T-Minus AI

Humanity's Countdown to Artificial Intelligence and the New Pursuit of Global Power

By: Michael Kanaan

Narrated by: Braden Wright

"Mike Kanaan is an influential new voice in the field of AI, and his thoughts paint an insightful perspective. A thought-provoking read." Eric Schmidt, former CEO and executive chairman of Google

Late in 2017, the conversation about the global impact of artificial intelligence (AI) changed forever. China delivered a bold message when it released a national plan to dominate all aspects of AI across the planet. Within weeks, Russia's Vladimir Putin raised the stakes by declaring AI the future for all humankind, and proclaiming that, "Whoever becomes the leader in this sphere will become the ruler of the world."

The race was on. Consistent with their unique national agendas, countries throughout the world began plotting their paths and hurrying their pace. Now, not long after, the race has become a sprint.

Despite everything at risk, for most of us AI remains shrouded by a cloud of mystery and misunderstanding. Hidden behind complex technical terms and confused even further by extravagant depictions in science fiction, the realities of AI and its profound implications are hard to decipher, but no less crucial to understand.

In T-Minus AI: Humanity's Countdown to Artificial Intelligence and the New Pursuit of Global Power, author Michael Kanaan explains the realities of AI from a human-oriented perspective that's easy to comprehend. A recognized national expert and the U.S. Air Force's first Chairperson for Artificial Intelligence, Kanaan weaves a compelling new view on our history of innovation and technology to masterfully explain what each of us should know about modern computing, AI, and machine learning.

Kanaan also illuminates the global implications of AI by highlighting the cultural and national vulnerabilities already exposed and the pressing issues now squarely on the table. AI has already become China's all-purpose tool to impose authoritarian influence around the world. Russia, playing catch up, is weaponizing AI through its military systems and now infamous, aggressive efforts to disrupt democracy by whatever disinformation means possible.

America and like-minded nations are awakening to these new realities, and the paths they're electing to follow echo loudly, in most cases, the political foundations and moral imperatives upon which they were formed.

As we march toward a future far different than ever imagined, T-Minus AI is fascinating and critically well-timed. It leaves the fiction behind, paints the alarming implications of AI for what they actually are, and calls for unified action to protect fundamental human rights and dignities for all.

©2020 Michael Kanaan. (P)2020 Brilliance Publishing, Inc., all rights reserved. Published by arrangement with BenBella Books

Critic reviews

"Too many discussions of artificial intelligence are dominated by idealists and cynics. Mike Kanaan is neither: He's a realist with a wealth of insight on how smart machines are shaping the future. This is one of the best books I've read on AI." (Adam Grant, New York Times best-selling author of Originals and Give and Take and host of the chart-topping TED podcast WorkLife)

“Kanaan’s book makes us aware of the urgent need for international understanding and a formal agreement on AI. Without binding commitments, the future will pose threats, both military and social, that risk our very survival. AI may be a blessing, but it can also be the ultimate curse. The world must agree to draw a red line between the two, and make sure that no one crosses it." (Muhammad Yunus, Nobel Peace Prize winner, father of microfinance and social business, recipient of US Presidential Medal of Freedom and US Congressional Gold Medal)

Great Intro for ANYONE into AI

Valuable read for anyone seeking a baseline understanding, issues, and the potential of Artificial Intelligence. It’s slow to start for someone eager to jump, but the context provided is totally worth the time! Highly recommend!!

A good primer for those new to the subject

Pretty comprehensive view of the issues and state of the subject, so it's a good primer. But, if you've been paying attention to the topic, you won't find anything new here. It's just the basics.

For the uninformed.

I was really hoping that the author would delve more into the potential long-term AI involvement in our lives, and the quantum computing required to make it so.Too much time was spent on the basic knowledge of the development of the United States, basic mathematics, and naming off of many countries, and attributes AI effect’s. Seems like a lot of filler

You aren't going to learn much about AI here

Let's be honest, you aren't going to learn much about AI here. The book covers things like the big bang, various government histories, some sociology, and a little about computers and computing large numbers. There really isn't much about AI or machine learning beyond ones used for Chess and gaming. For a book revolving around AI, it's missing the AI part. I definitely walked away from this book thinking it was a waste of time.

In the beginning...

I’m still in the process of listening to the book, but I honestly could have done without the the author’s one-sided history lesson on evolution. I completely understand the intent, but don’t appreciate that it was completely from a science point of view. Are we not so dense to consider that a higher power gave us the tools to develop such artificial intelligence?

Fascinating background on AI - but what now?

Really enjoyed this book and Michael's insights. narrator alright. I get the threats but what's next? what should we do!?

Great Overview of History of AI & Curnt Challenges

Loved this book. It's a breeze to listen to. This book applies to all aspiring CS majors or self-taught programmer.

Good, but mostly for the layman.

it was DEFCON 1-compelling and the author is extraordinarily well-qualified to make the dire predictions he does. He says we are truly at an inflection point in human history, bringing in lots of interesting information to bolster that claim.

After awhile, I started listening to it at almost 1.5 x because I'm familiar with the technology and its implications, but it was still argued so formidably and in such an entertaining way, I had to listen 'til the end.

Thank God or Whatever that artificial general intelligence seems a ways off, giving us a small window of opportunity to mitigate the risks, the very existential risks from what is immediately emerging globally.

Excellent—very worthy of your time and attention!

If you know a lot about AI already, this book will help you explain it to others who don’t. If you’re completely new to the subject, this is a great introduction!

Covers societal and governmental aspects around AI

I did not expect this to go into AI much itself but I was more interested in the issues around AI in using it. It covers the societal and governmental aspects of it and advocates strongly for a careful approach while using AI. Given the summary provided before buying it I was hoping for at least some technical substance to it but was disappointed. There was "technical" discussion about the history from the Big bang up to today and numbering systems over the last couple thousand years that anyone picking up this book would have already known, filing time and detracting from the potential value of the book. The discussion about the kinds of neural nets used for different applications was useful and the way governments are using AI (whether bad or good) and frameworks for regulating it are quite useful.