Smoke & Mirrors: How Hype Obscures the Future and How to See Past It

Gemma Milne, BSc 2013

'ROBOTS WILL STEAL YOUR JOB!'

'AI WILL REVOLUTIONISE FARMING!'

'GENETIC EDITING WILL CURE CANCER!'

Bombastic headlines about science and technology are nothing new. To cut through the constant stream of information and misinformation on social media, or grab the attention of investors, or convince governments to take notice, strident headlines or bold claims seem necessary to give complex, nuanced information some wow factor. But hype has a dark side, too. It can mislead. It can distract. It can blinker us from seeing what is actually going on.

From AI, quantum computing and brain implants, to cancer drugs, future foods and fusion energy, science and technology journalist Gemma Milne reveals hype to be responsible for fundamentally misdirecting or even derailing crucial progress. Hype can be combated and discounted, though, if you're able to see exactly where, how and why it is being deployed. This book is your guide to doing just that.

ISBN: 978-1472143662