Book Review: AI and the Future of Power

 

Book Review

Artificial Intelligence and the Future of Power
- Rajiv Malhotra

“Artificial Intelligence and the Future of Power”, a book written by Mr. Rajiv Malhotra, aptly dedicated to young scientists and technocrats, is a comprehensive guide to understanding the effects and ill-effects of Artificial Intelligence and it’s behemoth influence on the future of the world, and the stark changes in the already unsettled equilibrium of power.

“It is extremely easy to find people who speak pleasantly.
But it is rare to find people who speak and hear true words, even when they aren’t pleasing to hear”

This quote defines the viewpoint from which this book has been penned, and also the lens through which each and every detail has been examined before it has found its way on the book. Every layman, when asked about AI’s future, is either of the view that “AI is the future, and it is going to revolutionize our world for the good” or they think that AI is the harbinger of the Doomsday. Au contraire, in this book I found a set of problems and plausible effects of AI, but also the silver lining of the dark cloud. What stood out the most was the fact there is a sequel in the making which addresses the problems brought to the forefront and gives possible solutions for the public to be made aware of. It seems almost inevitable to “stop” AI from coming in our lives; it is a force not to be reckoned with. Instead, it is one to be understood, studied and institutionalized in our lives such that we aren’t marred by it rather we reap its golden fruit.

Among other things, another factor contributing to this book’s long lasting effect on the reader’s mind was its structure. The book has been decisively divided into 2 parts, one dealing with Overview of AI technologies, The Battle for Jobs and World Domination, and lastly the Battle for Agency and Self; the second half deals with the effect of AI on the Indian Rashtra.

From creating a further divide between the “Have and the Have Not’s” to the “Stress Testing of the Indian Rashtra” the book has covered riveting characteristic features of AI and compels the reader to give more thought to their own future, and how Artificial Intelligence will shape it.

This book is a must read for the general public to raise awareness, but also for Think Tanks, Politicians, Business Houses and Bureaucrats. The prescient warning brought to our unaware and blindfolded selves, is a much needed wake up call for us. Our nation has a profound and rich potential for technological developments and we have the ability to leapfrog all nations to becoming the next cyber superpower. But we are already a decade behind China in terms of technology, and unless some revolutionary policy changes are made soon things will remain that way .China and the United States seem to be the heirs to the historically uninhabited throne of the world’s first “Cyber Superpower”, with AI as “The Crown Jewel” and Data, “The Royal Blood”.

I’d like to end by quoting perhaps the most famous and the most felicitous quote of this book,

“Artificial Intelligence is only partially visible, just like an iceberg.
To understand it fully, we must look beneath the surface.”

 

Also refer - AIandPower.com