Book Review: The Heart and the Chip: Our Bright Future with Robots by Daniela Rus and Gregory Mone

This review was first published by Booklist on February 9, 2024.

Rus, Director of the MIT Computer Science and Artificial Intelligence Laboratory, knows more about robots and artificial intelligence than just about anyone. Here she takes readers on a tour of the cutting edge of this technology. She assures us there’s no danger of a robot apocalypse. She and many of her colleagues envision a world where robots and people cooperate to enhance our abilities, where the human heart and the computer chip work together to make the world better for everyone, especially people who are disabled or disadvantaged. Modern robots aren’t clunky metal contraptions as they’re so often portrayed. They can be made from fabrics, plastics, just about anything, in all kinds of shapes and sizes, and can be used in everything from non-invasive surgeries to training athletes to helping the elderly maintain mobility and independence. Robots can help us solve deep-set problems, even aid us in healing the planet. Not a world of robot overlords, but a world full of Iron Man suits made of stylish fabrics instead of steel. It’s a compelling vision.