2062

Many people think the future is something we need to adjust to, rather than what we decide through the choices we make today. This book looks at the choices we are starting to make that will define this future. The majority of experts in Artificial Intelligence (AI) and robotics predict we are likely to have built machines as intelligent as us by the year 2062. What will the future look like when the quest to build intelligent machines has succeeded?

In 2062, Professor of Artificial Intelligence, Toby Walsh, a world-leader in the field and one of the 100 ‘rock stars’ of Australia’s digital revolution, considers the impact AI will have on work, war, equality, politics and, ultimately, the fate of humanity. Will automation take away most of our jobs? When will we start to see this happen? Will the robots take over? Will they become conscious? Will we perhaps become machines? Will inequality continue to increase? How can we prevent this? How will political debate adjust to the post-truth, digital world? How do we make the right choices today to ensure our future is bright?

Based on a deep understanding of the technology and its implications, 2062 describes the choices we need to make today to ensure a good future. Walsh answers some of the most important and pressing questions facing us today. He concludes that, if we plan well, the future past 2062 could be very bright indeed but we need to start making some difficult choices today.

La Trobe University Press (October 16, 2018)