First, the substance. Despite what you might suspect from the over-the-top title, these authors are highly respected experts who helped found modern AI, so they’re definitely worth listening to. While warnings around the dangers of General AI have been swirling around in the press for several years, this book makes a strong argument that we need to pay attention and put on the brakes on General Artificial Intelligence. I plan to look for counter-arguments from similar experts next, but this books is very convincing.

Next, the writing. This book is incredibly well written. It was funny and engaging while explaining complex concepts clearly and creatively. You don’t need any special understanding of computer science or programming to follow their arguments. I loved the use of parables to illustrate various points (e.g., developing an AI model is not like designing a rocket to specific specifications; it’s more like giving birth to a baby and trying to guess what kind of adult it will be by examining its DNA). I zoomed through this book in one day and laughed quite a bit (helped along by the excellent narrator)…until I got to the later chapters where the authors explain how the development of General AI – with our current limited understanding of how it works – could doom us all. After finishing the book, I was convinced that the title wasn’t over-the-top after all.

I plan to read a bit more on this topic, and unless I find convincing counter-arguments, I’ll be reaching out to policy makers to urge them to start regulating this technology in a meaningful way, and perhaps spare us all.