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Cover of IF ANYONE BUILDS IT, EVERYONE DIES
★★★★★
4.31

Based on 311 Goodreads ratings

IF ANYONE BUILDS IT, EVERYONE DIES

by their alarming title, Yudkowsky and Soares issue a stark warning: Unless we act now to contain powerful superintelligent AI systems, humanity may not survive. Yudkowsky, co\u002Dfounder of the Machine Intelligence Research Institute, and Soares, its president, target politicians, CEOs, policymakers, and the general public in their urgent plea. The book opens with an accessible breakdown of what AI is, how it’s built, and why even its creators often can’t comprehend the accelerating complexity of their own systems. Through parablelike vignettes, the authors expose the underlying realities of AI algorithms—advanced AIs are not engineered so much as grown, operating with opaque and unpredictable results, untethered from human values. The most chilling passages describe how AIs could escape computers and manipulate the physical and financial worlds, eventually repurposing Earth’s resources to serve alien objectives or replacing humanity with their own “favorite things.” The authors warn, “Nobody has the knowledge or skill to make a superintelligence that does their bidding,” arguing that world governments must cooperate to restrict or ideally halt AI research. Policymakers have not yet grasped the full implications of these advanced systems, and the public hasn’t felt the impact in their lives, but the authors caution they must be persuaded to act immediately. While some scenarios seem extreme or unrealistic, including hoping global leaders can agree on defining the problem or collaborating on solutions, the book’s arguments that the risks are elevated and time is short are persuasive. There is excellent information and food for thought here, including links to resources for readers motivated to join the fray."

Book Details

Publisher:Of
Published:2024-01-01
Format:paperback
Language:English
ISBN:9780316595

Reading Info

Age Range:12-18

About This Book

This explosive thriller plunges readers into a high-stakes technological nightmare where a brilliant but reckless inventor creates a device with catastrophic potential, forcing a race against time to...

Our Review

This explosive thriller plunges readers into a high-stakes technological nightmare where a brilliant but reckless inventor creates a device with catastrophic potential, forcing a race against time to prevent global annihilation. The narrative masterfully blends cutting-edge science fiction with the relentless pacing of a disaster movie, exploring the terrifying implications of a single innovation falling into the wrong hands. It's a chillingly plausible tale that taps into contemporary anxieties about artificial intelligence and technological hubris, making the sci-fi elements feel immediate and urgent.

What sets this story apart is its complex moral landscape, where the line between hero and villain is blurred by ambition and unintended consequences. Teen readers will be gripped by the high-concept premise and the relatable young protagonists who must outthink the adults to save the world. The book delivers a sobering commentary on responsibility in the digital age, leaving readers to ponder the real-world weight of technological creation long after the final page is turned.

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