Given your review, it’s possible my book is the response to what you’re alluding to here: “I don’t know of a resource for laypeople that’s half as good at explaining what AI is, describing superintelligence, and making the basic case for misalignment risk.”
I’m only 40 pages in to the new book, and inherently conflicted of course, so it is better to have the thoughts of someone who has read both and isn’t me, but people have said it is the best introduction to AI risk for laypeople. I had hoped EY’s book would clearly supplant mine but the more reviews I read, I think that isn’t clearly the case.
(happy to get you a copy, physical or audio, if desired).
I’ve seen physical copies around, but I actually haven’t read it. It’s possible that you’re totally right, in which case I apologize and should have finished my review with “I’m an idiot for not realizing it was worth my time to read Uncontrollable so that I could recommend it to people”.
I would appreciate a digital copy and audio copy if you wanted to email them to me! I’m not sure I’ll consume it because I don’t know if it’s that decision-relevant to me.
FWIW Darren’s book Uncontrollableis my current top recommended book on AI.
While I expected (75% chance) IABIED to overtake it, after listening to the audiobook Tuesday I don’t think IABIED is better (though I’ll wait until I receive and reread my hardcopy to declare that definitively).
The world is not yet as concerned as it should be about the impending development of smarter-than-human AI. Most people are not paying enough attention.
What one book should most people read to become informed and start to remedy this situation?
“Uncontrollable: The Threat of Artificial Superintelligence and the Race to Save the World” by Darren McKee is now my top recommendation, ahead of:
- “Superintelligence” by Nick Bostrom,
- “Human Compatible” by Stuart Russell, and
- “The Alignment Problem” by Brian Christian
It’s a short, easy read (6 hours at ~120wpm / 2x speed on Audible) covering all of the most important topics related to AI, from what’s happening in the world of AI, to what risks from AI humanity faces in the near future, to what each and everyone one of us can do to help with the most important problem of our time.
(fyi, I almost replied yesterday with “my shoulder Darren McKee is kinda sad about the ‘no one else tried writing a book like this’ line”, and didn’t get around to it because I was busy. I did get a copy of your book recently to see how it compared. Haven’t finished reading it yet)
Buck, did you read my book “Uncontrollable” ?
Given your review, it’s possible my book is the response to what you’re alluding to here: “I don’t know of a resource for laypeople that’s half as good at explaining what AI is, describing superintelligence, and making the basic case for misalignment risk.”
I’m only 40 pages in to the new book, and inherently conflicted of course, so it is better to have the thoughts of someone who has read both and isn’t me, but people have said it is the best introduction to AI risk for laypeople.
I had hoped EY’s book would clearly supplant mine but the more reviews I read, I think that isn’t clearly the case.
(happy to get you a copy, physical or audio, if desired).
I’ve seen physical copies around, but I actually haven’t read it. It’s possible that you’re totally right, in which case I apologize and should have finished my review with “I’m an idiot for not realizing it was worth my time to read Uncontrollable so that I could recommend it to people”.
I would appreciate a digital copy and audio copy if you wanted to email them to me! I’m not sure I’ll consume it because I don’t know if it’s that decision-relevant to me.
FWIW Darren’s book Uncontrollableis my current top recommended book on AI.
While I expected (75% chance) IABIED to overtake it, after listening to the audiobook Tuesday I don’t think IABIED is better (though I’ll wait until I receive and reread my hardcopy to declare that definitively).
As I wrote on Facebook 10 months ago:
Just posted my review: IABIED Review—An Unfortunate Miss — LessWrong
(fyi, I almost replied yesterday with “my shoulder Darren McKee is kinda sad about the ‘no one else tried writing a book like this’ line”, and didn’t get around to it because I was busy. I did get a copy of your book recently to see how it compared. Haven’t finished reading it yet)
Oh well, but you were correct.
You aren’t really my target audience but I’d be curious to hear what you think. I’m re-reading it myself.