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akshithrao's review
4.0
This book gives a good foundation on what is AI, its various stages, the ongoing war between China and USA and finally its implications on human beings with a slight drawback of sometimes being repetitive and sometimes loosing direction
I liked Kai's AI evolution model and his reasoning on how we need to think beyond just plain universal basic income schemes to solve the impending job loses due to AI. His views on how AI will effect the social inequality system is also interesting.
I did not like the divergence into his personal life and tragedy (as part of the book's narrative) and felt that it was unnecessary. It also felt that he was a bit too optimistic towards Chinese companies. His basic end bet is that China will be the next superpower on AI in the long run, hands down.
Would definitely recommend this to anyone who wants to understand from basics how the AI world is galloping ahead.
I liked Kai's AI evolution model and his reasoning on how we need to think beyond just plain universal basic income schemes to solve the impending job loses due to AI. His views on how AI will effect the social inequality system is also interesting.
I did not like the divergence into his personal life and tragedy (as part of the book's narrative) and felt that it was unnecessary. It also felt that he was a bit too optimistic towards Chinese companies. His basic end bet is that China will be the next superpower on AI in the long run, hands down.
Would definitely recommend this to anyone who wants to understand from basics how the AI world is galloping ahead.
kaisan's review
5.0
A fascinating look at the past, present, and future developments in AI and in China by one of the pioneers of the field.
dhillinck's review
3.0
Kai-Fu Lee's "AI Superpowers" is really two books in one, each to some extent representative of the ongoing divide between techno-pessimists (e.g., Martin Ford, Hao Jingfang) and techno-optimists (Steven Pinker, Hans Rosling) over the role that artificial intelligence will play in the future of humanity. The first tw0-thirds of "AI Superpowers" offers up a sobering analysis of the race between China and the United States to implement dramatic new advances in AI capabilities. Lee's approach makes it clear that China enjoys distinct advantages in that race (a culture of ruthless entrepreneurial competition, a rich trove of mostly unprotected personal data, and a government willing to devote political and financial resources to achieve supremacy in the field). Fully aware of the potential downsides of a China-dominated AI world, Lee pivots in the final third of his book to the consideration of potential solutions to the inequalities and indignities of such a world. His idea for a "social investment stipend" that will encourage displaced workers to engage in pro-social activities like compassionate care for children and the elderly or education seems insufficient to the scale of the problem. Lee is right to point out that the best hopes of the techno-optimists will not be sufficient either, so credit him for offering up something concrete as an alternative. Nonetheless, if the political and economic upheavals that he describes so compellingly in the first part of his book come to pass, more than just an adjustment to the social contract may be required.
davidgilani's review
4.0
Lots of interesting insights in this book from the perspective of a Chinese entrepreneur - main problem with the book is that this is an area that is moving SO fast, that it feels already quite out of date after just a few years... still... loads of interesting stuff, so worth a read in my opinion.
I found it really interesting the points made in the book about the difference between US and Chinese enterprise culture - with the Chinese culture apparently being a lot more cut-throat. Less about pursuing a dream and more just about making money for the sake of it. How this culture is influenced by the state and how the Chinese state is doing a huge amount to make internet start-ups appear safe to investors and workers.
It pointed out all the right stuff about key things like the alignment problem (although not nearly in enough detail in this book), jobs at risk through automation, and the loss of meaning / utility in an age of AI.
I found it really interesting the points made in the book about the difference between US and Chinese enterprise culture - with the Chinese culture apparently being a lot more cut-throat. Less about pursuing a dream and more just about making money for the sake of it. How this culture is influenced by the state and how the Chinese state is doing a huge amount to make internet start-ups appear safe to investors and workers.
It pointed out all the right stuff about key things like the alignment problem (although not nearly in enough detail in this book), jobs at risk through automation, and the loss of meaning / utility in an age of AI.
septan's review
4.0
While I'm not sure I agree 100% with his visions for the future, this book was a fascinating insight into the Chinese tech world, which is lightyears ahead of anything we're seeing in Europe.
katekoda's review
5.0
Fascinating, at least for someone only vaguely familiar with deep learning, and entertaining.
yapxinyi's review
5.0
Decided to pick this up after I found out two of my colleagues were unintentionally coincidentally reading this, and it was so interesting how it was published in 2018 but so much is still not known to us about the waves of AI (internet, business, perception, autonomous), capabilities of AI, and even the different style to data collection approaches between East and West.
Mostly, it was fascinating to learn about the growth and development of technology in China and how culturally, that has changed innovation across the country. I think to understand the future and the way things will play out, it is important to understand where we have come from, and [a:Kai-Fu Lee|1549627|Kai-Fu Lee|https://images.gr-assets.com/authors/1539641903p2/1549627.jpg] does a pretty comprehensive job with this book.
Mostly, it was fascinating to learn about the growth and development of technology in China and how culturally, that has changed innovation across the country. I think to understand the future and the way things will play out, it is important to understand where we have come from, and [a:Kai-Fu Lee|1549627|Kai-Fu Lee|https://images.gr-assets.com/authors/1539641903p2/1549627.jpg] does a pretty comprehensive job with this book.