Sci fi writers and philosophers used to be the ones worrying about artificial intelligence. Nowadays, the warnings are coming from technologists like Elon Musk and are expounded in serious newspapers. Computers have already pretty much taken over the world. Not as autocratic despots, but in the form of thousands of little helpers that control your car, tell you where to eat, what to buy and what music you’ll like. From morning to night, smart systems manage everything from what you see on your Facebook feed to plans for future TV series extrapolated from your viewing habits. All this we are already used to, and we barely think of it as ‘artificial intelligence’. But how are our lives actually shaped by the algorithms? And what lies just around the corner?

Artificial intelligence is discussed as a decisive factor in the struggle for world domination between the US and China. In Norway, we debate whether new technology will save or destroy the welfare state. All those of us bringing up the next generation wonder how to equip them to survive in tomorrow’s job market and cope with their daily interaction with social media. This book seeks out expertise and examines the field in search of pointers.

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