Artificial intelligence has long been a mainstay of science fiction, and increasingly it feels as if AI is entering our everyday lives, with virtual personal assistants such as Apple's Siri now ubiquitous and self-driving cars almost upon us. But what do we actually mean when we talk about artificial intelligence? In this comprehensive, beautifully illustrated account, AI expert Yorick Wilks traces the history of artificial intelligence back to its origins, examining not only how it works and why it was designed but also its controversies and achievements.

Along the way, Wilks also considers our future with AI, assessing whether these technologies will benefit humanity or merely menace our way of life. Are the sentient machines of 2001: A Space Odyssey or The Matrix plausible, or will real-world AI look and feel very different? What has AI done for us so far? What do we want it to do? And what technologies could it yield in the future? Entertaining, enlightening, and keenly argued, Artificial Intelligence: Modern Magic or Dangerous Future? is the essential guide to the AI debate.