The Age of AI: "THE BOOK WE ALL NEED" Paperback – 4 Aug. 2022

AI is well up the hype-scale at the moment and this book will explain a lot about why that is. Kissinger and Schmidt have sufficient experience that we should take note of their views. Being authored by a policy strategist and technology manager, together with an academic, gives the first indication of the potential readership. Politicians and policy strategists will find this enlightening and essential reading about opportunities and threats: there are numerous pointers throughout as to what “should” be done, but it will be up to governments and standards setting bodies to decide what is actually done. Equally, technologists will benefit from a wider view of what the technology can do. In addition, sociologists, psychologists, ethicists and philosophers will find plenty to think about in their fields. It is written in an accessible style requiring neither expertise in AI nor on policy and therefore is of general interest as well. It is a book that informs and makes you think, whatever your interest or viewpoint. You do not have to agree with everything: debate will improve responses. In the UK the government’s National AI Strategy (NAIS) is at best a work-in-progress with more hype and less insight than this book. No doubt other countries will also have similar problems grappling with some of the implications. That is somewhat disappointing given that this software-driven digital capability has been evolving for well over 20 years as the progression of broadband and processing power has enabled spectacular results.

This book delves into the impact of artificial intelligence on society, politics, and human identity. One of the things that attracted me to this book was to see that Henry Kissinger was one of the authors, which intrigued me. Sadly as I was finishing the book it coincided with the announcement that he had passed away at the ripe old age of 100. I enjoyed the read and would give it a 4-star rating. The authors, experts in policy, technology, and academia, explore AI's transformative potential, emphasising its profound implications for our future. They pose and explore a lot of good questions to make you stop and think about the big picture future potential and possible ramifications of AI. There are so many unanswered questions and issues that we as a society need to face in to. They discuss how AI challenges our understanding of human consciousness and ethics, urging a thoughtful approach to integrating AI into our world. The book highlights what is needed to navigate this new era, addressing AI’s influence on international affairs, human cognition, and the very fabric of society.For those of us in the security field, this book offers valuable insights into the broader implications of AI, including its ethical dimensions and potential influence on cybersecurity landscapes. Understanding these aspects could enhance our approach to protecting your organisations in an increasingly AI-integrated world.Worth a read for sure, but if you’re considering AI books, the one I’ve just started looks like it may be a better bet, entitled “The Coming Wave” by Mustafa Sulleyman. I’ll provide a summary of that once I’ve read it.

This book addresses an important topic. However, I am not sure what to think b be it is somewhat repetitive and surprisingly difficulty to absorb.

Published in 2022, it has obviously been overtaken by many rapid developments in AI but in most areas it is still very relevant, thought-provoking and timely, especially given its writers’ abilities to see the wider picture.A few of the chapter headings provide an insight into their level of thought - national, international and existential:Chapter 3: From Turing to Today - and BeyondChapter 4: Global Network PlatformsChapter 5: Security and World OrderChapter 6: AI and Human IdentityMy edition: paperback, John Murray, 2022, ISBN 978-1-529-37999-2Recommended

Great book by great personalities. Truly captivating. Stir up the mind to think and imagine the impact of AI on our individual lives, socities, ehthnicities and globally. The book raises the philosophical questions and urges those to be raised with full voice and discuss raising above the race, language and cultural bounds. This book succinctly explain that humanity is facing much bigger issue than the one when humans harnessed the atomic power and packed it into lethal weapons.

This book was bought as a gift

Rather superficial, no real insight by such authors. Definitely useless