Life 3.0 by Max Tegmark

The book:

This book explains why it is crucial to conduct AI research with caution. It starts by giving modern definitions of intelligence, consciousness, life, and other controversial terms. For example, intelligence is the ability to accomplish goals; life is a process that can retain its complexity and replicate; consciousness is how it feels to process information.

Then, a significant part of this book is devoted to illustrating some possible consequences of developing a super artificial general intelligence (AGI), if we ever achieve this goal. My favorite scenario is that on which AI benefits our entire civilization, leading to a life where humans (and machines) work to achieve their goals, not to earn a salary, which the author explains in detail.

All of this is surrounded by explanations based on the laws of Physics and scientific data. Reading this book will deepen your understanding of the role of humanity in the universe.

Takeaways and Paths of Action:

There are no immediate actions you can take after reading this book unless you’re doing research in some field related to AI. However, if you really want to learn more about AI and participate in online conversations, visit futureoflife.org

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