Artificial Intelligence: The Reality and the Myth

This book demystifies artificial intelligence by bridging the gap between complex technical algorithms and their practical functions. It demonstrates to readers that AI is not magic but an understandable and ethically navigable technology. Guided by the experience of fifty-year AI educator and researcher Prof. George Luger, the text traces the philosophical, mathematical, and engineering origins of AI, explores the major paradigms — from symbolic reasoning to neural networks and deep learning — and addresses crucial ethical and societal implications facing modern AI practitioners and users. Through accessible narratives, historical context, and explicit analysis of human versus machine cognition, Artificial Intelligence: The Reality and the Myth enables informed decision-making about the uses and limitations of AI. The book emphasizing transparent, responsible practice in today’s technology-driven world. Key chapters cover practical and ethical challenges, the myth of superintelligence, and the evolution of AI’s foundational theories, making this work essential for students, educators, professionals, and anyone eager to engage intelligently and constructively with artificial intelligence.