Illinois English professor's new book takes aim at AI hype by listening to the researchers
John Gallagher interviewed more than 100 AI and machine-learning experts for the book.
CHAMPAIGN - A new book by University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign English professor John Gallagher tries to counter the hype around artificial intelligence by focusing on the people who build it, the university's News Bureau reported Thursday.
"AI Through the Experts' Eyes: Communicating Complex Ideas" draws on Gallagher's interviews with more than 100 AI and machine-learning experts, most of them in academia and in computer science and physics. He switched to interviews after the COVID-19 pandemic derailed plans to visit AI research centers. Gallagher is affiliated with the School of Information Sciences and is teaching two classes on AI this semester.
"It's boring. It's math, a lot of math, and meetings and day-to-day normalcy," Gallagher said of the work. He argues that pressure to publish quickly at conferences may lead researchers to overstate findings or understate limitations.
Gallagher suggests nonexperts seek out technical AI researchers rather than business leaders promoting products or podcasters seeking an audience.
Source: University of Illinois News Bureau, Oct. 8, 2026.