Whether we like it or not, we will soon have to coexist with autonomous machines. We already spend a significant portion of our time interacting with mechanical likenesses of people in video games or in virtual systems—from FAQbots to Siri. Who will they become - our servants, assistants, colleagues or masters? The author attempts to answer a philosophical question about the future relationship between humans and machines and introduces readers to a group of computer scientists, programmers, roboticists and neuroscientists who believe that we are approaching a tipping point when artificial intelligence will surpass human intelligence and our world will be irrevocably changed. However, experts see the place of man in this new world differently, and the author introduces us to the entire spectrum of opinions. The central theme of the book is the duality and paradox inherent in the activities of developers, who either expand human capabilities or replace people with the help of the systems they create.