Intelligence as metaphor (an introduction)
Letter magic
Smart cabinets
Floral leaf pattern
Template culture
Airplane stories
Markov's Pushkin
9 big ideas for an effective conclusion

"In this provocative reflection on the shared pasts of literature and computer science, former Microsoft engineer and professor of comparative literature Dennis Yi Tenen provides crucial context for recent developments in AI. Intelligence expressed through technology should not be mistaken for a magical genie, capable of self-directed thought of action. Smart tools, like dictionaries and grammar books, have always accompanied the act of writing, thinking, and communicating. That these paper machines are now automated does not bring them to life. Nor can we cede agency over the creative process. With its masterful blend of history, technology, and philosophy, Yi Tenen's work ultimately urges us to view AI as a matter of labor industry, celebrating the long-standing cooperation between authors and engineers."-- Back cover