In Genesis: Artificial Intelligence, Hope, and the Human Spirit, Henry A Kissinger, Eric Schmidt and Craig Mundie explore the transformative potential and existential dilemmas involved in AI’s rapid evolution. Deftly combining historical, technological and philosophical perspectives, this thought-provoking book puts forward ethical strategies for adaptation with AI that enshrine human dignity, writes Fatih Bildirici.
Genesis: Artificial Intelligence, Hope, and the Human Spirit. Henry A Kissinger, Eric Schmidt and Craig Mundie; foreword by Niall Ferguson. John Murray Press. 2024.
As many experts today, from Yuval Noah Harari to Geoffrey Hinton argue, artificial intelligence is both a serious challenge and a window of opportunity that will make many things possible. Henry Kissinger’s latest work co-authored with tech enthusiasts Eric Schmidt and Craig Mundie explores the transformative impact of AI on humanity, with a wonderful foreword by Niall Ferguson dedicated to Kissinger. The authors go beyond the technical potential of AI to focus on the biggest existential questions facing humanity, from how our perception of reality will change to how our knowledge discovery processes are evolving.
The book aims to present an effective roadmap for the AI era over three main sections that address humanity’s discovery adventure, the effects of AI on politics, security, economy and science, and strategies for the future. The authors emphasise AI’s potential to solve major crises, from climate change to income inequality, while also highlighting challenges that could threaten human free will and decision-making. A masterful blend of history, technology and philosophy, Genesis convinces the reader that we are witnessing not only a technological revolution, but also a new stage in the evolution of the human spirit.
Human dignity and partnership with AI
At the centre of the book’s research is the concept of human dignity, which the authors argue should underpin humanity’s evolving relationship with AI. The authors frame dignity as the fundamental characteristic that distinguishes humans from machines, a quality inherent to vulnerable, mortal beings who exercise the freedom to choose good over evil. That philosophical foundation emphasises the necessity of creating AI systems that understand and respect human values. Provocatively, the authors pose the question of whether AI might one day develop its own sense of dignity or morality, demonstrating the book’s depth in grappling with the ethical dimensions of AI.
Economic and social impacts
The authors provide a detailed examination of the transformative effects of AI on economic structures and social dynamics. They argue that AI could reduce inequality and improve the well-being of societies by increasing productivity and moving away from the scarcity paradigm and promoting abundance. Nonetheless, they emphasise that this transformation requires institutional adaptations and deliberate policy interventions. Leveraging Sam Altman’s analysis of growth and inclusion, the book highlights the tension between capitalism’s capacity for technological progress and the inequalities it often exacerbates.
Inspired by Darwinian principles, the authors illustrate these challenges by comparing the process of “co-evolution” of humanity and AI with examples of mutual adaptation in nature and argue that both sides have the potential to transform each other.
Through placing AI within a broader socio-economic context, the book challenges readers to consider how the technology can be used to benefit all of humanity. Among the book’s innovative proposals are programs to redistribute income, such as taxing the wealth generated by AI, redirecting these taxes to universal basic income or public services, and mechanisms such as international funds and cooperation agreements to ensure global access to AI technologies.
The ethics of scientific discovery and longevity
The book’s discussion of the potential of AI in medicine and science is thought-provoking. According to the authors, AI offers humanity impressive potential to advance healthcare and unravel the complexity of human biology, from protein folding to personalised medicine. But it is also important to recognise the ethical and social dilemmas that these advances raise, particularly in areas such as human longevity. Through the stories of figures such as Sisyphus and Emperor Qin Shi Huang, the study examines the ethics and consequences of the quest to prolong life, and whether this undermines the very essence of humanity.
These reflections ground the progressive implications of AI, both technological and scientific, in a broader philosophical context, reminding readers that progress is a subjective and contested idea. It also takes a broad look at solutions to big problems, emphasising the potential role and impact of AI in tackling issues such as climate change. The authors see the sciences, and chemistry in particular, as the source and solution to the climate challenges we face and show that AI can play an important role here. For example, AI has the potential to develop high-resolution climate models.
Navigating humanity’s co-evolution with AI
“Will we become more like them, or will they become more like us?” This question is a provocative framing of the inescapable relationship between humanity and AI. The authors suggest two main ways for us to navigate this relationship: First, empowering humans by adapting them to AI technologies and making them better prepared for this interaction; and second, prioritising approaches that align AI with human values. Both approaches raise important ethical and philosophical challenges that may point to the danger of erosion of human identity in the process
Genesis is both a guide and a warning, addressed to thinkers, those interested in technology and AI, leaders, and anyone who cares about the course of our shared future.
Inspired by Darwinian principles, the authors illustrate these challenges by comparing the process of “co-evolution” of humanity and AI with examples of mutual adaptation in nature and argue that both sides have the potential to transform each other. Central to this approach is the attempt to solve the problem of “alignment” of AI systems by reflecting universal moral and legal principles. While the book emphasises the importance of developing foundation models (e.g. Deepmind’s Frontier Safety Framework) and global cooperation to solve this problem, it also recognises the challenge of integrating different human values into AI. In proposing solutions to the problems of explainability and control of AI, it proposes an adaptation framework that focuses on two main goals: on the one hand, technical alignment of human values and intentions with the actions of AI (solving the alignment problem) and, on the other, diplomatic harmonisation between people, institutions and nations on AI.
A new beginning: embracing AI with purpose and prudence
In its conclusion, the book calls for meeting the challenge and opportunities of AI with a clear-eyed, “sober optimism”. The authors frame the rise of AI not as the twilight of humanity, but as the dawn of unprecedented potential, and call for a balance between optimism and caution to harness this potential. This new beginning, the authors argue, requires humanity to redefine its values, institutions and priorities to align with the realities of a world increasingly affected by AI, prioritising measured adaptation and decisive regulatory action.
The book’s main strength lies in its interdisciplinary approach, coherently synthesising historical, philosophical and technological perspectives to examine the implications of AI. Through emphasising human dignity and moral clarity, the authors remind us that the rise of AI is not only a technological journey in which we follow logic and truth, but one in which the human spirit and values will play a pivotal role. We need to prioritise a sense of moral responsibility rather than relying solely on machine or human logic.
In this way, Genesis is both a guide and a warning, addressed to thinkers, those interested in technology and AI, leaders, and anyone who cares about the course of our shared future. It invites readers to approach this “third age of discovery” with humility and foresight, recognising that the choices we make today will shape the lives of those who come after us. This book’s visionary insights encourage us to use transformative technology as a way of empowering, not replacing, our humanity.
Note: This review gives the views of the author, not the position of the LSE Review of Books blog, or of the London School of Economics and Political Science.
Main image credit: cybermagician on Shutterstock.
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