Code Dependent, by Madhumita Murgia - Jenny
Madhumita Murgia’ Code Dependent tackles the human side of AI, focusing her attention on the everyday people, people like me, and the impact that AI has already had, is having, and will have in the future. Whilst the book seems to slant to a negative view, it also points out the possible benefits, especially in the healthcare field, but highlights how it will need to work for all people, regardless of their socioeconomic status.
Focusing on the human side of the technology is what makes this book so special. Whilst Murgia does explain some technical aspects of how AI works it’s really all about people. She not only references examples but also goes to the people directly, interviewing them so you really see the impact, and in a lot of cases, the emotion, of what AI has meant to these individuals and their families. I am not a particularly tech-y person but with the human stories attached to her explanations, I now feel I have a better understanding of the role AI plays around the world.
There is a lot of talk about AI at the moment- some negative, some positive- and like I said whilst this does tend to slant to the negative, I don’t feel that was Murgia’s intention when she went to write this book. She has gone to the very people who it has affected, heard their stories and then presented these to us, the reader, along with pertinent facts and figures, so we can make up our minds.
This has been shortlisted for the inaugural Women’s Prize for Non Fiction 2024 and with good reason. It’s elegantly written whilst still remaining factual.
