Before AI became synonymous with chatbots, machine learning, and way before AI became a household name, in 2018, I

chanced upon this book. Looking back years later, a century in modern computer science terms, it is still an insightful and

prevalent read today.

The book begins with a utopian/dystopian tale, depending on how you think about AI helping run the world. Having created

the first General Artificial Intelligence ever created, a group of scientists and their benevolent backers use AI to take over the

world and make the world run better. As Man becomes ever closer to creating a mechanical equal to himself in all aspects of

human intelligence, this and many other scenarios presented in the book have become not fantasy but perhaps a distant reality.

The author divides life into three forms: Life 1.0, 2.0, and 3.0, depending on if the individuals’ hardware and software have

evolved or designed. This neatly captures the essence of this new technology as not merely that, but in fact a new life form

alongside ourselves. A lot of companies have as their ultimate goal the creation of this Life 3.0. For animals, there are animal

protection and control laws. For a fantastic novel new creature that just so happens to be made by humans, shouldn't there be

even more vigorous regulations ?