Uncontrollable: The Threat of Artificial Superintelligence and the Race to Save the World

A compelling and clear exploration of the power and peril of advanced artificial intelligence that provides actionable suggestions for all citizens to create a safer future with AI.

“A captivating, balanced and remarkably up-to-date book on the most important issue of our time.” — Max Tegmark, Professor of Physics at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology and New York Times bestselling author of Life 3.0: Being Human in the Age of AI

“The most accessible and engaging introduction to the risks of AI that I’ve read.” — William MacAskill, Professor of Philosophy at the University of Oxford and New York Times bestselling author of What We Owe The Future

“Written in a fluid and engaging style that allows the reader to deepen their understanding almost effortlessly. It is well-suited to public policy makers tasked with finding solutions, and to citizens interested in the big picture behind the issues.” — Duncan Cass-Beggs, Executive Director of the Global AI Risk Initiative at the Centre for International Governance Innovation (CIGI)

We are living in a world of rapid change and technological progress.

Artificial intelligence is poised to be the most significant development to affect our lives now, and in the coming years. More powerful than nuclear bombs and as impactful as electricity, fire, and oil rolled into one, advanced AI might bring us untold wonders but it could also be a threat to our jobs, our relationships, and our place in the world.

Is artificial intelligence dangerous? How does artificial intelligence work? Will artificial intelligence take over?

Uncontrollable uses engaging analogies and relatable examples to summarize AI for beginners, and unpacks AI risk and safety for readers without a technical background.

Uncontrollable examines artificial intelligence as a concept and technology, describes what AI is, how image generators and language models work, and how we don’t fully understand what is happening in these AI systems. It provides evidence to show that artificial superintelligence presents a risk to humanity, and demonstrates that it will be very difficult to understand, control, or align as it rapidly increases in capabilities and becomes more integrated into how we work, live, and play.