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Why now?
Artificial intelligence is everywhere. It’s making its way into the media, the workplace, schools, businesses, government agencies, and even our everyday conversations. Everyone is talking about it. Very few people truly understand how it works.
Between exaggerated promises, alarmist rhetoric, and technical jargon, it’s becoming difficult to form a clear opinion. What does artificial intelligence actually do? What is it capable of today? What are its limits? And above all, how can we maintain our freedom of judgment in the face of systems that claim to help us make decisions?
This book was born from a simple observation: we need an accessible, rigorous, and step-by-step explanation of AI. Not to make it a subject reserved for specialists, but to give everyone the necessary tools to understand what is at stake, ask the right questions, and participate in the debate with clarity.
Reading this book now means refusing to watch this debate from the sidelines. It means choosing to understand for yourself, to maintain your critical thinking, and not to let others think about AI for you.
What you'll find
Understanding
Why we so often make decisions in the face of uncertainty, how models are created, and how machines learn to recognize patterns in data. A clear introduction to finally lay the right foundation.
Learn
What terms like machine learning, neural networks, generative AI, and large language models actually mean. With concrete examples from healthcare, banking, industry, education, media, and everyday life.
Reflection
How AI is changing our relationship with work, truth, responsibility, and freedom. An invitation to move beyond mere technological enthusiasm and maintain a clear-eyed, nuanced, and fully human perspective.
They read it, and they loved it!
The most pedagogical book I ever read on AI !
I found this book particularly interesting, both educational and very enriching. Roger Vandomme takes us step by step through the fundamental concepts necessary for understanding artificial intelligence before offering us an exploration of its many applications. The book thus helps readers better understand the uncertainty of the world around us. This book, which is exceptionally educational on the subject of AI, is aimed equally at novices curious to discover the field and at informed readers wishing to structure and deepen their knowledge. Beyond the principles, it invites concrete reflection on the real impact of AI, questioning us about its strengths, limitations, and future prospects!
General Patrick Perrot - French National Gendarmerie
Doctor of Artificial Intelligence
Former Coordinator for Artificial Intelligence
Co-chair of Europol's Strategic Group on AI
Roger Vandomme has written a book that makes AI approachable without oversimplifying it.
Easy to read and engaging, it’s designed for leaders and managers who want to understand what AI is, where and how it adds value, and how to use it ethically and effectively. The book provides a clear ‘order of operations’ for implementing AI, along with practical criteria to identify the most relevant use cases. It also helps readers evaluate both risks and opportunities, and offers helpful guidance on tools, definitions, and where to go to learn more about specific AI topics.I’ve had the pleasure of working with Roger for the past three years. He helped our organization use predictive analytics responsibly and effectively, contributing to improved safety in the province of Ontario. This book reflects the same clarity and pragmatism. I highly recommend it to my network.
Bonnie Rose
CEO
Technical Standards and Safety Authority - Ontario
A clear and progressive exploration of artificial intelligence ...
... combining scientific rigor with accessible pedagogy. By placing AI in the context of the history of human decision-making, uncertainty, and probabilistic calculation, the book demystifies without oversimplifying.It links technical concepts, cognitive issues, and concrete applications, while maintaining precision. The book shows that AI is not a magical breakthrough, but the result of a methodical evolution linking data, models, and decisions.Its three-part structure (understand, apply, reflect) guides readers on a journey of skill development. Finally, it reminds us that AI is neither omniscient nor threatening in itself: its value depends on the quality of the data, human choices, and the ethical framework.
Abdel El Assad
CEO
Eliadis
It is highly entertaining read ...
... filled with witty historical anecdotes, while delivering clear explanations of the what, why, and how of AI. In a landscape where AI is often buried under jargon, Roger Vandomme’s book stands out as an engaging, reader-friendly guide. It’s an ideal entry point for curious readers who want clarity, context, and confidence, without needing a technical background.
Dr. Elspeth Murray, PhD
Associate Professor, Strategy and Entrepreneurship
Queen’s University
Who is this book intended for?
This book is for anyone who hears about artificial intelligence everywhere but wants to finally understand it clearly, systematically, and with some perspective.
Executives and managers
For those who need to make decisions, set strategic direction, consult with experts, or evaluate AI-related projects, without necessarily having in-depth technical training.
Teachers and Trainers
For those who want to explain AI in simple terms, provide a solid foundation, and help students, colleagues, or diverse audiences understand a subject that has become essential.
Students
For those looking for a clear, structured, and accessible introduction to help them understand the key concepts of AI before moving on, if they wish, to more specialized topics.
Curious Professionals
For executives, consultants, industry experts, project managers, and practitioners who are seeing AI enter their work environment and want to understand its applications, potential, and limitations.
Parents
For parents who want to understand the digital world in which their children are growing up, gain a better understanding of the AI tools their children are already using, and have simple guidelines for discussing these topics with their families in a thoughtful way—without sensationalism or naivety.
Non-specialist readers
For all curious readers who want to understand what AI really is, with a minimal amount of math explained step by step, without needing any prior background in computer science or data science.
About the author
Roger Vandomme is a data scientist and artificial intelligence consultant. For over twenty years, he has been helping companies with their data-driven transformation projects, from strategy to operational implementation.
With degrees in statistics and management, he has worked in a variety of sectors—banking, defense, telecommunications, and manufacturing—where he designed and deployed predictive models long before AI became a mainstream topic. Passionate about sharing knowledge, he has taught strategic planning at the Canadian Forces College and machine learning at the University of Toronto.
Convinced that understanding must precede use, he wrote "An Approximate Intelligence" to provide a non-technical audience with the keys to a technology too often shrouded in mystery or fantasy. His approach combines scientific rigor, pedagogy, and a critical eye.
Roger Vandomme lives in Toronto, Canada. When he isn’t exploring the frontiers of artificial intelligence, he shares his passion for popular science on his YouTube channel.
FAQ
Here are some answers to the most frequently asked questions about the book, its formats, and opportunities for presentations.
In what languages is the book available?
The book is available in French and English, in two versions tailored to their respective audiences.
Where can I buy it?
The book can be ordered online through major book retailers as well as via the publisher’s distribution network.
Is it available as an ebook?
Yes. The book is available in print and digital formats.
Who is it intended for?
Anyone who wants to understand artificial intelligence clearly, without any specific technical prerequisites.
Do I need knowledge of mathematics or computer science?
No. The book was designed to be accessible, with minimal mathematics explained simply and step-by-step.
Does the book discuss ChatGPT and generative AI?
Yes. It places these recent tools within a broader context to help readers understand their principles, uses, and limitations.
Can the author be invited to give a talk?
Yes. Roger Vandomme speaks at companies, schools, institutions, and organizations that wish to offer a clear and rigorous introduction to artificial intelligence.
