Understanding AI

Ages 10 to 13

This clear and calm books explains what artificial intelligence is, how it works, and why you don't need to be scared.

Artificial Intelligence is all about humans asking computers and other machines to think and even behave like humans, and to take on jobs that people find too difficult or too boring. But how do you actually define the term? What exactly can machines with AI already do, and what might they be able to do in the future?

This book answers all the questions - where answers exist - and raises debating points at every turn about what it all means. Should we be asking machines to do creative tasks, such as writing and illustrating books? Do we need to worry if intelligent machines need to be treated like people? Is there a chance that machines might take over the world, either by accident or on purpose? Is there any point going to school and doing homework if computers can do it all for us, and better?

About the Author

Rose Hall (Author)

Rose grew up in Northumberland, studied Physiology at Oxford and looked after orphaned orangutans for a bit. She worked in the charity sector for ten years, writing about issues from renewable energy, to the safety of workers in Bangladesh. For Usborne, she's written books about engineering, business, computers and the environment.

Rachel Firth (Author)

Rachel spent 11 years studying and teaching philosophy at the universities of London and Oxford before joining Usborne. Since then she has written books on subjects ranging from knights, to food, to philosophy, as well as retelling folk stories, and writing children's versions of numerous novels.