AI

Book Review

The Infinity Machine by Sebastian Mallaby

October 15, 2026 · 2 min

I was listening to The Artificial Intelligence Show shortly after Demis Hassabis stepped down as CEO of Google DeepMind. During the discussion, they mentioned The Infinity Machine and made the point that, if you looked at what Hassabis was saying in the book, his decision made complete sense. Demis has always seemed more interested in discovery than in being a corporate executive. His real passion appears to be the science itself—understanding intelligence, solving difficult problems, and using AI as a tool for discovery. That perspective was what initially made me interested in reading the book. …

Book Review

The Coming Wave by Mustafa Suleyman and Michael Bhaskar

October 8, 2026 · 1 min

The Coming Wave by Mustafa Suleyman and Michael Bhaskar is a thought-provoking look at the rapid advancement of artificial intelligence and other emerging technologies, and the challenges involved in trying to control them. Suleyman makes a compelling case that these technologies are becoming increasingly powerful, widely available, and difficult to contain. Where I found myself less convinced was in his proposed solution. Many of his ideas around safety, oversight, and regulation are reasonable, but taken together they seem to require a level of cooperation between companies, governments, researchers, and the public that feels somewhat utopian. …

Book Review

Life 3.0: Being Human in the Age of Artificial Intelligence

May 15, 2025 · 1 min

Life 3.0: Being Human in the Age of Artificial Intelligence by Max Tegmark is an ambitious exploration of the future of artificial intelligence and its implications for humanity. While the book offers a broad and thought-provoking perspective on AI’s potential trajectories, it may not satisfy readers seeking a technical understanding of how AI systems function. Tegmark, a physicist and co-founder of the Future of Life Institute, categorizes life into three stages: Life 1.0 (biological evolution), Life 2.0 (cultural evolution), and Life 3.0 (technological evolution). He envisions a future where AI surpasses human intelligence, leading to scenarios ranging from utopian to dystopian. The book delves into topics like consciousness, ethics, and the long-term fate of intelligent life in the universe. …

Book Review

Artificial Intelligence - A Guide for Thinking Humans

February 20, 2025 · 1 min

Artificial Intelligence: A Guide for Thinking Humans by Melanie Mitchell is an accessible and thought-provoking exploration of AI, its history, capabilities, and limitations. I started listening to this book on Audible, but the book references a number of images and figures from the book, and while there is an accompanying pdf, containing those images, I ended up purchasing the print version as well. Mitchell is a computer scientist, and she demystifies AI by explaining key concepts like machine learning, neural networks, and common misconceptions while addressing the challenges of achieving true intelligence. She examines AI’s successes and failures, highlighting the gap between human and machine cognition. Through engaging examples and a balanced perspective, the book provides a nuanced understanding of AI’s current state and future potential, making it an essential read for anyone curious about the field. …