Genesis

Artificial Intelligence, Hope, and the Human Spirit

By: Henry A. Kissinger, Eric Schmidt, Craig Mundie

Narrated by: Niall Ferguson, Byron Wagner

As Artificial Intelligence (AI) becomes more dynamic and ubiquitous, it is dramatically empowering people in all walks of life while also giving rise to urgent questions about the future of humanity—a historic challenge whose contours and consequences are revealed by three eminent thinkers in Genesis.

As it absorbs data, gains agency, and intermediates between humans and reality, AI will help us to address enormous crises, from climate change to geopolitical conflicts to income inequality. It might well solve some of the greatest mysteries of our universe, revolutionize fields as diverse as medicine and architecture, and elevate the human spirit to unimaginable heights. But it will also pose challenges on a scale and of an intensity that we have never seen—usurping our power of independent judgment and action, testing our relationship with the divine, and perhaps even spurring a new phase in human evolution. Whom will we choose to lead our species through this wilderness? Or have we, passively and unwittingly, already chosen?

Charting a course between blind faith and unjustified fear, Genesis outlines an effective strategy for navigating the age of AI. The last book of elder statesman Henry Kissinger, written with technologists Eric Schmidt and Craig Mundie, it prepares the decisionmakers of today—that is, all of us—for the choices of tomorrow, and equips us to seize the opportunities presented by AI without falling prey to the darker forces that this revolution has unleashed.

©2024 Henry A. Kissinger, Eric Schmidt, Craig Mundie (P)2024 Little, Brown & Company

What does the future hold for humanity?

Excellent overview of where AI could or might take us. Enough to lead one to learn more about the potential AI holds for the future of our (human) species.

clearly a Kissinger book

opinions from a high altitude. heavily moral and ethical. little depth on any specific subject

Unexplained Authority

An excellent discussion of the pros and cons of AI. We humans have evolved a biological system designed for our biological survival. It is implemented by positive and negative conscious feelings. Rule based AI or feedback learning mechanisms can certainly generate creative solutions to complex problems but they can’t replicate the illogical emotional decisions of feeling organisms. That conflict will be difficult to resolve one way or the other.

Impressive authors & important information

How can you not appreciate the gravitas and importance of what is being said in these pages!
There is clear call to action that we must all heed! Thank you!!

History and Human Philosophy

Human Psychology and Human Philosophy come into play here..wrap the story in History and Mythology and you have the Human Experience and it's progression, the good the bad and the ugly! what fun I am having reading and re- reading this book. I think this book favors AI because Human Behavior is so wishy washy and sometimes washed up, the proof is in the History book!

Important Must

Everyone needs to take a 30 day break and get to know about general AI

Brilliant insights in every chapter

Fearlessly facing the future while describing the dangers as well as the possibilities, the authors leave you hopeful.

Machiavellian of the Yom Kippur War is now a humanitarian

It was interesting that AI could reach a state of consciousness. Maybe AI would realize that it needs a steady flow of electrons from the energy grid. it would need an alliance with humans to keep the electrons flowing. If there is a power interruption, would this be like a mini stroke for the computer when the power is turned back on? AI developers have said that they are not quite sure of how the electrons flow in the AI and the exact theory behind how it functions.
Dr. Kissinger is painted as a great humanitarian at the end of his life. During the Israeli war in 1973, Dr. Kissinger felt that this war was necessary for Egypt and Israel to conclude some type of peace. Egypt needed to achieve some degree of gravitas after the loss of the last war with Israel. Israeli Prime Minister Golda Meir was told long before this war started that any type of preemptive strike would not be tolerated by Dr. Kissinger. After the war started, Israel was saved by President Nixon when he expedited the black boxes for the Israeli jets that could block the new Russian Sam missiles. To this day, President Nixon has a hero status in the state of Israel.

Almost every word

Everyone in this world today must know what is in the book, even those at age 100 or older.

Ideas about AI.

Speed to which I listen was clear and easy to focus on the sophisticated information given in a concise manner.