Code to Joy: Why Everyone Should Learn a Little Programming – Interview with Michael Littman

“Code to Joy: Why Everyone Should Learn a Little Programming” is a new book by Michael Littman, a Professor of Computer Science at Brown University and a founding trustee of AIhub. In an interview, Michael discusses the content of the book, its inspiration, and how programming concepts are relevant to our daily lives. The book is not intended for computer scientists, although it has been well-received by them. Its goal is to show that programming is accessible to everyone and builds upon existing skills and practices. Michael believes that machine learning and AI can help bridge the gap between people and machines. The book was inspired by Michael’s experience teaching computer science classes and wanting to empower a larger audience with a deeper knowledge of computing. The book’s structure focuses on the fundamental components of programming and how they relate to everyday life. Each chapter covers a different topic, such as loops, variables, and conditionals, and provides examples of how these concepts are already familiar to us. The chapters also introduce machine learning concepts that can enhance programming. For example, the chapter on conditionals discusses decision trees and their use in interactive fiction. While the book does not specifically cover generative AI, it does touch on GPT-3 and how it can be helpful in programming. During the writing process, Michael discovered interesting examples, such as tools for creating interactive fiction and the complex computational aspects of Jewish prayer books. Michael emphasizes the importance of everyone learning a little programming, as it allows us to effectively communicate with machines and maintain our autonomy. He calls for a healthy relationship with machines and encourages the AI community to explore combining programming-like rules with machine learning to improve how we instruct machines. The book, “Code to Joy: Why Everyone Should Learn a Little Programming,” is available for purchase. Michael Littman is a University Professor of Computer Science at Brown University, specializing in machine learning and decision making under uncertainty.



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