Hailed by the press as “an intelligent and solid guide on a slippery ethical slope,” this book is a philosophical exploration of artificial intelligence and the future of the mind. A deep and entertaining read.

Year 2045. You are in a mental programming center deciding what improvement you want to incorporate into your brain to expand your memory, increase your musical or mathematical skills. Or perhaps you are already considering turning your mind into a completely artificial environment.

A scenario like this is not science fiction, but an increasingly tangible possibility: we are surrounded by artificial intelligence, from algorithms to virtual assistants that manage our devices. And the next goals are the development of conscious artificial systems and the integration of electronic components into a biological brain.

In some, these innovations generate great optimism, in others, great fears. Philosopher and scientist Susan Schneider focuses on the deep meanings and ethical implications of new technologies, and how they can radically change our definition of human.

Is it really possible to create conscious artificial intelligence? How can we recognize it? If we replace our brain piece by piece with chips, can we still say we are ourselves? Is the mind just a program? This book analyzes hypotheses and future scenarios to push us to question the deep nature of our identity.