible with code/maths + hype narratives about just needing to scale these into generality + Gladwellesque padding like 'It was a chill Chicago day and [insert AI luminary name] was about to discuss logic and neural networks' is the recipe for this book. I found it a waste of time and much recommend Melanie Mitchell's book AI A Guide For Thinking Humans instead. For addressing societal issues Virginia Eubank's Automating Inequality is also great albeit a winding narrative. Or even The Atlas of AI for a more braodswept 'material culture' account.

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Exceeds all expectations

I loved “Algorithms to Live By” and expected this to be similar in scope but it’s way broader and way deeper. A rich, nuanced history of AI research so far, grounded in the alignment problem.

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1 person found this helpful

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Better than expected

Great book that touches on a lot of concepts and some underlying theory, mixed with examples and philosophy

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Absolutely Fantastic!

I've learned a lot about machine learning from this book. The level of detail is excellent whilst remaining accessible and engaging throughout. Well written and well read. Definitely the most interesting book I've listened to in a long time.

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a must read about ai ethics

Easy to understand by non experts
Covers many topics and philosophical debates in AI and Real Life

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More of the history than the theory

This is more about the history of the alignment problem than theorising it, but this is highly instructive.

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Excellent

A short history of AI, machine learning, and reinforcement learning. Touches on the philosophical, ethical, psychological, and political aspects of AI. A must-read for anyone on the cutting edge of tech, or with a casual interest in that.

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A must read

AI is part of our lives now. Read this to understand it. Well written, explains complex topics well.

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history of ML

A nice multidisciplinary history of ML with philosophy and psychology as well as comp sci

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5 stars because I want to relisten

some earlier chapters were skippable. when I relisten ill see which chapters I marked for relistening

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