Growing up with Lucy: How to Build an Android in Twenty Easy Steps

Growing up with Lucy: How to Build an Android in Twenty Easy Steps

by SteveGrand (Author)

Synopsis

'The first time I created life, I did it the easy way...this time I'm attempting to make a baby the hard way: one piece at a time.' Artificial intelligence is the Holy Grail for many scientists. But will we ever be able to build machines that can bring together the knowledge, skills and ideas that would be needed to make up a complete human being? This was the question that fascinated Steve Grand when he decided to set about building 'Lucy'. Called an unscientific charlatan by some, a naive fool by others, this 'self-taught tinkerer' deliberately eschewed large public grants and laboratory affiliations to give himself as much freedom as possible to pursue his revolutionary ideas. In this compelling story of perseverance and despair, of frustration and elation, we live through the birth pains as Steve Grand defies the scientific establishment to create one of the most advanced robots in existence.

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More Information

Format: Paperback
Pages: 288
Edition: New e.
Publisher: Phoenix
Published: 05 Aug 2004

ISBN 10: 0753818051
ISBN 13: 9780753818053
Book Overview: The British love the underdog. This is the story of a self-taught man who worked outside the establishment to create one of the most advanced forms of artificial intelligence on the planet CREATION, Steve's last book, was shortlisted for the Aventis Prize 2001 Meet Lucy on her website: www cyberlife-research.com 'Steve Grand is the creator of what I think is the nearest approach to artificial life so far' Richard Dawkins 'A long and chatty newsletter from the friendliest artificial intelligence researcher you could wish to meet' Graham Farmelo, Sunday Telegraph 'Grand's book is an inspiring and deeply personal account of one man's journey to understand the mind. I warmly recommend it. If you think that science is broing and engineering is for nerds, read this book and think again' Guardian 'A witty examination of Grand's endeavours and contains some lovely and poignant stories' Simon Garfield, Observer

Media Reviews
A fascinating, highly subjective blast from a maverick enthusiast with a relish for irritating academics. DAILY TELEGRAPH his account of the pain, expense and occasional rewards he experienced while raising his daughter though still complicated and provocative, is refreshingly personal and avuncular. INDEPENDENT ON SUNDAY
Author Bio
Steve Grand was cofounder and director of technology at the UK-based CyberLife Technology. He left last year to start up Cyberlife Research, where he is attempting to build the world's first conscious machine. He is the inventor of the groundbreaking computer game 'Creatures'. A former visiting research fellow at the University of Sussex and columnist for a leading journal on artificial intelligence, he has written numerous articles and lectures widely on the topic of artificial life. He was nominated by The Sunday Times as one of 'The Brains Behind the 21st Century', and received a CBE in the millennium honours list for his contribution to the computer games industry.