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Here is a selection of books I recently read and can recommend on topics related to this blog - Artifical Intelligence, the Singularity, Google in general.
Artificial Intelligence
Artificial Intelligence
A very pessimistic book about super intelligence, comes highly recommended by tech entrepreneurs. Crystal clear thinking makes it enjoyable to read. It also sports the most sinister owl you'll ever encounter.
Nothing new here, better read his other book:
I like this series - all its books have lots of fluff, but also a handful of pearls that will stay with you and change the way you see the world. This book was no exception. For me, the book is divided into "before and after O'Reilly", in order not to spoil.
In-depth interviews with the people who are driving the AI revolution. Not pundits, but the people behind the keyboard and in the lab. Spoiler: What we currently call AI are more applications of 10-year old principles. We'll bump against their limitations soon, but the amount of funding flowing into AI makes it likely to overcome these. 2-3 innovations on the scale of "deep learning" are needed for general artifical intelligence.
A more positive outlook on the future and the questions society needs to answer fast. Great illustration of possible scenarios of a world living with Super Intelligence.
The Singularity and society
The Singularity and society
The most influential book of 2017 and my most gifted book to date (after Getting Things Done). One of the few books that everybody MUST have read. The argumentation alone is worth it: After some initial shocks of Hariri deconstructing everything you hold dear, you will take pleasure in "Ok, agree... Ok, agree... Hey, I don't want to agree with that, but it sounds so logical." You'll have material for discussions for the rest of your life - and mostly, a solid compass of the challenges and tendencies before us.
An illuminating book on the rise of China and their entrepreneurial culture. Equally solid, his ideas on where AI will take society. This book inspired my post about the future of work.
Science fiction always has been closely linked to Science, so here you have a science fiction-loving phycisist talking about the marvels the future holds. One of the good introductory books, but perhaps off-putting for being too starry-eyed. That book got my to-read list refilled with great references about modern and classic sci-fi works, that alone made it worth reading.
Novel. about up- and downloading consciousness, the resulting disregard for the human body and all problems and benefits that come with it. Rich people's bodies, switching bodies to be young again, military-grade engineered combat bodies... Worth reading before watching the Netflix series.
This book sums up Microsoft's problems: It's hard to think "collaboration" when you sell Excel licenses, it's hard to think "Cloud" when you sell Exchange servers. Having Hololens does not make you a hip company. Besides the wish to be a "platform" and some rosy words about empowerment, there is nothing new in this book. For IT people, hearing the CEO of Microsoft and his vision for the future makes it worth reading though.
A very courageous look at today's problems, both being caused and solved by technology. Though an early techie, the author does not shy away from suggestions for solving politically toxic topics.
A light-weight primer on what is currently going on in the economy and job markets, and where it is leading. This book covers the next few years, the nascent sharing economies and disruptions businesses are facing.
Novel. A century-spanning, hard sci fi novel about the technological singularity unfolding in the world, and how humans find a place in it. Breathtaking ideas.
Novel. What would it feel like to have your consciousness transferred into a super computer, clone yourself and conquer the galaxy?
Novel. The impacts of surveillance and, mainly, about the various uses of augmented reality. Will literally open your eyes to what will be possible soon.
Please let me know if you agree or disagree with this list, and especially if you have tips for what to read next!
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