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The Age of AI

Written by: Henry A. Kissinger,Eric Schmidt,Daniel Huttenlocher
Narrated by: Eric Pollins
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Publisher's Summary

Three of the world’s most accomplished and deep thinkers come together to explore Artificial Intelligence (AI) and the way it is transforming human society - and what this technology means for us all.

An AI learned to win chess by making moves human grand masters had never conceived. Another AI discovered a new antibiotic by analyzing molecular properties human scientists did not understand. Now, AI-powered jets are defeating experienced human pilots in simulated dogfights. AI is coming online in searching, streaming, medicine, education, and many other fields and, in so doing, transforming how humans are experiencing reality.

In The Age of AI, three leading thinkers have come together to consider how AI will change our relationships with knowledge, politics, and the societies in which we live. The Age of AI is an essential roadmap to our present and our future, an era unlike any that has come before.

©2021 Henry A. Kissinger, Eric Schmidt, Daniel Huttenlocher (P)2021 Little, Brown & Company

What listeners say about The Age of AI

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Very good

I thought the book got better as I read through it it is a very good overview of many of the changes that are happening

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Enlightening and Applicable

I found this book to be an enlightening and refreshingly approachable guide, illuminating AI's past, present, and potential future. As a tech consumer, I appreciated the authors’ fulsome exploration of AI’s potential applications, which will help me be a better informed operator of these tools. The book also astutely addresses potential risks, promoting an informed understanding of AI's diverse application. A commendable source for anyone seeking AI literacy.

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Too generic and high level

It’s definitely a good intro into AI and how it will affect our society. But I was hoping for more details. For example, not only that “it will have big military impacts” but how? What kind of weapons? How do they work? I found that lacking.

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Terrific, high-level review of implications of AI

This book may not have the gee-whiz predictions of other books on AI, but it is one of the most thought-provoking reviews of the field I have read. (Note1: I purchased the Audible version, and listened to it on walks every day, although I believe it is identical to the printed version. Note2: I have very good, if not expert technical knowledge, in a number of areas of AI, particularly more advanced AGI/HLAI areas.)
The book begins with an overview of the history and philosophy about 'thinking' and the effect AI will have on this area. Even though I knew many of the technical details of AI, interweaving it in the larger scope of human history was excellent. The book then in its second half considers the effect of AI on the future of human activities, particularly with regard to security (think weapons of mass destruction) and our day to day life. I have less expertise in these areas, and found it fascinating to hear the authors' line of reasoning here.
The two best books I have read on AI in the last few years were this one and probably Bostrom's Superintelligence. Bostrom's Superintelligence thesis assumes AI will magically become human-like causal in nature with agency as well. At this moment this is not happening. (Might it in the future? Of course, although that future may be 3 years or 300 years from now.) 'The Age of AI' book does not necessarily assume it, and essentially deals with the properties of existing AI, largely deep learning with this and that sort of enhancement in the future, and considers how this type of AI (ie, the real AI around us) will progressively affect our lives in terms of the day to day and in terms of bigger national issues, e.g., security.
This book (i.e., Kissinger, Schmidt and Huttenlocher) represents one of the finest books reviewing AI and the consequences of this technology -- strongly recommend for the thinking (no pun intended) reader.

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A good general overview

I enjoyed the book overall for those over a certain age or unfamiliar with AI and the trends in the cyberworld, this book provides examples of how AI works, how it is being applied and the potential repercussions that may come from that.

A recommendation for those interested in the subject matter for certain.

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Like a University Lecture

As a general reader with limited technological skills I failed to understand much of this book. It is bald theory without engaging anecdotes and, for me, dull. A crucial subject, of course, but over my head much of the time. I got the basic message that AI was here to stay and grow. It could run our lives, as in the surveillance state of China, or work in partnership with us for better and worse. Judging by a recent interview he gave on tv, Kissinger is past his stale date. The other two credited authors may have written it and K. lent his name for a price.

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  • Roy
  • 2021-11-07

Not what I was hoping for.

Not much useful information, mostly speculation about how AI will change the world. At least the people doing the speculation are pretty credible.

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  • Tennisartist85
  • 2021-11-12

Little Substantive Value

While I was hoping for deep and unique insights from these authors, the output is a vague, directionless musing about what AI might be… or might not be, who knows?

The topic is incredibly important, but this contribution offers very little for anyone who already brings even a cursory understanding of AI.

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12 people found this helpful

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  • Amazon Customer
  • 2021-11-23

A snoozzzzzer 😪

This is the 5th book I've read on AI. To say this book is boring would be generous. No significant content....just the equivalent a lot of air & empty calories.

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9 people found this helpful

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  • A Person
  • 2021-11-18

Trite and Cheap

If you are looking for thought leadership any movie on AI in the past Century provides better content.

As you will hear in the last 5 minutes, the authors beg for internationally level discussion groups led by a few “preeminent thinkers” (clearly a job they want for themselves).

Just a god-awful read.

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  • h duane stoltzfus
  • 2021-11-14

very general. don't believe I learned anything.

Really only says things that have been common knowledge for a while. Nothing technical in the entire book

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8 people found this helpful

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  • Donald Harvey Marks
  • 2021-12-29

glowing reviews by those who should be in the know

Three interesting features drew me to this book: Henry Kissinger - the lead author, the subject of AI, and the glowing reviews. I am interested in rhe concept of AI and its ramifications for the future of USA and mankind. After I read the book, I realized that although Kissinger is listed as lead author, he is Far and Away not the primary author. Having read many of Kissinger's books, it's my impression that his contribution to the overall work was minimal, other than as a marketing draw. Of course I don't know that for sure, and if it turns out I'm wrong here, then I apologize. The prospective reader should not expect to find unique, earthshaking concepts concerning AI or where it will be taking our society. There is some general speculative benefit on a number of subjects, but this can actually be found in other works. In fact, I think I would have been better off re-reading Kissinger's very insightful and memorable 2018 essay in The Atlantic: How The Enlightenment Ends. I will end my review with a short list of related books that you may also want to avoid for any number reasons.1. Kissinger on Kissinger, 2. Possible Minds: 25 ways to look at AI.

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  • Donny
  • 2021-11-15

what a boring book

this is my 4th AI related audio book. not particularly insightful, and really hard to listen to

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  • Jalie Sturgeon
  • 2022-04-16

Hard to listen to

It was like hearing the same verse of a song over and over again. No bridge, no chorus. The narrator needs to change up his tone once in awhile. I found myself tuning out. Rewinding, starting chapters over , etc.
I haven’t finished the book. My mind would wander. I don’t usually have that problem. It felt more like listening to the headline of a news cast over and over, even tho the content changes, - It irritated me. I couldn’t hear the words anymore- just the “yelling” of the sentences. Everything ran together. I would have found it interesting otherwise.
After listening to narrators such as Lorelei King and Barry Eisler- I am spoiled.

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  • Happy Shihtzu
  • 2021-12-29

Important Framing of AI Challenges

I like how the distinguished authors considered ethics, technologies, governments, politics,and business when contemplating the potential future of AI and humanity coexisting. I would recommend the book for anyone interested in AI who feels they have gaps in their understanding of any of these fields or even if they are not able to change hats readily, because for the human species to thrive under AI it will require many more generalists to gather and be fluent in all of these areas of human endeavor. We need to think bigger as a about AI if we are to intercept its flaws in time - in their infancy while they can still be tweaked and not in their maturity when we may be victimized by them. Agile communities of forward thinkers who get it and are able to talk about it need to frame and facilitate the creation of failsafe technological and human protocols and processes. I mean that’s basically the goal this book hopes to bring about. And they say it in as many ways as possible, because humanity has built in resistance to contemplate these concepts. We are bored by hi tech, give it lip service, and give tech a pass too often. We can’t allow laissez-fare and we can’t allow monopolies of tyrants, so the EU seems to be the leader in moderating those two polar opposites.

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  • michael
  • 2022-04-20

All speculation. No examples.

All abstract speculation and assertions. Almost no examples.

Examples are needed when discussing a topic like this one.

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  • Bill
  • 2022-02-19

Wortdy &repetitive but with a few unique Insights

If you know very little about AI and want to know more, and can you can put up with Long winded explanations, this is the book for you.

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