Robotics Through Science Fiction


Book Description

Six classic science fiction stories and commentary that illustrate and explain key algorithms or principles of artificial intelligence. This book presents six classic science fiction stories and commentary that illustrate and explain key algorithms or principles of artificial intelligence. Even though all the stories were originally published before 1973, they help readers grapple with two questions that stir debate even today: how are intelligent robots programmed? and what are the limits of autonomous robots? The stories—by Isaac Asimov, Vernor Vinge, Brian Aldiss, and Philip K. Dick—cover telepresence, behavior-based robotics, deliberation, testing, human-robot interaction, the “uncanny valley,” natural language understanding, machine learning, and ethics. Each story is preceded by an introductory note, “As You Read the Story,” and followed by a discussion of its implications, “After You Have Read the Story.” Together with the commentary, the stories offer a nontechnical introduction to robotics. The stories can also be considered as a set of—admittedly fanciful—case studies to be read in conjunction with more serious study. Contents “Stranger in Paradise” by Isaac Asimov, 1973 “Runaround” by Isaac Asimov, 1942 “Long Shot” by Vernor Vinge, 1972 “Catch That Rabbit” by Isaac Asimov, 1944 “Super-Toys Last All Summer Long” by Brian Aldiss, 1969 “Second Variety” by Philip K. Dick, 1953




We, Robots


Book Description

Science fiction author Simon Ings selects 100 of the best short stories on artificial intelligence.




Robots & Artificial Intelligence Short Stories


Book Description

"Flame Tree Publishing continues to publish excellent fiction with their Gothic Fantasy series of anthologies offering themed compendiums of both classic and modern fiction. By doing so, the series lets readers note similarity, differences and trends of subgenres over time." - Kirkus The promise and the threat of technology, of humankind replaced by its own mechanical creation has long enticed the SF and fantasy imagination. This fabulous mix of new and established writing brings together the top talents of today with classic and essential authors, including L. Frank Baum, Ambrose Bierce, E.T.A. Hoffmann, Jerome K. Jerome and more. New, contemporary and notable writers featured are: Roan Clay, George Cotronis, Deborah L. Davitt, Jeff Deck, Christopher M. Geeson, Bruce Golden, Rob Hartzell, Nathaniel Hosford, Rachael K. Jones, Rich Larson, Monte Lin, Trixie Nisbet, Chloie Piveral, David Sklar, Claire Allegra Sorrenson, Sara L. Uckelman, Holly Lyn Walrath, Nemma Wollenfang, and Eleanor R. Wood.




The Rest of the Robots


Book Description

Isaac Asimov’s ROBOT series – from the iconic collection I, Robot to four classic novels – contains some of the most influential works in the history of science fiction. Establishing and testing the Three Laws of Robotics, they continue to shape the understanding and design of artificial intelligence to this day.




So You Want to be a Robot


Book Description

"Step one: forget the convention and disregard the binary. Gender? Sexuality? Old words unsuited for new consciousness. The twenty-one stories in this book challenge the imagination as only acclaimed author A. Merc Rustad can. Pages of robots and AIs constructing lives and exploring "humanity"; wasted worlds with monstrous cityhearts; assassins and the perils of enchanted labyrinths; and always the raw truths of love, loss, and devotion. Step two: read these science-fiction and fantasy tales as if they are the only stories you will discover on your bookshelf this day. Step three: dare to feel."--Page 4 of cover.




Short Stories about Robots and Technology


Book Description

A collection of 7 short stories about robotics, artificial intelligence, augmented reality and foreseeable (or imagined) issues related to the future (like losing your virginity in space).




Robot Hearts


Book Description

Nine science fiction stories about robots! Nine science fiction stories about robots! Feminist twists, sentimental journeys, nostalgia and an Australian icon feature in this collection of short stories. These tales draw from an imagined past, with 'Be Still My Beating Clockwork Heart'. They delve into Australian icons with Clancy of the Overflow recast in space with robot sheep in 'Clancy'. These stories dabble in the life of an augmented soldier in 'The Cleansing', an immortal woman and her android bodyguard in 'Bodily Control' and robot baby-sitters in 'Crash Baby' and 'Robot Heart.' A future where technology is entwined with human lives, such as an AI boyfriend in 'Bee Friend', or deep technology integration in 'Winnie’s Remedial Reading and Writing Class' and the ultimate twist in 'The Discontented Wife'.




21st Century Robot


Book Description

When companies develop a new technology, do they ask how it might affect the people who will actually use it? That, more or less, sums up Brian David Johnson’s duties as Intel’s futurist-in-residence. In this fascinating book, Johnson provides a collection of science fiction prototyping stories that attempt to answer the question. These stories focus on the same theme: scientists and thinkers exploring personal robotics as a new form of artificial intelligence. This isn’t fanciful speculation. Johnson’s stories are based on Intel’s futurecasting research, which uses ethnographic field studies, technology research, trend data, and science fiction to develop a pragmatic vision of consumers and computing. 21st Century Robot presents science fiction designed to bring about science fact. Get real insight into technology and the future with this book. It will open your eyes.




I, Robot


Book Description

Earth is ruled by master-machines but the Three Laws of Robotics have been designed to ensure humans maintain the upper hand: 1) A robot may not injure a human being or allow a human being to come to harm 2) A robot must obey orders given to it by human beings except where such orders would conflict with the First Law. 3) A robot must protect its own existence as long as such protection does not conflict with the First or Second Law. But what happens when a rogue robot's idea of what is good for society contravenes the Three Laws?




Learn AI and Human-Robot Interaction from Asimov's I, Robot Stories


Book Description

Learn about artificial intelligence and human-robot interaction by reading nine famous short stories, each accompanied by an explanation of the real science at the level of a TED talk.Artificial intelligence for robots may be the most transformative technology of the future digital revolution. But AI isn't just about the algorithms on the inside of the robot, it is also about how those algorithms will impact how we humans will work with robots. This critical field of study is called human-robot interaction: how we give commands to robots either explicitly or implicitly, how well they will be able to follow our directions and intent, and whether artificial intelligence will really lead to a robot uprising.Learn AI and Human-Robot Interaction from Asimov's I, Robot Stories provides an introduction to human-robot interaction for the layperson, from advanced high school students to managers to fans of Bill Nye and Neil deGrasse Tyson to students and teachers looking for a supplemental textbook for formal courses in artificial intelligence and robotics. It is a companion to Isaac Asimov's I, Robot collection of his most famous and entertaining stories in the world about robots, including the one that introduced the Three Laws of Robotics. Each of the stories unintentionally illustrates one or more core concepts in human-robot interaction: how verbal and non-verbal communication works; the flaws in the Three Laws of Robotics; the Uncanny Valley; transparency and visibility; trust; how robots reason; the types of user interfaces; and if a robot can have full moral agency. In this companion book, each I, Robot story is accompanied by description of how the science behind the core concept works at the level of a TED talk. In the last chapter, the book pulls together the principles illustrated in the different stories into a comprehensive overview of the field of human-robot interaction, highlighting the challenges, and opportunities, of building artificially intelligent systems and the ethical implications. The book also provides study questions that can be used for self-study, home schooling, or in a classroom. Prof. Robin R. Murphy is one of the founders of the field of human-robot interaction, an award winning textbook author, a TED talk speaker, and has been declared one of the 30 Most Innovative Women Professors Alive Today by The Best Master's Degrees and one of the most influential women in technology. Her interest in human-robot interaction resulted from her field work in using robots for disaster response. As she participated in disasters such as the 9/11 World Trade Center, Hurricane Harvey, and the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear accident, she documented that the robots physically worked but there was an unusually high rate of human error, frustration, and fatigue. Murphy frequently appears on CNN, NBC, NPR, Popular Science, NY Times, and the popular press. As an Innovative Teaching Faculty Fellow at Texas A&M, she pursues more engaging forms of education, particularly the use of science fiction to enable students to better visualize the abstract concepts in artificial intelligence, how the algorithms actually work, what would be the impact on systems design, and explore the ethics of artificial intelligence. This resulted in her Robotics Through Science Fiction blog, her book 2018 book Robotics Through Science Fiction: Artificial Intelligence Explained Through Six Classic Robot Short Stories, and her ongoing column on science fiction and science fact for Science Robotics, one of the top scientific journals.