Although it had taken more than a half century for the necessary preconditions to align—historic milestones in the evolution of algorithms, large-scale data, and raw computing power, all converging at the dawn of the 2010s—it took less than a half decade for the capabilities they unleashed to change the world. (Location 50)
Like many immigrants, I felt hemmed in by cultural divides that crisscrossed my life, ranging from the invisible to the unmistakable. I spent the majority of each day speaking a second language. And I was a woman in a male-dominated field so consistently symbolized by the now archetypal image of “guys in hoodies” that the phrase had lost any trace of irony. (Location 80)
I’d always been an optimist about the power of science, and I remained so, but the tumultuous years leading up to that day had taught me that the fruits of optimism aren’t to be taken for granted. (Location 85)
While the future might indeed be bright, it wouldn’t be so by accident. We’d have to earn it, together, (Location 86)
My being the only child and sole financial support of two parents— (Location 93)
I was certain the future of AI would depend on institutions far beyond science, including education, activism, and, of course, government. (Location 109)
The founding ideals of this country, however imperfectly they’ve been practiced in the centuries since, seemed as wise a foundation as any on which to build the future of technology: the dignity of the individual, the intrinsic value of representation, and the belief that human endeavors are best when guided by the many, rather than the few. (Location 111)
