I haven't read the book, but what I can say is that extremes are very well received these days. It's either doomsday or a field of flowers. There can be nothing in between. Off course if he wrote about AI in a balanced and reasonable way, nobody would have read it.
Reading the book is quite a treat. I don’t know if it comes across in my review here, but I really did love it. And yes, you need hyperbolic titles to stand out these days. There are probably better books on the subject, it I will miss them in the sea of content!
I wonder if he lived when the printing press was invented he may have written a similar doomsday book. Every major advancement brings ‘ there be dragons’ comment, for the unknown,
Dragons is right. Luddite’s had their thing, people thought cars were the end too haha. I think we are just experiencing rapid change and that’s uncomfortable to many.
Thanks again for such a well-researched and balanced take. IMHO 'If Anyone Builds it, Everyone Dies' leans far too much into the hyperbole, but like you suggest it does make some salient points. Still waiting for a genuinely nuanced 'bestseller' on AI development and practice, but perhaps it wouldn't be polarising enough to shift any units. 😅
Sam Altman is a very interesting character as you mentioned he signed a letter which cites existential risk. Every passing day I get more and more convinced these big shots are faking it to make sure a common retail investors keeps pumping money into their stocks so they can show the government that they are "helping the economy" while in reality they have already made a deal with themselves that any development at this scale has its tradeoffs and likely huge future risks and liabilities.
These people and their intentions are more dangerous than any AI right now but alas nobody especially those who have the powers are keeping them in check.
Yeah, for sure. If you notice I do take a pretty skeptical tone in the review. I do think we get a lot of hype and people overselling it just for the pump.
But I do think we are in a type of arms race. Who knows if it will fall flat..or when hah!
I haven't read the book, but what I can say is that extremes are very well received these days. It's either doomsday or a field of flowers. There can be nothing in between. Off course if he wrote about AI in a balanced and reasonable way, nobody would have read it.
Reading the book is quite a treat. I don’t know if it comes across in my review here, but I really did love it. And yes, you need hyperbolic titles to stand out these days. There are probably better books on the subject, it I will miss them in the sea of content!
Appreciate the comment!!
I wonder if he lived when the printing press was invented he may have written a similar doomsday book. Every major advancement brings ‘ there be dragons’ comment, for the unknown,
Dragons is right. Luddite’s had their thing, people thought cars were the end too haha. I think we are just experiencing rapid change and that’s uncomfortable to many.
Thanks. I wonder if James Cameron was influenced by him?
Hah, I wouldn't put it past'em!
Thanks again for such a well-researched and balanced take. IMHO 'If Anyone Builds it, Everyone Dies' leans far too much into the hyperbole, but like you suggest it does make some salient points. Still waiting for a genuinely nuanced 'bestseller' on AI development and practice, but perhaps it wouldn't be polarising enough to shift any units. 😅
Thanks! I do think after a read there is a little bit of tongue in cheek, but the theory is possible.
I think at a cultural level we just lean into the dramatic flare, perhaps if they named it something too sensible I wouldn’t have read it!
Hard agree! perhaps we should write a book called ‘Why AI will destroy us all’ and then present a balanced argument for the nuance around AI use… 🤣
Maybe this is our calling 😂
Sam Altman is a very interesting character as you mentioned he signed a letter which cites existential risk. Every passing day I get more and more convinced these big shots are faking it to make sure a common retail investors keeps pumping money into their stocks so they can show the government that they are "helping the economy" while in reality they have already made a deal with themselves that any development at this scale has its tradeoffs and likely huge future risks and liabilities.
These people and their intentions are more dangerous than any AI right now but alas nobody especially those who have the powers are keeping them in check.
Yeah, for sure. If you notice I do take a pretty skeptical tone in the review. I do think we get a lot of hype and people overselling it just for the pump.
But I do think we are in a type of arms race. Who knows if it will fall flat..or when hah!