You may be aware that I'm a regular science writer for BBC Science Focus Magazine, frequently contributing to the Q&A section and writing longer pieces. You can find my writer's profile online here: https://www.sciencefocus.com/author/peterbentley/

Recently I wrote a longer piece on Augmented Intelligence, making the case that automation is not always better than augmentation. While I do not believe that AI is about to replace us, there are those with the misguided opinions that we should try. I argue that one of the main benefits of AI is that it can make us better people... but only if used correctly.

I was asked by Ben Fox of shepherd.com to add to their book lists, which helps authors promote books to readers while also sharing their own favourite books. I chose to do a list on AI books, plus a couple of wild card science fiction books. I read quite a bit so I cannot claim these are my favourites, as these change over time... but I enjoyed them at around the time of writing the list, so that's why they made it there. You can see my book list here:

I was interviewed and talked (rambled) at some length about my views on AI in a podcast. I guess with more thought I'm probably also impressed by some of the pretrained transformers such as GPT-3... but somehow a lot of the output still feels like recycling our own junk back at us. It's not exactly intelligent... But anyway, the advances keep coming so long as billions are being spent in the area!

From the age of about 12 I was building robots and programming computers. There are very few photos of my various creations (not least because each later robot tended to be made from pieces of earlier ones) but recently I found a few pictures, which I've assembled to show the fruits of my teenage labour. Two still exist to this day, although Victor had his brain removed and no longer functions...

I'm pleased to announce that my new book will be published next month. Entitled: "10 Short Lessons in Artificial Intelligence and Robotics", it is one of the launch titles of the Michael O’Mara Books new Pocket Einstein series. We've finalised the cover, complete with a very nice quote from Steve Pinker. The full quote was:

Artificial Intelligence is both a fascinating topic and a pressing issue. But much of the commentary has been not-so-intelligent, discussing this technology as an awesome or terrifying form of black magic. Peter Bentley is a true expert, and has given us a lucid, balanced, and engaging tour of one of the most important phenomena of this century.​ Steven Pinker, Johnstone Professor of Psychology, Harvard University, and author of How the Mind Works and Enlightenment Now.

Thanks Steve!

On 21 February I was honored to be invited as a guest judge for TiE London's International Startup Competition.

I was privileged to be invited to judge the European Semifinal of the SeedAward European Semi Final, RSA House, London in September, giving a keynote speech at the event. Later in November I was invited to be a judge at the SeedAward Final, in Shenzhen, China.

I was an invited speaker at the Asian Leadership Conference 2019 in Seoul, participating in a panel debate with Prof Denis Noble, Prof Terry Gaasterland, Prof Ho Sung Kim and chaired by Prof Doheon Lee.

This November 2018 I was invited to give a keynote speech at Thailand Management Day 2018, Siam Kempinski Hotel Bangkok, Thailand. A very nice event!

I was invited to participate in a debate on Artificial Intelligence at the Your Future, Your Ambition Executive event, Emirates Stadium, London. A really interesting day!