** spoiler alert ** Once awhile we chanced upon a book that really altered the way we look at things. The every-day things.

Learning from machines to become more human. Doesn’t it sound odd?

Brain Christian rightly pointed out that computers are tool designed without a specified purpose initially, and tons of applications were designed after computers (tools) were constructed. Now, we can see the power of computing applied to almost every mundane activity.

With computers seemingly invading all territories of our daily activities, taking over human jobs, and with our ever-increasing reliance on computers to manage our schedule and tasks, it is inevitable that we question just how much has machines become human.

To answer that question, Brian Christian goes on to explore what really make a human.... human?

The differentiating factor is our unique ability to "communicate" with each other.

Most languages are designed around a very structured system, yet we adopt an unstructured way to deliver our ideas, thoughts and feelings everyday. Our tendency to add in conversational fillers (uhh, umm), having unique slang, ability to have our own point of view, having a 'stateful' identity, adding in emotions, all are contributing factors that add depth and flow into conversation that makes us human. Something computers just isn't quite there yet.

By creating new thoughts and ideas, and selectively choosing words, every conversation in itself is a poetry. Conversations with machines are repetition and a mimic of ideas that are after all... inputs.

Without those 'human' elements, we will never get the form of satisfaction and fulfillment in a conversation with a computer.

The duels of arguments and counter-arguments.
The gamble of approvals and rejections.
The power of anger and encouragement.
The emotional energy that bounces off two people.
Conversation with another human being is very much rewarding. Something that computers will never take away from us. And i'll start to treasure the one thing that make me uniquely human.