Automate This

How Algorithms Came to Rule Our World

By: Christopher Steiner

Narrated by: Walter Dixon

Length: 7 hrs and 41 mins

Publisher's summary

The rousing story of the last gasp of human agency and how today’s best and brightest minds are endeavoring to put an end to it.

It used to be that to diagnose an illness, interpret legal documents, analyze foreign policy, or write a newspaper article you needed a human being with specific skills - and maybe an advanced degree or two. These days, high-level tasks are increasingly being handled by algorithms that can do precise work not only with speed but also with nuance. These "bots" started with human programming and logic, but now their reach extends beyond what their creators ever expected.

In this fascinating, frightening audiobook, Christopher Steiner tells the story of how algorithms took over - and shows why the "bot revolution" is about to spill into every aspect of our lives, often silently, without our knowledge. The May 2010 "Flash Crash" exposed Wall Street’s reliance on trading bots to the tune of a 998-point market drop and $1 trillion in vanished market value. But that was just the beginning. In Automate This, we meet bots that drive cars, pen haikus, and write music mistaken for Bach’s. They listen in on our customer service calls and figure out what Iran would do in the event of a nuclear standoff. There are algorithms that can pick out the most cohesive crew of astronauts for a space mission or identify the next Jeremy Lin. Some can even ingest statistics from baseball games and spit out pitch-perfect sports journalism indistinguishable from that produced by humans.

The interaction of man and machine can make our lives easier. But what will the world look like when algorithms control our hospitals, our roads, our culture, and our national security? What happens to businesses when we automate judgment and eliminate human instinct? And what role will be left for doctors, lawyers, writers, truck drivers, and many others? Who knows - maybe there’s a bot learning to do your job right this minute.

©2012 Christopher Steiner (P)2012 Gildan Media LLC

Critic reviews

"Algorithms are affecting every field of human endeavor, from markets to medicine, poker to pop music. Listen to this audiobook if you want to understand the most powerful force shaping the world today and tomorrow." (Andrew McAfee, principal research scientist, MIT; coauthor of Race Against the Machine)

Good book on the influence of algorithms.

What did you love best about Automate This?

It was very informative on algorithms development in programming and at the same time entertaining.

What other book might you compare Automate This to and why?

"search" by John Batel and from "Gutenberg to Zuckerberg" by John Naughton.

What about Walter Dixon’s performance did you like?

it was good.

Did you have an extreme reaction to this book? Did it make you laugh or cry?

If thinking a great deal and saying hmm... is an extreme reaction, then yes.

Any additional comments?

If you are in finance, data or programming this is an interesting book, giving a good overview over algorithms development.

Fascinating. So many ways algorithms have encroach

This was absolutely fascinating. In the prologue the author mentions how he originally planned to cover algorithms and how they affected Wall Street , which would have been interesting. But the way algorithms have affected all the other fields (medicine, self driving cars, organ transplants ) was actually MORE interesting. Great read!

Technology wake up call

Fascinating examination of how algorithms designed for Wall Street, have impacted our music, communication and decision making today. Gives a glimpse into where this might go and who the people are that lead the way. We need technological literacy as much as we once needed financial literacy. Life has changed!

Shockingly good I was amazed how much I enjoyed

I've never been a statistician or enjoy complex math this story about algorithm and how bots are changing the world with the data they accumulate and sort through is eye-opening. I wasn't sure I could really enjoy a book like this but I listen to it in two days because I really enjoyed the content!!!i'm going to make all of my teenagers listen to this book so they understand the power and importance of learning how to program it is our future

WARNING: Algorithms will put you out of your job.

Where does Automate This rank among all the audiobooks you’ve listened to so far?

In the top 10. Great book and great stories especially about the history of algorithms on wall street.

What other book might you compare Automate This to and why?

Flash boys deals with similar content in regard to explaining HFT strategies but explained in a different context

What does Walter Dixon bring to the story that you wouldn’t experience if you just read the book?

Dramatization

Was this a book you wanted to listen to all in one sitting?

No.

Any additional comments?

Algorithms are changing the world believe it or not. They are all around us and this book highlights the need for all of us to wake up and take notice of these bots that are changing our world for the better.

Good but too focused on Wall Street

Would you listen to Automate This again? Why?

Probably not, hard to listen to the same book twice.

What other book might you compare Automate This to and why?

Last Child In The Woods. Both making a point. Last Child was more focused.

What about Walter Dixon’s performance did you like?

Fine. No complaints.

Was this a book you wanted to listen to all in one sitting?

No.

Any additional comments?

Good book. I would have liked to see more technical content as well as less focus on Wall Street. But it was good. I'll look for more books in the same vein.

forward thinking ... a fabulous audible find!

I rarely listen to non-fiction, but was intrigued by the topic and positive reviews. This is a phenomenal read ... for those of us who tend to be forward thinking and reflective. A look at the driving force behind integral aspects of modern life, and where we are likely headed in the future.

Extremely current and informative

Very interesting information. Amazing how many jobs can be done extremely well using algorithms.

Algorithms Journey

Where does Automate This rank among all the audiobooks you’ve listened to so far?

Top 10 so far on the enlightenment scale. My personal favorite Highlights: The History and evolution of Algorithms, our high level of dependency on them, organ donor data optimization threw them.

What did you like best about this story?

I have an understanding of how they are a possible tool for wonderful things as well as bad. The old story goes, " You don't go after the hammer store if someone uses it in a crime or for ill purpose." It's how the tool is used that will define it's value to our future.

What does Walter Dixon bring to the story that you wouldn’t experience if you just read the book?

The tone and pace worked well with my listening routine.

Was there a moment in the book that particularly moved you?

The move from Wall Street cash cow band wagons, to do thinks that mattered to society was refreshing to here about.

Any additional comments?

I enjoyed the journey.

Great examples of Algorithms at work today

Where does Automate This rank among all the audiobooks you’ve listened to so far?

I loved all of the examples of algorithms at work and the story was told very well.