Ai Superpowers
China, Silicon Valley, and the New World Order
Ratings22
Average rating3.9
15
China, Silicon Valley, and the New World Order
Ratings22
Average rating3.9
The United States has long been the leader in Artificial Intelligence. But Dr. Kai-Fu Lee--one of the world's most respected experts on AI--reveals that China has caught up to the US at an astonishingly rapid pace. As Sino-American competition in AI heats up, Lee envisions China and the US forming a powerful duopoly in AI. He outlines the upheaval of traditional jobs, how the suddenly unemployed will find new ways of making their lives meaningful, and how the Chinese and American governments will have to cope with the changing economic landscape.
"Kai-Fu Lee--one of the world's most respected experts on AI and China--reveals that China has suddenly caught up to the United States at an astonishingly rapid and unexpected pace. In AI Superpowers, Kai-fu Lee argues powerfully that because of the unprecedented developments in artificial intelligence, dramatic changes will be happening much sooner than many of us have expected. Indeed, as the U.S.-China competition in AI begins to heat up, Lee urges America and China to both accept and embrace the great responsibilities that come with significant technological power. Most experts already say that AI will have a devastating impact on blue-collar jobs. But Lee predicts that Chinese and American AI will have a strong impact on white-collar jobs as well. Is universal basic income the solution? In Lee's opinion, probably not. But he provides a clear description of which jobs will be affected and how soon, which jobs can be enhanced with AI, and, most important, how we can provide solutions to some of the most profound changes in human history that are coming soon."--Dust jacket.
Reviews with the most likes.
A surprising ending reminding us about what is really important in life, and how AI might actually help us to leave our economically-centred lives behind to chase it. Connections, community and culture.
3.5
This one started off strong explaining cut throat business wars in China but it eventually fizzled into a memoir (albiet moving) with lots of tips on technology design based off his life experience. An interesting read in retrospect with AI being a commercial product today, one wonders how this book wasn't at the fore when it was released.
The future of A.I. through the perspectives of its two biggest players: the US and China. Super interesting look at how their different cultural and political norms influence how they collect data, what they fund, and where their research is focused.
China surged onto the A.I. scene after DeepMind's AlphaGo defeated its Go champions. Encouraged and supported by the government it spent years learning and mimicking - the “copycat years” - but has now reached A.I. independence. No other nation has as many smartphone and app users generating data. No other nation is as lenient and nonrestrictive about its data laws. The combination of these two factors makes China the most furtile ground for future groundbreaking A.I. applications and research.
Kai-Fu Lee also talks about how A.I. industries will disrupt the current job market, and he ends on his hope that we'll figure out a way to use artificial intelligence as a tool and possibly the reason to become more focused on human and social connections. This aspirational section of the book feels almost naive, the same way the first section of the book feels very devoid of any critical look at China's politics. But nonetheless, this book gives a great glimpse at a field (and country) that will probably domineer so much of our future.
One of the most well-written and interesting books I have read where I disagree with almost everything.
