New Scientist recommends Jamie Bartlett’s insightful How to Talk to AI

I don’t use AI chatbots, so you might be wondering how I can benefit from Jamie Bartlett’s book, How to talk to AI.

What about this clear talking guide makes a compelling case that despite their popularity, we don’t know how to properly talk to chatbots. Few of us have had adequate training to get the most out of AI – or for how to protect ourselves from it. This is where it can all go wrong, sending us down disinformation rabbit holes or fostering emotional dependency.

Mastering the art of prompting a chatbot is about more than AI, Bartlett says. It’s about self-awareness: how much do you know about how it works? How might your questions (and the biases they reveal) affect the results you get?

I’m still wary, but after reading the book I feel much more prepared should temptation come my way. What becomes clear is that skepticism is your friend in this AI-powered world, whether you talk to chatbots on a daily basis or avoid them at all costs.

Bethan Ackerley,
Sub-Editor, London