194. Supremacy: AI, ChatGPT, and the Race that Will Change the World by Parmy Olson

Parmy Olson’s Supremacy: AI, ChatGPT, and the Race That Will Change the World is an in-depth investigation into the fierce rivalry between OpenAI and DeepMind—two of the most influential AI companies in the world. The book explores how their founders, Sam Altman and Demis Hassabis, began with the ambition of using AI for good but were ultimately drawn into a high-stakes power struggle, influenced by the financial backing of tech giants Microsoft and Google.

Olson provides a behind-the-scenes look at how ChatGPT’s release in November 2022 changed the landscape of AI overnight, sparking excitement and concern in equal measure. While much of the AI debate focuses on hypothetical risks, Olson highlights more immediate dangers: the unchecked spread of biased, flawed AI systems into industries, the economy, and society. She warns that AI is already disrupting jobs, spreading misinformation, and concentrating power in the hands of a few dominant corporations.

Featuring a cast of major tech figures, including Elon Musk and Larry Page, Supremacy is a compelling and urgent read. It challenges readers to consider not just where AI is headed, but who is controlling its direction—and what that means for the future of humanity.