You Look Like a Thing and I Love You

How Artificial Intelligence Works and Why It's Making the World a Weirder Place

By: Janelle Shane

Narrated by: Xe Sands

As heard on NPR's "Science Friday," discover the book recommended by Malcolm Gladwell, Susan Cain, Daniel Pink, and Adam Grant: an "accessible, informative, and hilarious" introduction to the weird and wonderful world of artificial intelligence (Ryan North).

"You look like a thing and I love you" is one of the best pickup lines ever . . . according to an artificial intelligence trained by scientist Janelle Shane, creator of the popular blog AI Weirdness. She creates silly AIs that learn how to name paint colors, create the best recipes, and even flirt (badly) with humans—all to understand the technology that governs so much of our daily lives.

We rely on AI every day for recommendations, for translations, and to put cat ears on our selfie videos. We also trust AI with matters of life and death, on the road and in our hospitals. But how smart is AI really... and how does it solve problems, understand humans, and even drive self-driving cars?

Shane delivers the answers to every AI question you've ever asked, and some you definitely haven't. Like, how can a computer design the perfect sandwich? What does robot-generated Harry Potter fan-fiction look like? And is the world's best Halloween costume really "Vampire Hog Bride"?

In this smart, often hilarious introduction to the most interesting science of our time, Shane shows how these programs learn, fail, and adapt—and how they reflect the best and worst of humanity.

You Look Like a Thing and I Love You is the perfect book for anyone curious about what the robots in our lives are thinking.

"I can't think of a better way to learn about artificial intelligence, and I've never had so much fun along the way." —Adam Grant, New York Times bestselling author of Originals

Critic reviews

One of the most anticipated books of the fall! - Adam Grant, Ars Technica, Philadelphia Inquirer, Next Big Idea Club, BookPage

"If you're terrified that artificial intelligence is going to take over the world, you clearly haven't asked a computer to write pick-up lines, name pets, or do anything else social or creative. Janelle Shane has, and she's the perfect tour guide to explain what machine learning can and can't do--and why it's already affecting your life. I can't think of a better way to learn about artificial intelligence, and I've never had so much fun along the way."—Adam Grant, New York Times bestselling author of Originals

"While everyone else is making questionable predictions about the future of AI, Janelle Shane cuts through the fog by telling you how AI actually works. And even better: she makes it fun!"—Zach Weinersmith, creator of Saturday Morning Breakfast Cereal and New York Times bestselling author of Soonish

"An incredibly accessible, informative, and hilarious look at how the AIs deciding things around us operate."—Ryan North, New York Times bestselling author of How to Invent Everything

"What better way to explain AI than through examples of what it can and cannot do? Shane is an expert at this and fills the book with hilarious AI experiments as well as a bunch of complementary, charming cartoons. Her writing style is also so approachable that anybody, not just the engineer-minded or the tech-savvy, can understand the often abstract concepts she details."—Ars Technica

"This accessible guide to AI and machine learning cuts through the techno-hype... You Look Like a Thing and I Love You should be essential reading."—Booklist

"AI, AI, AI, that's all you hear... but what is it, really? Why should we care? And why is it driving so much innovation, remaking our world seemingly day by day? Shane is a computer scientist and a great guide."—Philadelphia Inquirer

"An accessible primer... illustrated with charming cartoons, oddball case studies (self-driving cars in Australia were confused by kangaroos), and wry observations about the often-hilarious failures of artificial intelligence to comprehend human contexts."—Publishers Weekly

"If you're worried about what AI is doing to the world, this book may not exactly reassure you, but it will definitely equip you with greater understanding. Recommended for anyone who wants to better comprehend the strengths and limitations of artificial intelligence, but also for anyone who likes watching computers fail hilariously."—Gretchen McCulloch, New York Times bestselling author of Because Internet

good story, annoying narrator

The book is interesting, the observations are spot on.

The weakness is the voice actor. She has a couple of verbal tics that really start grating as one goes through the book. I can't listen to it anymore, and I am only about halfway through.

Fantastic and Fun Intro to AI

This was a brilliant, enjoyable, and often funny introduction to machine learning (AI) for beginners. This also serves as a great set of wacky examples and cautionary tales for those working in the world of machine learning.

Debunking the Myths

The computer-synth voice to represent AI in parts of the book is irritating. Aside from this cosmetic annoyance, this is a fantastic read - well told, well illustrated and highly informed. For anyone trying to figure out the reality of AI and ML, this is a must read.

Witty and succinct

Material was interesting, great real life examples and very balanced. It is not a statement for or against AI - just real ways it works and doesn’t work - and interesting other tidbits along the way. Author had very practical ways to check if you’re interacting with an AI. Narrator was absolutely perfect for the material.

Lots of referring to the PDF

I found the book quite good. But as an audio book it suffers from frequent need to refer to the PDF diagrams. It’s a subject perhaps not ideal for audio.

I have read quite a bit on the subject of machine learning, and I’m not sure whether this book would be clear enough for a newcomer. Maybe. I’ll likely buy a hardcopy as a gift.