The English translation of my book, published in 2025 by Fundação Francisco Manuel dos Santos, is now available in Amazon. For those on the move, you can also hear an AI-generated podcast about the book.
In this book, I aim to provide readers with a clear and grounded understanding of one of the most visible technologies of our time. The book was written with the conviction that the recent surge in interest in generative AI should not be viewed as the result of a sudden or mysterious breakthrough, but rather as the culmination of a long and cumulative scientific trajectory. By situating today’s systems within the broader history of artificial intelligence and machine learning, I try to help readers make sense of why these technologies now appear so powerful, and why they have entered everyday life so rapidly.
My goal was not to write a technical manual or a cookbook for Ai users, but rather to explain, in an accessible way, how generative models work, what distinguishes them from earlier approaches, and what kinds of problems they are well-suited to address. Concepts such as neural networks, deep learning, language models, reinforcement learning, and diffusion-based generation are introduced gradually, always with the intention of clarifying ideas rather than overwhelming the reader with detail. I hope this makes the book useful to anyone who wants to understand the technologies behind current applications, from text and image generation to decision support and automation, without needing a background in computer science.
At the same time, the book reflects my concern that enthusiasm for generative AI should be matched by careful reflection on its limitations, risks, and broader consequences. Alongside the discussion of applications, I devote space to the challenges these systems pose for individuals, institutions, and society as a whole, and to the difficulty of anticipating their long-term impact. Rather than offering definitive answers, I aim to provide readers with the conceptual tools needed to think critically about these technologies, to use them more responsibly, and to engage in informed debate about the future they are helping to shape.
This (AI generated) infographic provides a good overview of what is covered in the book.
Digital Minds 
