A humanist manifesto for the age of AI
Artificial intelligence may be the most transformative technology of our time. As AI's power grows, so does the need to figure out what-and who-this technology is really for. AI Needs You argues that it is critical for society to take the lead in answering this urgent question and ensuring that AI fulfills its promise.
Verity Harding draws inspiring lessons from the histories of three twentieth-century tech revolutions-the space race, in vitro fertilization, and the internet-to empower each of us to join the conversation about AI and its possible futures. Sharing her perspective as a leading insider in technology and politics, she rejects the dominant narrative, which often likens AI's advent to that of the atomic bomb. History points the way to an achievable future in which democratically determined values guide AI to be peaceful in its intent; to embrace limitations; to serve purpose, not profit; and to be firmly rooted in societal trust.
Now with a new foreword by the author, AI Needs You gives us hope that we, the people, can imbue AI with a deep intentionality that reflects our best values, ideals, and interests, and that serves the public good. AI will permeate our lives in unforeseeable ways, but it is clear that the shape of AI's future-and of our own-cannot be left only to those building it. It is up to us to guide this technology away from our worst fears and toward a future that we can trust and believe in. One of TIME's 100 Most Influential People in AI, Verity Harding is director of the AI & Geopolitics Project at the Bennett Institute for Public Policy at the University of Cambridge and founder of Formation Advisory, a consultancy firm that advises on the future of technology and society. She worked for many years as Global Head of Policy for Google DeepMind and as a political adviser to Britain's deputy prime minister. "This book couldn't be more timely. It's a fascinating blend of history and insight and a must-read for anyone interested in AI. For all the sound and fury around AI, Verity Harding reminds us that we've been here before, that revolutionary technologies can be developed responsibly, and that it's possible for allies and rivals alike to find common ground."-Nick Clegg, President of Global Affairs, Meta
"Verity Harding is a rare beast-a technologist who thinks deeply about society. So when she tells us AI needs us, we should listen. In this thoughtful, clever, and very accessible book, you will learn about how we have faced huge technical innovations in the past and why, more than ever before, we must engage with how AI is shaping the future."-Baroness Martha Lane-Fox
"What is the world that AI is creating? And why are the rest of us letting this world be shaped by a small, privileged group of (mainly) men in Silicon Valley? This book, rooted in deep historical insights about prior technological disruptions, is essential reading for anybody keen to ensure the transformative power of AI is directed to the common good."-Diane Coyle, author of Cogs and Monsters
"This is history at its most essential. Providing a forensic analysis of the past that provokes lessons, warnings, and inspiration, Harding empowers us to join a conversation from which the tech bros have tried to exclude us. This brilliant book is a scholarly, optimistic call to action."-Dan Snow, founder of the History Hit podcast
"A must-read for anyone who wants to understand the defining technology of our era, from a unique author who has had a front row seat in AI's development."-Katie Prescott, technology business editor, The Times
"With an engaging blend of storytelling and analysis, Harding argues that, even on the shifting frontiers between science and science fiction, democracy still matters. Wise, convincing, essential."-Alwyn Turner, author of All in It Together
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