When Toby Walsh wrote his first book on AI, he figured he’d said all he had to say. But just a handful of years later, this British computer scientist and current Chief Scientist at UNSW Sydney’s AI Institute is here to discuss his FIFTH book, The Shortest History of AI – how it came about and some of the challenges around explaining this subject to a general audience.

00:00 Welcome
10:05 Writing tip: ‘Just start writing’
12:52 WIN!: The Midnight Estate by Kelly Rimmer
14:39 Word of the week: ‘Psithurism’
15:09 Writer in residence: Toby Walsh
15:55 Explaining The Shortest History of AI
17:00 Deciding on the six ideas for the book
18:25 How Toby developed his writing voice
20:06 Balancing the academia and hysteria
22:37 The purpose of writing AI books
23:24 The challenges of writing for the public
25:00 On becoming an accidental science communicator
28:03 The secret circle of science communicators
29:58 Untimely deaths in the timeline of AI
30:30 Adding his expertise to the ‘Shortest’ series
32:20 On designing his book cover and subtitle
35:48 The role of great editors in writing
37:24 Toby’s late night writing process 
38:55 His next book project
39:59 A pivot to writing fiction?
42:07 Toby’s tip for writers
43:23 Final thoughts

Read the show notes

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Visit WritersCentre.com.au | ValerieKhoo.com

When Toby Walsh wrote his first book on AI, he figured he&rsquo;d said all he had to say. But just a handful of years later, this British computer scientist and current Chief Scientist at UNSW Sydney&rsquo;s AI Institute is here to discuss his FIFTH book, The Shortest History of AI &ndash; how it came about and some of the challenges around explaining this subject to a general audience.
00:00 Welcome 10:05 Writing tip: &lsquo;Just start writing&rsquo; 12:52 WIN!: The Midnight Estate by Kelly Rimmer 14:39 Word of the week: &lsquo;Psithurism&rsquo; 15:09 Writer in residence: Toby Walsh 15:55 Explaining The Shortest History of AI 17:00 Deciding on the six ideas for the book 18:25 How Toby developed his writing voice 20:06 Balancing the academia and hysteria 22:37 The purpose of writing AI books 23:24 The challenges of writing for the public 25:00 On becoming an accidental science communicator 28:03 The secret circle of science communicators 29:58 Untimely deaths in the timeline of AI 30:30 Adding his expertise to the &lsquo;Shortest&rsquo; series 32:20 On designing his book cover and subtitle 35:48 The role of great editors in writing 37:24 Toby&rsquo;s late night writing process 38:55 His next book project 39:59 A pivot to writing fiction? 42:07 Toby&rsquo;s tip for writers 43:23 Final thoughts
<a href="https://www.writerscentre.com.au/blog/ep-674/">Read the show notes</a>
Connect with Valerie and listeners in <a href="https://www.facebook.com/groups/2346749828883788/">the podcast community on Facebook</a> Visit <a href="https://www.writerscentre.com.au/">WritersCentre.com.au</a> |&nbsp;<a href="http://valeriekhoo.com/">ValerieKhoo.com</a>

Everything you’ve always wanted to know about succeeding in the world of writing and publishing. Learn practical writing techniques, go behind-the-scenes and discover how real-life authors got their big break. Uncover the creative processes of writers who have made it. Your host is Valerie Khoo – author, journalist, creative and CEO of the Australian Writers’ Centre. 

Everything you&rsquo;ve always wanted to know about succeeding in the world of writing and publishing. Learn practical writing techniques, go behind-the-scenes and discover how real-life authors got their big break. Uncover the creative processes of writers who have made it. Your host is Valerie Khoo &ndash;&nbsp;author, journalist, creative and CEO of the Australian Writers&rsquo; Centre.&nbsp;

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