Artificial intelligence has long been a mainstay of science fiction, and, increasingly, it feels as if AI is entering our everyday lives, with technology like Apple's Siri now prominent and self-driving cars almost upon us. But what do we actually mean when we talk about AI? Are the sentient machines of 2001 or The Matrix a real possibility, or will real-world artificial intelligence look and feel very different? What has it done for us so far? And what technologies could it yield in the future? AI expert Yorick Wilks takes a journey through the history of artificial intelligence up to the present day, examining its origins, controversies, and achievements, as well as looking into just how it works. He also considers the future, assessing whether these technologies could menace our way of life and how we are all likely to benefit from AI applications in the years to come.