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  • Scary Smart

  • The Future of Artificial Intelligence and How You Can Save Our World
  • Written by: Mo Gawdat
  • Narrated by: Mo Gawdat
  • Length: 11 hrs and 20 mins
  • 4.3 out of 5 stars (23 ratings)

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Scary Smart

Written by: Mo Gawdat
Narrated by: Mo Gawdat
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Publisher's Summary

One of The Sunday Times' Business Books of the Year

Artificial intelligence is smarter than humans. It can process information at lightning speed and remain focused on specific tasks without distraction. AI can see into the future, predicting outcomes and even use sensors to see around physical and virtual corners. So why does AI frequently get it so wrong?

The answer is us. Humans design the algorithms that define the way that AI works, and the processed information reflects an imperfect world. Does that mean we are doomed? In Scary Smart, Mo Gawdat, the internationally best-selling author of Solve for Happy, draws on his considerable expertise to answer this question and to show what we can all do now to teach ourselves and our machines how to live better. With more than 30 years' experience working at the cutting-edge of technology and his former role as chief business officer of Google [X], no one is better placed than Mo Gawdat to explain how the Artificial Intelligence of the future works.

By 2049, AI will be a billion times more intelligent than humans. Scary Smart explains how to fix the current trajectory now, to make sure that the AI of the future can preserve our species. This book offers a blueprint, pointing the way to what we can do to safeguard ourselves, those we love and the planet itself.

PLEASE NOTE: When you purchase this title, the accompanying PDF will be available in your Audible Library along with the audio.

©2021 Mo Gawdat (P)2021 Macmillan Publishers International Ltd

What the critics say

"Technology is putting our humanity at risk to an unprecedented degree. This book is not for engineers who write the code or the policy makers who claim they can regulate it. This is a book for you. Because, believe it or not, you are the only one that can fix it." (Mo Gawdat)

"From a brilliant mind comes a terrifying prediction." (Tim Ash, bestselling author of Unleash Your Primal Brain)

What listeners say about Scary Smart

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The title says it all- scary smart!

This book was brilliant. What an amazing perspective to hear. As someone who works in tech and with Ai, I constantly find myself thinking about my interactions with it. Nothing was left to ‘but what if?’ By the author. I questioned my morals even though I consider myself good. I deeply thought about how mg interactions today can shape the future. I am recommending this book to everyone.

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Great voice, great journey

Unscores the importance of the oldest lessons for humanity as we grapple with the rise of AI. It's time to decide what world we want to create.

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Needs to be heard by everyone now

AI isn’t the problem, we are. Whatever we are, AI will be an exponentially more powerful image of that, and the direct reflection of what we teach it. Therefore, we need to teach it, and ourselves, love of all things. This is the message I got from this very important book on something that will affect every person and living being on the planet starting now and into the future.

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    3 out of 5 stars

Fascinating look at Ai just three years ago.

The first half was very good. However the final 3 chapters left me feeling not optimistic as the author intends but the reverse emotion. Can humanity as a whole really start behaving well to each other, the earth and all beings on it? He has no doubt of the super human intellect of the AI and how we choose to work with it to our collective advantage will make or break us. Well worth reading for it opened my thoughts to the infinite what ifs of humans choices.

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Incredible wake up call

Not only was this extremely informative, but it was presented in a way that was easy for anyone to understand. The overlayed message of love, caring and positivity perfectly balanced the dangers presented and left me hopeful for what’s to come in the future. See you at that campfire in 2055.

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Great start on the topic...

The first part of this book was very good and was on topic of AI. The last part of the book was heavily self promotional on his other books, apps, podcasts etc.

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A must read/listen as we speed into our future.

I finished it in 2 days.
It was very easy to understand.
After listening to this book I have a new understanding and respect for AI's.

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Awful

This was one of the worst books I've listened to in a long time...... Why?

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Interesting perspective on anthropic’s AI

Amazingly put together by a man who’s perspective on the future of artificial intelligence and it’s actual application in accordance to human nature’s hobbesian translation in the physical world is brilliantly elaborated in this book.

Lacks a bit of pdf support but well explained by the author.

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