Six AI, technology and data books to ask the Three Wise Men for

2023 was a year full of new developments in artificial intelligence, algorithms and data-related technologies. Therefore, these Christmas holidays are a good time to take advantage of the arrival of the Three Wise Men and ask them for a book to enjoy reading during the holidays, the well-deserved rest and the return to routine after the holiday period. 

Whether you are looking for a reading that will improve your professional profile, learn about new technological developments and applications linked to the world of data and artificial intelligence, or if you want to offer your loved ones a didactic and interesting gift, from datos.gob.es we want to offer you some examples. For the elaboration of the list we have counted on the opinion of experts in the field. 

Take paper and pencil because you still have time to include them in your letter to the Three Wise Men! 

1. Inteligencia Artificial: Ficción, Realidad y... sueños, Nuria Oliver, Real Academia de Ingeniería GTT (2023)  

What it’s about: The book has its origin in the author's acceptance speech to the Royal Academy of Engineering. In it, she explores the history of AI, its implications and development, describes its current impact and raises several perspectives.   

Who should read it: It is designed for people interested in entering the world of Artificial Intelligence, its history and practical applications. It is also aimed at those who want to enter the world of ethical AI and learn how to use it for social good. 

2. A Data-Driven Company. 21 Claves para crear valor a través de los datos y de la Inteligencia Artificial, Richard Benjamins, Lid Editorial (2022)

What it's about: A Data-Driven Company looks at 21 key decisions companies need to face in order to become a data-driven, AI-driven enterprise. It addresses the typical organizational, technological, business, personnel, business, and ethical decisions that organizations must face to start making data-driven decisions, including how to fund their data strategy, organize teams, measure results, and scale.    

Who should read it: It is suitable for professionals who are just starting to work with data, as well as for those who already have experience, but need to adapt to work with big data, analytics or artificial intelligence. 

3. Digital Empires: The Global Battle to Regulate Technology, Anu Bradford, OUP USA (2023)  

What it's about: In the face of technological advances around the world and the arrival of corporate giants spread across international powers, Bradford examines three competing regulatory approaches: the market-driven U.S. model, the state-driven Chinese model, and the rights-based European regulatory model. It examines how governments and technology companies navigate the inevitable conflicts that arise when these regulatory approaches clash internationally.    

Who should read it: This is a book for those who want to learn more about the regulatory approach to technologies around the world and how it affects business. It is written in a clear and understandable way, despite the complexity of the subject. However, the reader will need to know English, because it has not yet been translated into Spanish. 

4. El mito del algoritmo, Richard Benjamins e Idoia Salazar, Anaya Multimedia (2020)

What it's about: Artificial intelligence and its exponential use in multiple disciplines is causing an unprecedented social change. With it, philosophical thoughts as deep as the existence of the soul or debates related to the possibility of machines having feelings are beginning to emerge. This is a book to learn about the challenges, challenges and opportunities of this technology.   

Who should read it: It is aimed at people with an interest in the philosophy of technology and the development of technological advances. By using simple and enlightening language, it is a book within the reach of a general public. 

5. ¿Cómo sobrevivir a la incertidumbre?, de Anabel Forte Deltell, Next Door Publishers 

What it is about: It explains in a simple way and with examples how statistics and probability are more present in daily life. The book starts from the present day, in which data, numbers, percentages and graphs have taken over our daily lives and have become indispensable for making decisions or for understanding the world around us.  

Who should read it: A general public that wants to understand how the analysis of data, statistics and probability are shaping a large part of political, social, economic and social decisions? 

6. Análisis espacial con R: Usa R como un Sistema de Información Geográfica, Jean François Mas, European Scientific Institute 

What it is about: This is a more technical book, which provides a brief introduction to the main concepts for handling the R programming language and environment (types of objects and basic operations) and then introduces the reader to the use of the sf library or package for spatial data in vector format through its main functions for reading, writing and analysis. The book approaches, from a practical and applicative perspective with an easy-to-understand language, the first steps to get started with the use of R in spatial analysis applications; for this, it is necessary that users have basic knowledge of Geographic Information Systems.  

Who should read it: A public with some knowledge of R and basic knowledge of GIS who wish to enter the world of spatial analysis applications. 

This is just a small sample of the great variety of existing literature related to the world of data. We are sure that we have left some interesting book without including it, so if you have any extra recommendation you would like to make, do not hesitate to leave us your favorite title in the comments. Those of us on the datos.gob.es team would be delighted to read your recommendations.