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About the Book

The most important technology of our time — decoded.

Artificial Intelligence is transforming every profession, every industry, and nearly every aspect of society. Millions of people use AI every day. Few understand why it works.

AI for Smarties explains the principles behind today's AI revolution in clear, accessible language, separating enduring concepts from passing hype.

Unlike books focused on tools or current products, it explains the scientific ideas that made modern AI possible.

Why This Book Matters

About Bertrand Meyer

Bertrand Meyer is a software engineer, entrepreneur, educator, and author whose work has influenced generations of software developers. Creator of Eiffel. Inventor of Design by Contract. Author of Object-Oriented Software Construction. Founder of Interactive Software Engineering (now Eiffel Software), Propulsion, and Recognyze.ai. Recipient of the ACM Software System Award and the IEEE Harlan Mills Award.

Why Bertrand Meyer?

Journalists may know the topic, but many won't know Bertrand Meyer's background. This career timeline highlights why the author is a credible voice for interviews.

• 1985 — Founded Interactive Software Engineering (Eiffel Software)
• 1988 — Published Object-Oriented Software Construction (Tony Hoare International Series)
• 1990s — Design by Contract
• 1997 — Published Object-Oriented Software Construction, 2nd Edition (Pearson)
• 2000s — Professor at ETH Zürich
• 2017 — Founded Propulsion
• 2022 — Propulsion acquired
• 2026 — Published AI for Smarties

Interview Topics

• Why did AI suddenly succeed?
• What are Large Language Models actually doing?
• Why did machine learning replace rule-based AI?
• What software engineering can teach AI
• Will AI replace programmers?
• Why education must adapt
• The future of AI

Sample Questions

• What is the biggest misconception about AI today?
• Why did rule-based AI fail?
• What does "learning from experience" really mean?
• Why is software engineering still essential?
• Can AI reason?
• How should universities teach AI?

Book Facts

Title: AI for Smarties: Understanding Artificial Intelligence

Subtitle: ✓ Why large language models work ✓ Why learning replaced rules ✓ What AI means for software engineering, education, and society A clear explanation of AI from one of software engineering's pioneers, Bertrand Meyer. – Author of classic best-seller _Object-Oriented Software Construction_ – ACM Software System Award – IEEE Harlan Mills Prize

Author: Bertrand Meyer

Publisher: Smarties Press

Publication Date: 2026

Language: English

Formats: E-book (PDF), Print (forthcoming)

ISBN: Forthcoming

Price: €29.95

Website: https://www.dev.smarties-press.com/

Downloads: Future translations planned.

Praise

Early reader comments

“AI may be the most hyped technical topic ever, making it particularly urgent to cut through the noise and understand the good, the hype, and the ugly”

Philippe Kahn — Founder of Borland, Starfish, Lightsurf, inventor of the camera phone

“In this impressive book, Bertrand Meyer delivers a masterclass on modern AI. He progressively guides the reader from foundational principles to advanced topics, seamlessly incorporating history, philosophy, societal implications, and key debates—all within a brilliantly engaging and accessible manuscript.”

Lionel Briand — Director Ireland's national research center for software research, pioneer in software testing and trustworthy AI

“The book is a genuine work of demanding popularization, rooted in the tradition of le gai savoir, or perhaps in the best traditions of geek culture, where intellectual rigor is in no way incompatible with humor, curiosity, and the joy of sharing knowledge without pretension.”

Stéphane Dalbera — digital innovator, founder of Atopos

High-resolution Images

Website / QR: https://www.dev.smarties-press.com/