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

Comments

The Hard Thing About Hard Things by Ben Horowitz

The book: The hard thing is that hard things have no universal solution. This book teaches management principles not from standard definitions but from real insightful experiences narrated from a CEO's point of view. The author talks about several challenges he had to face (in specific situations) when running Opsware. Hiring an executive against the advice of the board of directors or rejecting acquisition offers that exceeded everyone else's expectations are two examples of the hard decisions Ben Horowitz made. Takeaways and Paths of Action: The following apply to individuals in a leadership position: 1. Give feedback, constantly: If you are giving feedback all the time to everybody, it is more likely that they will take it as a regular practice rather than a personal attack. Keep in mind that your goal is to help the other person's job improve, not to prove your point. You can also use the "shit sandwich" technique. Give a compliment on the g...

Mindset by Carol Dueck

About the book: Carol Dweck, a psychology professor at Stanford University, presents her research on two thinking patterns, the growth and fixed mindsets, which have a strong influence on the way people behave, their self-esteem, and their attitude towards challenging situations. Growth-minded people are those who acknowledge that all skills can be acquired, only through practice. These include artistic, mathematical, and physical skills. Takeaways and Paths of Action: 1) Be aware and share the message. Intelligence is something you need to work for; it is not given to you. Success is not about proving you're smart, it is about learning. This is not very specific nor applicable. However, I do think that being aware that we are born knowing close to nothing but can learn anything through practice and concentration is very important. We should share this message with friends and family. 2) Be a good loser. With an open mind, look at people who are doing better ...

Creativity, Inc. by Ed Catmull

The book: This full-of-detail book uses the story of Pixar to illustrate managerial principles and important aspects of a company's culture. The book reveals challenges that the company faced during the creation of movies such as The Incredibles, Toy Story, and so on. So, if you are a big fan of Pixar like I am, you'll understand and remember what the author wants to say, with ease. The audio version of the book also includes a very particular chapter dedicated to Steve Jobs. Takeaways and Paths of Action: 1. Encourage candor and be candid yourself: Not only every person on your team must be honest with each other, but they must voice their opinion without fear of being punished. Create meetings with the sole purpose of giving feedback and let each person express their ideas and concerns. If the criticism is towards ideas and problems, not people, participants will feel more comfortable. 2. Empower people to solve problems: This is completely opposite to ...

Insights and Paths of Action from the Best Books

Search This Blog