The Coming Wave Book Summary

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Key Insights

In “The Coming Wave” by Mustafa Suleyman, the author dives into the idea that we are in the early stages of a technological revolution comprised of artificial intelligence (AI) and genetic engineering. 

Suleyman explains how the AI systems that have begun to take over our lives, including Siri, Alexa, and ChatGPT, will grow further. He predicts these systems will likely be organizing every detail of our lives, as well as federal agencies and the government.

The author theorizes that the use of this modern technology could be very good, making us more effective, successful, and healthier, or very bad, increasing job loss, violence, and fear. 

However, it’s clear that the technology is not what will decide the fate of our world, but the humans utilizing it. We must determine how we will use the technology while preventing its misuse. 

The Idea Of Revenge Effects

We are about to enter a new world filled with an increase in the reliance on artificial intelligence and genetic engineering. 

These two technologies have the potential to create a beautiful and successful world. They can create wealth, but they can also cause unrivaled chaos in our everyday lives. However, this isn’t something new. If we look to history, we will see that every technology breakthrough has come with consequences or side effects that were not expected or predicted.

You can think of technology as fluid; it is constantly changing, morphing, and adapting as it evolves by merging with other technologies. The advancement and development of technology are Darwinian, meaning that effective and efficient combinations of technology survive, which then help to build new technology. Think of it as stacking blocks! The effective combinations become a solid foundation for new advancements. 

With these building blocks in place, invention essentially helps feed itself. For example, cell phones quickly became smartphones that have so many pieces of technology included, such as a GPS system, facial recognition, and QR codes. Not to mention our best friend, Siri!

Engineers call this advancement in technology a feedback loop, which is a process that uses the output of its action to provide information for future actions. 

It’s important to note, however, that technology doesn’t evolve in an airtight space; it evolves in our ever-changing world. That means that oftentimes, technology is not used to its intended purpose, which can cause havoc. 

If we look at history, we can see that Thomas Edison’s phonograph, which was supposed to aid the blind, turned into a music player for many. Although Edison himself thought this was a silly misuse of his invention, it sparked something that advanced our culture and the music industry. 

Another example from history is Alfred Nobel’s explosives, which were invented for mining and railway construction. However, these explosives were then utilized in battle, and the outcome was human deaths.

Johannes Gutenberg is another great case in point. He was a German craftsman who invented a machine to mass-print the vernacular Bible for profit. His printing press sparked the Scientific Revolution and the Reformation! 

These unintended side effects are also referred to as “revenge effects.”...

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