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  • Sex, Race, and Robots

  • How to Be Human in the Age of AI
  • Written by: Dr. Ayanna Howard
  • Narrated by: Amandla Stenberg
  • Length: 6 hrs and 15 mins
  • 4.5 out of 5 stars (14 ratings)

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Sex, Race, and Robots cover art

Sex, Race, and Robots

Written by: Dr. Ayanna Howard
Narrated by: Amandla Stenberg
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Publisher's Summary

In the movies, robots can be terrifying. In reality, thinking machines are disrupting the world in ways that are even more disturbing than in Hollywood fantasies - but they also have the potential to change our lives for the better.

In this stirring, visionary work, acclaimed roboticist Dr. Ayanna Howard explores how the tech world’s racial and sexual biases are infecting the next generation of Artificial Intelligence, with profoundly negative effects for humans of all genders and races.

Drawing on cutting-edge research, and her own experience as one of the few Black women in the field of robotics, Dr. Howard shares how she navigated bias in her own coming-of-age as a roboticist. She also reveals how the world of computer programmers, which largely lacks women and Black people, is producing thinking machines that too often think like their flawed creators.

The danger of bias in our AI-powered machines has never been greater. Governments are using supercomputers to track COVID-19 patients. AI is being employed to monitor Black Lives Matter protests. Voice recognition systems have been rolled out that can’t hear female voices. Dr. Howard delivers a stirring warning about the risks of AI and robots - but also offers an uplifting message about empowerment and where we need to go next.

©2019 Audible Originals LLC (P)2020 Audible Originals, LLC.

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars

Great Listen

A fascinating book to learn more about AI, power, bias and ethics. I loved it!

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  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    3 out of 5 stars
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    4 out of 5 stars

Extremely interesting, not great narration.

Narrator inflects upwards at the end of so many sentences, as though asking a question. The director should have shut that down immediately during recording/production.
Basic complaints:
- Data are plural.
- Big cracks in ice are crevasses, not crevices.
- Far too many pop culture references and not enough concrete references to actual companies creating and developing AI. (i.e., some companies are doing this, while others are going this route… why not give listeners specific details?)

In spite of these points, this is an extraordinarily important topic and book, and I enjoyed the book immensely. Highly recommend.

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  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
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    4 out of 5 stars
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    4 out of 5 stars

Worth a listen!

This book is full of insightful and thought-provoking ideas and information, though I have to admit it started stronger than it ended. She lost me by reiterating the doomsayers mantra of "AI may take over and destroy humanity." The rest of the book was good.

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

So interesting!

I loved this from beginning to end! I was entertained, educated, and felt like I had met a new friend.

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  • Overall
    3 out of 5 stars
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    3 out of 5 stars

Disappointing

The book is 50% biography, 40% political opinion and 10% insights on the future of AI. Not what was described or what I was expecting.

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