Alan Dix is Director of the Computational Foundry at Swansea University, a 30 million pound initiative to boost computational research in Wales with a strong focus on creating social and economic benefit. Previously Alan has worked in a mix of academic, commercial and government roles. Alan is principally known for his work in human-computer interaction, and is the author of one of the major international textbooks on HCI as well as of over 450 research publications from formal methods to intelligent interfaces and design creativity. Technically, he works equally happily with AI and machine learning alongside traditional mathematical and statistical techniques. He has a broad understanding of mathematical, computational and human issues, and he authored some of the earliest papers on gender and ethnic bias in black box-algorithms.
""This vital and erudite work of scholarship provides a lucid account of how artificial intelligence works, illuminating both the deepest fears of AI’s Cassandras and the wildest hopes of its Pollyannas. It will be an essential resource for anyone serious about understanding both the risks and opportunities of the AI revolution. The book provides a comprehensive and insightful overview of rapidly developing fields, explaining technical issues with engaging clarity. Specialists will value the meticulous detail and rigour while general readers will appreciate the rich and concise overviews. It makes clear the complexity of challenges like algorithmic bias, AI ethics and privacy, but also reviews promising approaches like explainable AI and artificial emotion. The intriguing exercises at the end of each section will inspire anyone teaching or studying Human-AI interaction. Whether exploring probabilistic reasoning or the philosophy of consciousness, the authors are sure and helpful guides. This is everything you wanted to know about AI but were afraid to ask for fear of revealing your shameful ignorance."" --Mark Blythe, Professor of Design and Creative Lead for AI, Northumbria University, UK