Mon. 11/06 – Elon “Groks” AI

In this book, Kai-Fu Lee argues that China is poised to become the next tech-innovation superpower due to its unique advantages in AI development, such as abundant data, fewer data protection regulations, and aggressive tech startup culture. Lee discusses the potential economic upheaval caused by AI, the impact on employment, and proposes a social contract to forge a new synergy between AI and human society. The book emphasizes the need for both the US and China to accept and embrace the responsibilities that come with significant technological power.

In this book, Kai-Fu Lee and Chen Qiufan imagine the world in 2041 and how it will be shaped by AI. The book combines speculative storytelling and scientific analysis to introduce readers to various AI technologies such as deep learning, mixed reality, robotics, artificial general intelligence, and autonomous weapons. It explores the potential benefits and harms of these technologies and their impact on daily life, including topics like autonomous vehicles, deepfake videos, augmented reality, job loss, and the implementation of Universal Basic Income.

The novel tells the story of Valentine Michael Smith, a human born on Mars and raised by Martians after the deaths of the crew of the first mission to the planet. When Michael is brought back to Earth as an adult, he struggles to understand human behavior and culture. With the help of characters like Gillian Boardman and Jubal Harshaw, Michael navigates human society, critiques its institutions, and eventually starts his own movement, the 'Church of All Worlds. ' The novel explores themes of individual liberty, self-responsibility, and challenges to traditional social and religious norms. It is known for its complex characters, philosophical discussions, and its impact on the science fiction genre and the counterculture movement of the late 1960s.