How to Speak Machine: A Gentle Introduction to Artificial Intelligence by John Maeda is an accessible guide to understanding artificial intelligence from the perspective of design, technology and human decision-making. Reissued in 2025 with a new preface, the book offers a clear framework for thinking about how machine-learning systems operate, what they can do and where their limitations begin.
Rather than treating AI as a mysterious technical force, Maeda explains why designers and other creative professionals need a working language for computation. The book considers the scale, speed and unpredictability of machines, while also asking how people can use these capabilities to create products and systems that are more inclusive, responsible and meaningful.
For students working across graphic design, product design, digital media, communication and creative technology, How to Speak Machine is a useful starting point. It does not require advanced coding knowledge. Instead, it encourages readers to approach AI with curiosity and critical awareness, recognising that the most important creative skill is not simply generating outputs, but understanding the assumptions, choices and consequences built into the tools we use.