12 Bytes
How We Got Here. Where We Might Go Next
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12 Bytes
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Narrated by:
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Jeanette Winterson
About this listen
Brought to you by Penguin.
A 'Books of 2021' pick in the Guardian, Financial Times and Evening Standard.
Twelve bytes. Twelve eye-opening, mind-expanding, funny and provocative essays on the implications of artificial intelligence for the way we live and the way we love - from Sunday Times best-selling author Jeanette Winterson.
In this original, deeply researched and lively new book, Jeanette Winterson traces the history of the AI revolution. She talks to some of the boldest and most imaginative thinkers in the field and looks to religion, myth and literature to help us understand the radical changes to the way we live and love that are just around the corner.
When we create non-human life-forms, will we do so in our image? Or will we accept the once-in-a-species opportunity to remake ourselves in their image?
What do love, caring and attachment look like with a non-biological life form? And what happens to the gender binary?
What will happen when our destiny is not contained by physical bodies, and our destination is not planet Earth?
With wit, compassion and curiosity, Winterson tackles AI's most urgent talking points, and asks listeners to consider their role in imagining a more just and equal future.
©2021 Jeanette Winterson (P)2021 Penguin AudioListeners also enjoyed...
Critic reviews
“What makes this audiobook essential listening is not just its content (a mix of enthusiasm and castigation), but the electricity of Winterson’s narration.” (Times, audiobook of the week)
What listeners say about 12 Bytes
Average customer ratingsReviews - Please select the tabs below to change the source of reviews.
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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- M&m!
- 18-12-22
Finally something interesting!
Lately I am struggling a bit to find the audiobook that I want to listen to. This is bingo: knowledge I know a little bit of but it gives new details and insights, an entertaining but absolutely thoughtpromoting voice… I just started but this is thumbs up.
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- Joe
- 03-10-22
Informative and enjoyable
I really enjoyed this book, it is well worth a listen.
lots to consider
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Overall4 out of 5 stars
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- SharonRAmreview
- 02-12-21
Engaging author touches on interesting stories
I really like Jeanette Winterson and her delivery was fantastic; I bought this after listening to her talk on the radio and was hoping for more detail about some of the fascinating stories she revealed, but perhaps was left wanting more in some instances. There were interesting facts but perhaps the nature of the book is that it provides a taste of the bigger picture rather than the whole picture itself. And even though I'm more a fan of hers than of Apple Corp, I found it hard to make the leap of faith that lack of women or girls in their tv ads is the reason so few women are now working in coding!
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1 person found this helpful
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- Samantha Jones
- 06-10-22
12 Bytes
I enjoyed listening to this book. It wasn't was I was expecting. Another great book by Jeanette Winterson, amongst many x
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- L.A. O.
- 23-03-23
Should be Compulsory
I heard a reference to this book on the radio and thought that it sounded like something that I should know more about. I wasn’t wrong. It needs to be compulsory reading/listening. Not an easy listen, you have to concentrate, but so interesting and extreme well read, making it accessible.
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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- katy
- 19-02-22
I'm buying this for everyone I know...
This book is just the most generous gift to the reader. Jeanette has undertaken all this research and enquiry for her own interest and writing and then shared it freely in these essays. She's even read them for you. In the first few chapters alone we've covered quantum physics and Greek philosophy and just wait till you hear about the early days of the UK computer industry. If that sounds too complex or dull it's not, trust me,her writing and reading is warm, funny and personable. When I consider how many people waste their time reading toxic nonsense like Jordan Peterson when works like this exist, I could cry! Buy this. Learn about our world and our future and then you can get involved in the debate with your own informed perspective.
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3 people found this helpful
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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- Mike AC
- 19-12-22
The future is ours if we want it.
The essays provide hope for a tech future world if we’re prepared to embrace/ shun it’s positive/ negative attributes. In the wrong hands it could threaten our autonomy and free will but if monitored and optimised with consideration could improve everybody’s lives, it’s up to us.
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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- Not Bob
- 12-12-22
Thought Provoking and Well Read
Very enjoyable to listen to Jeanette Winterson’s animated voice. The six essays and interesting and thought provoking. Highly recommended.
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- DW
- 17-06-23
A must listen for those interested in the future
This is a series of essays with the author's musings on themes related to AI and society: its ambitious scope includes the history of computing, human consciousness, gender issues, and a pragmatic view of how the advent of AI will affect many facets of our lives. Sometimes disturbing, always intelligent, with plenty of humour and optimism sprinkled in.
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- lmcartwright
- 26-09-21
Compelling and thought provoking listening
Listened to these “essays” as we travelled European highways - stopping to discuss and rewinding to hear again. How they enriched the journeys with food for thought and vision for the future! The wide ranging sources quoted were deeply impressive and beautifully woven together, underneath was a thread of humour and sound common sense that made 12 Bytes ultimately listenable and enjoyable, whilst with serious intent. And, of course Jeanette just delivers it so well and is a joy to listen to.
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4 people found this helpful