Not too many years ago, the phrase “artificial intelligence” sounded fanciful or in some contexts scary. It’s now a common tool with a myriad of everyday uses, many of which you’ve interacted with already.
Common AI uses include online advertising, search engines, digital assistants like Siri and Alexa, and smart home technologies. If you have a smartphone and use Google, or own a Google Home or Alexa and ask it daily questions, then you’re interacting with AI.
With its huge effects on our daily life, there’s a growing interest in learning more about AI and how AI works. We compiled this list of books to support your curiosity—whether you’re a beginner with limited technical knowledge or an AI expert.
AI books for beginners
These three books are our top picks for anyone new to AI seeking a basic understanding. This includes basic introductions without a lot of technical language and one that requires a working understanding of Python.
“Artificial Intelligence For Dummies (2nd Edition)”
Authors: Luca Massaron, John Mueller
Website: Amazon | Dummies.com
The popular “For Dummies” series is an excellent place to start. This book is a non-technical introduction to the world of AI and covers how to distinguish AI hype from reality, how algorithms learn and work, the role of data in AI, and practical examples of AI in action.
It also touches on important topics such as the application of AI in different fields, the semantic differences between AI, machine learning (ML), and deep learning, and includes hundreds of links to more learning resources.
“Artificial Intelligence Basics: A Non-Technical Introduction”
Author: Tom Taulli
Website: Amazon
This is a great book for beginners without a technical background. It focuses on teaching readers about how AI works in society and its impact. From its creation to current developments, Taulli addresses how AI technology is used across industries.
This book also tackles common AI questions: how it affects societal trends, the future impact it can have, the ethics around using certain kinds of AI, and more. This book is especially useful for business leaders who want a working understanding of AI to help progress their business.
“Python: Beginner's Guide to Artificial Intelligence”
Authors: Denis Rothman, Matthew Lamons, Rahul Kumar
Website: Amazon
This is a great book for people who have a technical background, know Python, and specifically want to learn how they can develop their own AI. It not only offers a background of AI, machine learning, and robotics, but it also teaches you the basics of creating AI by using Python.
Discover how to develop your own AI and gain access to other educational content about deep learning, AI, and TensorFlow.
AI books for growing enthusiasts
These three books are for people with a stronger technical background who are already familiar with AI and how it works. They’re meant to be a little more technical and advanced, and help the intermediate enthusiast increase their knowledge.
“Fundamentals of Machine Learning for Predictive Data Analytics – Algorithms, Worked Examples and Case Studies (2nd Edition)”
Authors: John D. Kelleher, Brian Mac Namee, Aoife D’Arcy
This textbook focuses on the application of machine learning and AI in Predictive Data Analytics, which involves building predictive models by analyzing patterns from large data sets. It covers theory and the practical applications of AI in predictive analytics, illustrated through examples and case studies.
Though this is a textbook, it’s accessible to anyone interested in AI, regardless of their field. With easy-to-understand explanations of the major themes before covering the mathematics behind them, it illuminates the business applications of predictive analytics and AI. Develop a solid, functional understanding with this book.
“Life 3.0 Being Human in the Age of Artificial Intelligence”
Author: Max Tegmark
Website: Amazon
How does the use of AI in society change what it means to be human? This book, written by an MIT professor, grapples with the big societal questions of AI. How can we continue to streamline automation and AI processes without leaving people jobless or lacking income? Will machines eventually outsmart humans and take over the job market?
This book focuses less on the what and how of AI and more on the why and what it means. It empowers people to join the AI conversation and understand what technological advances the future may bring.
“Deep Learning (Adaptive Computation and Machine Learning series)”
Authors: Ian Goodfellow, Yoshua Bengio, Aaron Courville
Deep learning is a type of AI that allows computers to naturally learn from experience, and grow their understanding of the world as they do. This book covers the basics of deep learning, including the hierarchy of concepts that allow it to work, and then jumps into the mathematical and conceptual background, including topics in linear algebra, numerical computation, and machine learning.
This book is designed for undergraduate or graduate students that intend to research or pursue careers in the software engineering field. With a range of complex topics covered and access to a website with supplemental material, put this one on your reading list.
Advanced AI books for experts
The next three books cover some advanced topics, particularly deep learning and its effect on the AI field. If you have a working knowledge of AI but want to jump into more advanced topics and access hands-on learning guides, these books are for you.
“Python: Advanced Guide to Artificial Intelligence”
Author(s): Armando Fandango, Giuseppe Bonaccorso, Rajalingappaa Shanmugamani
Website: Amazon
To advance your AI knowledge requires a solid understanding of the major algorithms used in machine learning. This book covers those algorithms, as well as how models can be trained and evaluated. Find explanations and practical examples of autoencoders, generative adversarial networks, and guidance for defining and training your own model.
This book is best for data scientists and AI engineers looking to dive into algorithms, learn how to build and calibrate models, and improve predictions using those trained models. An understanding of Python is required as you consume the book.
“Neural Networks and Deep Learning”
Author: Charu C. Aggarwal
Neural networks are a set of algorithms modeled after the human brain, which allows AI to learn and grow on its own, and are core to the function of deep learning. This book explores the relationship between traditional AI and deep learning, using neural networks. It also covers advanced neural network topics, including radial-basis function networks and reinforcement learning.
This book is written for researchers and graduate students with a solid understanding of artificial intelligence and deep learning. It encourages readers to use what they learn.
“Artificial Intelligence Engines: A Tutorial Introduction to the Mathematics of Deep Learning”
Author: James Stone
Website: Amazon
Offering an in-depth introduction to AI engines and how they help run deep learning, neural network programs, —this book covers historically important neural networks and network learning algorithms, followed by complete mathematical analyses.
It’s best for people with an understanding of AI that want to learn more about AI engines and deep learning, then explore potential uses in the world today—from helping diagnose cancer to playing a strategic game like poker.
Bonus: Books for any AI enthusiast
These are our honorable mention books. They cover AI in specific fields and address the questions of control and ethics in AI.
“Applied Artificial Intelligence: A Handbook for Business Leaders”
Authors: Mariya Yao, Adelyn Zhou, Marlene Jia
Website: Amazon
This book is a practical guide for business leaders seeking to take the next step and use AI. It doesn’t prophesy doom and gloom about a jobless future, nor does it bog down the text with debugging code. It equips businesses with the knowledge to use AI so they can improve their business and better their communities.
“Artificial Intelligence in Healthcare”
Author: Dr. Parag Suresh Mahajan MD
Website: Amazon
Curious about how AI is utilized in healthcare? We have the book for you. It tackles these questions and more: how does AI improve health and wellbeing? What’s the future of AI in healthcare? What are the ethics behind using AI in a human-centric field like medicine? What are the benefits and risks? Written by a medical doctor, this book provides an in-depth look at how AI affects healthcare but is written in an accessible way, appealing to anyone.
“Advances in Financial Machine Learning”
Author: Marcos Lopez de Prado
Website: Amazon
Until recently, there were tasks in the financial sector that only expertly-trained humans could perform. Now, with the help of advanced AI, computers can take on some of those tasks. This book discusses how AI affects the financial industry and how to utilize it. It tackles common questions and problems you may face when using AI in finance and explains complete solutions. This book is for people who want to discover the practical steps to use AI in this industry.
“Human Compatible – Artificial Intelligence and the Problem of Control”
Author: Stuart Russell
Website: Amazon
If you’ve worried about the AI rebellion and a future of robot overlords, this is your book. Leading AI researcher Stuart Russell discusses the relationship between machines and humans, and how far we are from creating superhuman AI. He outlines key breakthroughs that must happen to create superhuman AI, then talks about rebuilding AI from the ground up to prevent this future from happening.
“Architects of Intelligence: The truth about AI from the people building it”
Author: Martin Ford
Website: Amazon
What are major concerns about AI? How will it impact the job market? Or the economy? How about society? This book discusses those questions and more, as a New York Times best-selling author interviews leading minds in AI research. Learn about the science, business, and ethics of AI, plus innovations on the horizon.
AI for business
Now that you know the complexity of the topic of AI, is it any wonder that businesses all over the world scramble to keep up with trends? Using AI in business helps streamline processes, eliminate human error, and provide advanced knowledge and predictions based on data. Learn more about how Tableau uses AI analytics to support our customers through various predictive models.
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