The Coming Wave

Technology, Power, and the Twenty-First Century's Greatest Dilemma

By: Mustafa Suleyman, Michael Bhaskar - contributor

Narrated by: Mustafa Suleyman

Length: 11 hrs and 48 mins

Publisher's summary

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

“A fascinating, well-written, and important book.”—Yuval Noah Harari

“Essential reading.”—Daniel Kahneman

“An excellent guide for navigating unprecedented times.”—Bill Gates

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 organise 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 centre 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.

Can we forge a narrow path between catastrophe and dystopia?

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.

©2023 Mustafa Suleyman (P)2023 Random House Audio

Critic reviews

“A heartfelt and candid exploration of what the future may hold for us . . . Eloquently articulated. Reading [The Coming Wave], what came to mind was Gramsci’s famous adage that what we need is ‘pessimism of the intellect, optimism of the will.’ To his great credit, [Mustafa] Suleyman has both.”—The Guardian

“[A] sweeping look at the future of artificial intelligence and other transformative technologies. . . . Suleyman is intimately familiar with the technologies, companies and personalities at the heart of the A.I. revolution.”—The New York Times

“Dazzling . . . You have by now read a great deal of both hype and doom-mongering on the subject [of AI]. But Suleyman’s is the book you cannot afford not to read. . . . Brilliant.”—Niall Ferguson, Bloomberg

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.

interesting perspective of the good and the bad

I liked the way he prompted people to think about the good and the bad AI can bring to the world. I learned a lot.

Great Read! Deep Questions!

What an amazing - and deeply thought provoking book!

Every person MUST read this book.

Deep and Serious questions are asked.

Hats off to the author!

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

Everyone should read this book!

AI is coming faster than any of us thought it would. It’s important to educate ourselves on what this can look like, and think about the intended and unintended possible consequences. Very interesting read!

The world will never be the same

The future is inevitable. Technology keeps advancing. Without help from our government, the super wealthy will get wealthier. The rest of us will get poorer.

Excellent recommendations for containment of rapidly advancing technologies.

Comprehensive review of artificial intelligence and synthetic biology with excellent recommendations for containment. Exceptional thinker with deep experience in AI and governance.

Great story of "Why AI Matters"

Loved the detailed and story line building approach and how AI is a natural evolution of human life and the efforts we need to take and do in efforts to contain and control rather than over excite or over attack it. I gotta say that at some point the details were a bit too much but overall I enjoyed the book and would easily recommend it.