This book investigates the strategic implications of Japan's ambitious national project to develop a new generation of intelligent computer systems. Authors Edward A. Feigenbaum, a pioneer in knowledge-based systems, and Pamela McCorduck, a noted technology writer, synthesize technical developments with geopolitical analysis. They argue that the Japanese initiative represents a fundamental shift in the global computing landscape, challenging the existing dominance of the United States in information technology.

Experts recognize this work as a significant historical document that captured the anxieties and technological optimism of the early 1980s. Readers frequently note that while the specific technical predictions have been superseded by modern developments, the book remains a foundational text for understanding the history of AI policy and international competition.