The Loop

How Technology Is Creating a World Without Choices and How to Fight Back

By: Jacob Ward

Narrated by: Jacob Ward

Length: 9 hrs and 25 mins

Publisher's summary

This eye-opening narrative journey into the rapidly changing world of artificial intelligence reveals the dangerous ways AI is exploiting the unconscious habits of our minds, and the real threat it poses to humanity: "The best book I have ever read about AI" (New York Times bestselling author Roger McNamee).

Artificial intelligence is going to change the world as we know it. But the real danger isn't some robot that's going to enslave us: It's our own brain. Our brains are constantly making decisions using shortcuts, biases, and hidden processes—and we're using those same techniques to create technology that makes choices for us. In The Loop, award-winning science journalist Jacob Ward reveals how we are poised to build all of our worst instincts into our AIs, creating a narrow loop where each generation has fewer, predetermined, and even dangerous choices.

Taking us on a world tour of the ongoing, real-world experiment of artificial intelligence, The Loop illuminates the dangers of writing dangerous human habits into our machines. From a biometric surveillance state in India that tracks the movements of over a billion people, to a social media control system in China that punishes deviant friendships, to the risky multiple-choice simplicity of automated military action, Ward travels the world speaking with top experts confronting the perils of their research. Each stop reveals how the most obvious patterns in our behavior—patterns an algorithm will use to make decisions about what's best for us—are not the ones we want to perpetuate.

Just as politics, marketing, and finance have all exploited the weaknesses of our human programming, artificial intelligence is poised to use the patterns of our lives to manipulate us. The Loop is call to look at ourselves more clearly—our most creative ideas, our most destructive impulses, the ways we help and hurt one another-so we can put only the best parts of ourselves into the thinking machines we create.

©2022 Jacob Ward (P)2022 Hachette Books

A MASTERPIECE

Truly a must read for anyone who has ever or will ever use technology today. Well researched and strongly supported, but written in a way that is more accessible and compelling than normal technological discourse. I have already bought 6 copies - one for every family member this Christmas. It’s too important to not share.

Well researched, and extremely important

This book tackles a critically important topic, raising issues that really need part of a far broader discussion. This is a book that universities across the nation should be assigning as required reading.

The rise of pubic AI makes this the perfect book

This book if worth my subscription and loved the insight. It is a must read for leaders in tech.

Honest with a propensity for betterment.

I work at one of the major companies that Is frequently mentioned in The Loop, and I’ve never understood the breakdown of pattern recognition of technology better than the way Jacob lays it out. A must reed for every technologist working at any of the major tech companies, this book has given me knowledge and courage to design AI to empower human intelligence, not highjack it.

A Must Read

This book is one of the most interesting, insightful and alarming non-fiction books that I have ever read. The author’s writing style is informative, the style in which the book is written is compelling, and the message is alarming. I have written to numerous friends recommending this book; the message is important and one that we all need to reflect and act upon. This book would be an excellent complementary text in college courses dealing with ethics, AI, and human decision-making.

Good enough for a second listen

I thought the personal commitment to the accuracy, research and experience was outstanding. It is good enough to want to listen to it a second time.

Startling Revelations of AI in our lives.

An eye opening look at how Artificial Intelligence is already deeply embedded in every aspect of our lives.
An easy listen and a must read.

Life changing

This book is some of the most well researched, well argued, and clear-eyed analysis of the current and near-future realities of AI out there. This is no Skynet horror story. The reality is far more realistic…but just as terrifying.

Exceeded my expectations.

The narration was very good in keeping your attention. After finishing the book I feel I need time to sit back and really think about what the author is saying, which I think is profound

Must read

The Loop is a must read for anyone who care about how we can navigate our growing technology and our humanity. The author does a good job of narrating too which is a bonus. I recommended the book to many of my friends and co-workers.