12 Bytes: How We Got Here, Where We Might Go Next

Abstract

12 BYTES: How We Got Here, Where We Might Go Next by Jeanette Winterson. New York: Grove Press, 2021. 336 pages. Hardcover; $27.00. ISBN: 9780802159250. *Throughout a set of twelve essays, Jeanette Winterson explores computing through history, culture, and philosophy. She focuses on the values and stories built into technology. She begins with a section titled "The Past" which refers to Ada Lovelace and Mary Shelley, explaining the origins of computing. The section that follows is about "superpowers" and computing. This second section is the most philosophical of the four parts of the book, navigating relationships between current and past philosophies, and explaining how technology influences the way people will think about the world. The third section is called "Sex and Other Stories," which discusses sex and gender and sexism. The concluding section of the book titled "The Future" comprises three concluding essays. *Though I certainly did not agree with all of Winterson's claims, the book felt like one side of a respectful dialogue rather than imposing a singular view of the world. She does not directly state her current religious beliefs, but shares that she grew up as a Christian. Although her current view of the Bible is not clearly stated, she brings it into the discussion frequently and uses a respectful tone to discuss religion. For leaders in faith and technology, 12 Bytes provides thoughtful insights on many different aspects of the assumptions, history, and future of technology and how it shapes society. *Chapter 4: "Gnostic Know-How" is a discussion of religions, AI, and the religion of AI. Winterson compares the faith that many people place in technology to the Christian hope of the resurrection. She is far more critical of the Church of Big Tech than she is of any traditional religion. She very clearly states that faith placed in AI is misplaced, saying, "We could create a god (AI) in our own image--warlike, needy, controlling. It isn't a good idea" (p. 113). *In addition to religion, women are a recurring theme of the book. She starts by introducing the author Mary Shelley and the computing pioneer Ada Lovelace, who are mentioned in later essays as well. In other essays she focuses on women as a group, with trademark sass: "Why wouldn't we want an able, considerate, smart helper who is always available, and mostly free? That used to be called a wife. But then feminism spoiled the party" (p. 78). Multiple essays focus primarily on women, as in "Hot for a Bot," which discusses sex bots as encouraging the objectification of women by building actual objects as replacements. She also discusses women and discrimination in STEM fields in the essay "The Future Isn't Female." *Another significant theme is the economy. Starting with the history of workers' rights and the industrial revolution, she discusses the future of our economy, considering the rapidly changing role of technology. She expresses many concerns about Big Tech and the economy. At one point she writes, "Did you imagine you owned your face? Owning is so last century. This is a sharing economy. We share. Big Tech collects" (p. 61). She suggests that describing the new economy as the "sharing economy" is ironic since sharing is not a financial transaction, but we are moving in the direction of increased transactions. Using history and descriptions of present-day business practices, all the way through to Big Tech's COVID-19 profits, she argues that companies should be forced to be more responsible. In envisioning a new economy, she has as many questions as answers, but she lays out principles that may guide reformation. *I have read many books about AI, but I have not found another book that engages with modern AI and technology alongside philosophy in the way that 12 Bytes does. It respectfully and thoughtfully considers the relationships between religion, philosophy, and technology; I would recommend it for those interested in exploring these connections. The primary question posed by the book is not one about the direction of technology, but rather it asks, Where does humanity go from here? *Reviewed by Elizabeth Koning, graduate student in the Department of Computer Science, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, IL 61801.