The Coming Wave

AI, Power, and Our Future

By: Mustafa Suleyman, Michael Bhaskar

Narrated by: Mustafa Suleyman

NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER • An urgent warning of the unprecedented risks that AI and other fast-developing technologies pose to global order, and how we might contain them while we have the chance—from a co-founder of the pioneering artificial intelligence company DeepMind and current CEO of Microsoft AI

“A fascinating, well-written, and important book.”—Yuval Noah Harari
“Essential reading.”—Daniel Kahneman
“My favorite book on AI.”—Bill Gates, GatesNotes

A Best Book of the Year: CNN, Economist, Bloomberg, Politico Playbook, Financial Times, The Guardian, CEO Magazine, Semafor • Winner of the Inc. Non-Obvious Book Award • Finalist for the Porchlight Business Book Award and the Financial Times and Schroders Business Book of the Year Award

We are approaching a critical threshold in the history of our species. Everything is about to change.

Soon you will live surrounded by AIs. They will organize your life, operate your business, and run core government services. You will live in a world of DNA printers and quantum computers, engineered pathogens and autonomous weapons, robot assistants and abundant energy.

None of us are prepared.

As co-founder of the pioneering AI company DeepMind, part of Google, Mustafa Suleyman has been at the center of this revolution. The coming decade, he argues, will be defined by this wave of powerful, fast-proliferating new technologies.

In The Coming Wave, Suleyman shows how these forces will create immense prosperity but also threaten the nation-state, the foundation of global order. As our fragile governments sleepwalk into disaster, we face an existential dilemma: unprecedented harms on one side, the threat of overbearing surveillance on the other.

How do we ensure the flourishing of humankind? How do we maintain control? How do we navigate the narrow path to a successful future?

This groundbreaking book from the ultimate AI insider establishes “the containment problem”—the task of maintaining control over powerful technologies—as the essential challenge of our age.

High minded excuses and weak solutions for the coming apocalypse.

As one of the little people who will certainly be swept away in the torrent of technology waves to come I'll just say this. This book covers numerous emerging technologies that will certainly change our world and how we live in it. It repeats numerous analogies to convey a point that would've taken a layman less than a paragraph. The points are then rationalized through the lens of the silicone valley elite in a way that leaves you 100% sure they have our best interest at heart. Bless their hearts...
The book is well written, researched and the narration was very good. Truth.
If you're unaware of emerging tech this would be a educational read. For those with a skeptical mind this book will reinforce the disdain and mistrust of the computer elite. There's no question the author is a expert in his field. If you've ever seen Frankenstein then you'll understand this book and it's points. You'll understand why the townspeople burned down the windmill.

A Glimpse into Tomorrow"

Coming wave is striking book and a delicate balance between enlightening detail and visionary foresight. This book demystifies the complex world of artificial intelligence, making it accessible and engaging to both the tech-savvy reader and the curious novice. The author has skilfully woven together the technical underpinnings of AI with its philosophical implications, painting a picture of a future that is not only inevitable but also imbued with the potential to redefine humanity and society.

The most captivating aspect of this book is its ability to challenge and expand the reader's thinking. It doesn't just stop at the edge of current technological capabilities but pushes beyond, into the realms of what could be. The book’s prophetic insights are grounded in robust research and a clear understanding of AI's trajectory, which inspires a great deal of confidence in the reader.

Furthermore, the visionary scope is complemented by a pragmatic discussion of the immediate applications and ethical considerations of AI, making it particularly pertinent for today's rapidly evolving digital landscape. The chapters on machine learning, AI in finance, and its potential role in health and environmental solutions are nothing short of revelatory.

In conclusion, "AI: A Glimpse into Tomorrow" is an essential read for anyone looking to grasp the nuances of artificial intelligence and its trajectory. It will leave you more knowledgeable and, more importantly, more thoughtful about the role of AI in shaping our collective future. Whether you're an industry professional, a student, or simply an enthusiast, this book is a bright beacon in the often opaque world of AI literature.

Great presentation

I hope anyone who comes in contact with this book is as excited as I am about emerging technologies and the fantastical hopes for the future.
So informative and easy to get the themes and ideas in this complex topic. I would recommend this to anyone who is interested in future technologies and the way society is going in its ever growing thirst for knowledge.

clear and concise

I enjoyed the author's empathy with a very controversial content. He clearly stated the pros and cons.

Unsurprised, a little uninspired

If you’re a techy there likely isn’t much new to learn from this. Narrator is pleasant but I found myself feeling unsatisfied from it. Didn’t surprise or inspire