On this page, I’m sharing the sources I used on my journey towards understanding the topic of AI and the risks that come with it.
I am categorizing these in 2 main sections according to their level of accessibility – “New to the journey” and “Already on the way”. I’m not including an Expert section because, to be honest, I’ve not gotten there yet myself so I can’t really make any good suggestions (if that changes, I’ll start adding those as well).
(r) = reading – (v) = viewing
New to the Journey
The very first thing to read (r)
The page “Existential risk from artificial general intelligence” on Wikipedia is for sure the best place to start.
My top book suggestion for beginners! (r)
This book, written by James Barrat, is my absolute top suggestion for anybody who is just getting started in the journey towards understanding the risks of Artificial Intelligence.
While it was written in 2013, I feel its relevance today is impossible to dispute. James’ writing is the most accessible I have come across during my searches for a starting point.
The title of this book so perfectly describes my thoughts on AI and the way it is currently evolving that it became the inspiration for the title of this website.
It can be purchased through multiple channels.
Benefits & Risks of Artificial Intelligence (r)
The Future of Life Institute is a nonprofit organization with the stated goal of reducing global catastrophic and existential risks facing humanity, particularly existential risk from advanced artificial intelligence (AI).
They published a document that very neatly sums up the benefits and risks of Artificial Intelligence. Read it here.
The AI Dilemma (v)
In “The AI Dilemma” Tristan Harris and Aza Raskin (the co-founders of the Center for Humane Technology) translate the AI experts’ concerns into a cohesive story that shows the other side of the coin of AI, different from the message we’re getting from the CEOs of those companies that have the most to gain from a rapid deployment of this new technology.
A video version can be seen on Youtube.
A podcast version is available via the website of the Center for Humane Technology.
AI and the future of humanity (v)
In this keynote and Q&A, Yuval Noah Harari summarizes and speculates on ‘AI and the future of humanity’. There are a number of questions related to this discussion, including: “In what ways will AI affect how we shape culture? What threat is posed to humanity when AI masters human intimacy? Is AI the end of human history? Will ordinary individuals be able to produce powerful AI tools of their own? How do we regulate AI?
Watch the video on Youtube.
Already on the way.
Artificial Intelligence as a Positive and Negative Factor in Global Risk (r)
At the time of writing, Eliezer Yudkowsky is my single most important guide on my personal journey.
Post reading James’ book (mentioned above), it was this document that started providing the extra level of context that I was so eagerly looking for. While I often had to re-read certain paragraphs and even do some internet searches to fully understand them, it’s been a very enriching experience.
Highly recommended!