The enormous transformational potential of artificial intelligence has long been dismissed because AI itself sounds like science fiction. That is no longer possible. Fluent new text generators, such as ChatGPT, have suddenly shown that powerful AI is here now. We may respond with excitement for opportunities, concern with risks, or both.

This book is about overlooked risks--not malevolent robots, but "moderate apocalypses," which could result from recent and near-future technologies. AI systems we cannot understand are already making major social and cultural decisions for us. That may crush our ability to make sense of the world--and so our ability to act in it. Feeling dazed and lost, we may descend into pervasive helplessness. Or, we may revolt against the machines--and in so doing, we may destroy systems we depend on for survival.

Can we get the benefits of technological breakthroughs without succumbing to the risks? This book explains seven practical actions we can take to guard against disasters. Acting now is the best way to steer away--and perhaps toward a remarkably likable future. You, and everyone, can join in this effort.

The most important questions are not about technology but about us. What sort of future would you like? How might AI help get us there? What is its role in that world? What is your own role in helping that happen?