The Loop

"""[The Loop] combines a remarkable synthesis of a mountain of behavioral science research about the human mind, and a travelogue through the world of artificial intelligence history and current practice."" --Alexis Madrigal, KQED (NPR) Forum ""A salutary effect of growing disillusionment with tech has been a shelf of excellent critiques. But The Loop is a strong entry in the canon...AI represents perhaps the ultimate shiny object. But Ward penetrates to the dark vacancy at its core."" --San Francisco Chronicle ""Scary stuff...this book has it all [and] the ""how to fight back"" part is very important."" --Hoda Kotb, The Today Show ""The Loop is about the unconscious patterns of human behavior and the even less conscious patterns in the software of machine-learning algorithms. Jacob Ward argues, precisely and elegantly, that those magisteria overlap--digital algorithms that take advantage of wobbly human habits increasingly determine how society works, and that may well make us all less happy and less free. When a reporter with Ward's brains and experience warns you about something this serious, you should listen.""--Adam Rogers, bestselling author of Proof and Full Spectrum ""A brilliant explanation of how artificial intelligence turned to the dark side, it's that rare book that explains a complicated subject -- AI -- in language anyone can understand, while simultaneously providing the context that every policy maker and citizen will require to deal with it. If AI is to get back on track, then Ward will be the guide.""--Roger McNamee, bestselling author of Zucked ""A fantastic, groundbreaking new book.""--Ali Velshi, MSNBC ""A fascinating survey of the known spectrum of human biases...rebuts the Silicon Valley-esque assumption that A.I. will always do good."" --Cathy O'Neil, New York Times ""Fascinating and unsettling. The future is here and Jacob Ward's lively narrative takes us headlong into the dangerous foray of artificial intelligence into our very core as humans.""--Cecilia Kang, bestselling author of An Ugly Truth ""Ward is a thoughtful reporter who has spent the past decade chronicling the rise of a new set of tools pioneered by social scientists, AI researchers and technology companies. The Loop is simultaneously his powerful account of these forces and a wakeup call to remind us that we retain the capability to escape the silicon tendrils of those who seek to exploit our unconscious tendencies.""--John Markoff, Pulitzer Prize-winning author of Machines of Loving Grace: The Quest for Common Ground Between Humans and Robots"