Automat und Mensch Kybernetische Tatsachen und Hypothesen by Karl Steinbuch

Steinbuch’s books introduced the concept of “information processing” as a core function of machines and computers. This idea laid the foundation for the development of artificial intelligence and cognitive science. According to Gottfried Jäger, the book “was seminal for my way of thinking.” The book attempted to explain intellectual functions in terms of information transfers and science. Automat und Mensch taught Jäger that “a human brain and a hand weren’t necessary anymore for artistic expression. It could be also a technical apparatus. A camera or a computer were capable of achieving intellectual results.” Thus, the book significantly influenced the way we understand the relationship between humans and machines. Steinbuch’s work helped to shape the field of cybernetics and inspired further research in the field of computer science, leading to the upcoming digital revolution in art.