Artificial Unintelligence Review: Why AI Is Not Always the Answer

Read time: 5 minutes

🎧 Listened in audio
📢 Narrated by Andrea Emmes
⏱ Duration: 8 hours
🏷️ Publisher: Tantor Media & MIT Press

Book Blurb:

In Artificial Unintelligence, Meredith Broussard, a software developer and data journalism professor at NYU, challenges the idea that technology is always the answer. From self-driving cars to machine learning experiments, she reveals just how often our systems fail and why the belief in a perfect digital utopia is misguided. Through accessible examples and personal experiments, Broussard unpacks the concept of “technochauvinism” and argues that understanding the limits of technology is the first step toward designing a more just, informed future.

Let’s talk about the book:

I have been on a bit of a personal crusade lately, reading books about Artificial Unintelligence and how it is shaping our lives, our decision-making, and even the way we think. Artificial Unintelligence felt like a refreshing detour in that journey. Instead of celebrating AI as the shiny solution to everything, Meredith Broussard steps back and asks a much more important question: what if technology isn’t always the answer? Meredith Broussard brings a rare blend of critical insight and storytelling, reminding us that not every problem needs a code-based solution. Her arguments against “technochauvinism” (the worship of technology as a cure-all) land especially hard in a world obsessed with innovation for innovation’s sake.

Broussard writes from a place of deep expertise. As a data journalist and research director at NYU, she brings both technical understanding and journalistic curiosity to the table. What stood out to me was how she broke down complex concepts without turning the book into a dense academic textbook. The explanations are technically sound, but they remain accessible and engaging for readers who are simply curious about the realities behind AI.

Some of the case studies she discusses were familiar to me from other AI books I’ve read. However, the way she approached them felt different. Instead of simply presenting examples, she digs into the logic behind the technology and shows where systems fail or fall short. Considering this book was published in 2018, it’s almost startling how relevant it still feels today. The warnings she raises about blindly trusting algorithms and digital systems continue to echo in conversations about AI even now.

Would I recommend it?

Artificial Unintelligence is essential reading for anyone trying to make sense of AI’s promises versus its pitfalls. It’s smart, digestible, and surprisingly hopeful about our human role in an automated world. If you are curious about artificial intelligence but don’t want to dive into a dry technical manual, this is a fantastic place to start. It’s informative, engaging, and surprisingly thought-provoking. Broussard does a great job of explaining not just how AI works, but why we should question the assumption that computers always know best.

Book Recommendations:

1. Weapons of Math Destruction by Cathy O’Neil – A deep look at algorithmic bias and how data-driven decisions shape inequality.
   Goodreads | StoryGraph | Pagebound | Fable | Hardcover | OpenLibrary | Litsy
2. You Look Like a Thing and I Love You by Janelle Shane – Hilarious, insightful examples of AI’s charming and frustrating quirks.
   Goodreads | StoryGraph | Pagebound | Fable | Hardcover | OpenLibrary | Litsy
3. Atlas of AI by Kate Crawford – A powerful exploration of AI’s impact on labor, environment, and ethics.
   Goodreads | StoryGraph | Pagebound | Fable | Hardcover | OpenLibrary | Litsy
4. The Alignment Problem by Brian Christian – Tackles the moral and philosophical challenges of teaching AI to think ethically.
   Goodreads | StoryGraph | Pagebound | Fable | Hardcover | OpenLibrary | Litsy
5. Hello World by Hannah Fry – A witty, grounded take on where humans should draw the line with algorithms.
   Goodreads | StoryGraph | Pagebound | Fable | Hardcover | OpenLibrary | Litsy
   

The Real Question: Should We Trust Algorithms?

Have you ever stopped to wonder how many decisions in your life are quietly influenced by algorithms? From job applications to social media feeds to credit scores, AI is everywhere. Do you think technology is making better decisions for us, or are we trusting it a little too much? I’d love to hear your thoughts in the comments.

Book Links:

Want to purchase this or any of your favorite books while supporting a local bookstore? Consider purchasing using the sites below. These sites work with independent local bookstore owners to fulfill your book orders. #SupportLocal

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Goodreads | StoryGraph | Pagebound | Fable | Hardcover | OpenLibrary | Litsy
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