What You Need to Know About AI by James Wang is a fantastic and highly informative read that breaks down the complex world of artificial intelligence in a way that is clear, engaging, and accessible. The author does a wonderful job explaining how AI began, how it has evolved over time, and how it is already integrated into many aspects of our everyday lives.

I especially appreciated how the book balances history, current applications, and thoughtful insights about the future of AI. It never feels overly technical, making it approachable for readers who simply want to understand the technology that is shaping our world.

Overall, this is an excellent introduction to AI for anyone curious about where it came from, how it works, and what the future might hold. An insightful and fascinating read that I highly recommend.

I enjoyed the audiobook for James Wang’s What You Need to Know About AI. I always prefer it when the author reads their own book. You can tell he actually cares about the subject, and it makes it more engaging and the technical explanations feel less dry.

Since I’m already working in tech consulting, a lot of this was stuff I deal with every day, so I can't say I walked away with a ton of brand-new info. The History Lesson was nice. Wang does a great job laying out the timeline of how we actually got here. It’s not just hype, he walks through the actual evolution of the tech in a way that makes sense. He’s really good at describing complex concepts without getting bogged down in jargon. Even though I knew the "what," I appreciated the "how" of his explanations.

If you’re looking for a clear, informative primer to gift to a friend or a client who’s still trying to figure out what a neural network actually is, this is a good recommendation.

4.25*

An interesting look at AI from the ground up. How it came about, what it's capable of, what it's limitations are, where it might be headed. I enjoyed the author's insight and recommend this book if you want to be more informed.

Thank you to @netgalley for my ALC.

Really helpful summary for people who are looking for all the information in one place. While I couldn't always keep track of the lingo, it did teach me a lot. My husband also enjoyed it, probably more than me. I'd love a kids version! thanks to Net Galley and the publisher for the opportunity to read/review.

What You Need to Know About AI is a concise and accessible introduction to artificial intelligence that aims to make a complex topic feel understandable for everyday readers. Rather than diving too deeply into technical details, the book focuses on explaining key concepts in a way that feels approachable and relevant.

I appreciated the effort to connect AI to real-world applications. The examples help ground the concepts and show how AI is already shaping industries and everyday life.

The writing style is straightforward and easy to follow. Overall, is a solid introductory guide that does exactly what it sets out to do, make AI more understandable.

If you want a great book on what AI can and cannot do, then listen to this one. I feel much better after listening to one of the most in-depth and totally accessible books on the subject. I don't feel like AI can take my job away anymore. I love the comparison of Large Language Models to Autocorrect. Every time he says it I bark out a laugh.

Humans will never be replaced. The scenario of Skynet becoming aware is understandably nonsense. This book just had a conversational take on what AI is and what it isn't. It just made me feel more at ease instead of digging into fear and anxiety of this thing and becoming one of the Luddites of the modern age. (Prominently used as a metaphor throughout this book)

"Exactly how it will turn out, is not something anyone knows. How AI will turn out is yet something to be determined. I don't have a crystal ball after all." - James Wang

James has put together exactly the right book for the right time. And I loved listening to him narrate this audiobook.

Thanks to #NetGalley and #ManuscriptsLLC for the opportunity to review this excellent audiobook. Thanks to #JamesWang for producing a work that is needed right now and that everyone should read, about AI.

This review is for the Audiobook

#aibook
#WhatYouNeedToKnowAboutAI

Know what you are getting. The purpose of this book is to give an overview AI and how it is used, what it can do, and what may be possible (and how to prepare) for the future. It really is a primer, and just like primer paint, it does help set the reader up to accept the changes that are currently happening with a good framework to understand the world of AI. James uses the vocabulary of AI and explains the concepts well so that it flows smoothly and is easily understood.

I might not be the target audience as I am finishing up a Masters of Science in Business Analytics with a focus on AI. However, James did a fantastic job keeping my attention and did bring up ideas, thoughts and phrases that I will *steal* to help educate people on the targeted AIs I am developing. I especially liked the way he described LLMs as fancy Autocomplete.

I read the audiobook and the best pace seemed to be 1.5x speed for a normal conversational sound. I almost always need at least 1.25 speed just to keep my interest but never more than 1.5x. Being that I am already in the industry, this might be too fast for a novice but kept me engaged and I finished it in about a 24 hour period. I normally do NOT like when the author reads the book but James did a very good job with great intonation.

Writing 5/5
Narration 4.5/5
Overall 5/5 rounded up.

Thank you James Wang, NetGalley and Manuscripts, LLC for the opportunity to read and review this book.