 Book cover | |
| Author | Joseph Weizenbaum |
|---|---|
| Language | English |
| Genre | Nonfiction |
| Publisher | W. H. Freeman and Company |
Publication date | 1976 |
| Publication place | United States |
| Media type | |
| Pages | 300 |
| ISBN | 978-0716704645 |
Computer Power and Human Reason: From Judgment to Calculation is a 1976 nonfiction book by German-American computer scientistJoseph Weizenbaum in which he contends that whileartificial intelligence may be possible, we should never allow computers to make important decisions, as they will always lack human qualities such ascompassion andwisdom.[1]
Before writingComputer Power and Human Reason, Weizenbaum had garnered significant attention for creating theELIZA program, an early milestone in conversational computing. His firsthand observation of people attributing human-like qualities to a simple program prompted him to reflect more deeply on society's readiness to entrust moral and ethical considerations to machines.[2]
Computer Power and Human Reason sparked scholarly debate on the acceptable scope ofAI applications, particularly in fields where human welfare and ethical considerations are paramount. Early academic reviews highlighted that Weizenbaum's stance pushed readers to recognize that even as computers grow more capable, they lack the intrinsic moral compass and empathy required for certain kinds of judgment.[3][4][5]
The book caused disagreement with, and separation from, other members of the artificial intelligence research community, a status the author later said he'd come to take pride in.[6]
