I found this book an interesting introduction to AI and the people (mainly US based it seems) who spend their lives developing, studying and thinking about its uses and dangers. As a fan of Tom's articles on science and tech in national newspapers, I enjoy his easy style of writing and open mind to the ideas and concepts he describes, which in other hands might have become impenetrable. At points the book switches between linear story telling and almost discrete, standalone essays on key ideas and concepts, which worked for me, but might not be to everyone's taste. My only criticism would be the book could really do with an easy to use reading list at the back, with a line on the writers mentioned with their books/articles, as there are a lot of interesting books/articles mentioned - maybe something for the paperback?

I had no background when it came to AI and the rationalist community. I was just a curious person wanting to know more about how AI works and why it might be a threat. Got way more out of the book than expected! Not only was it easy to understand, because it explained all the basics, but it was also funny and quirky at times, making it even more interesting! 100% recommend for curious minds!

A fantastic read which has enough depth for techies but is also approachable for those who are new to AI.

Having delved in to this space via the Josh Clark Podcast "End of the World" I was glued to the book throughout. It's a riveting look at where we're inexorably heading as a species.

Highly recommended.

I work in Tech and thought this was brilliant overview of the Rationalist view of AI, and we what we (might) need to worry about. Tom dealt with difficult technical, logical and philosophical concepts and broke them down into digestible chunks. I really like his writing style that often made me laugh, not just because of the bizarre people and views in the rationalist world. I highly recommend this book.

A detailed, fun, and often funny dive into a detailed and scary topic. Tom treats the audience and subjects of the book with a deft hand and explores the idea of AI risk and the subcultures around it in an approachable way.

An excellent read from one of the best science writers in the UK.

Not bad, but not outstanding

I really enjoyed this book.

I'm enmeshed in the culture that Chivers writes about, and while there wasn't much in the book that was news to me, I really appreciated the degree to which he takes us (and our ideas) seriously (despite not being sold on them). Other popular articles about the rationality and effective altruist communities have tended to be either caricatures or travelogues of weirdness; this one treats us as real people.

Chivers works hard on being evenhanded, spending a fair amount of time talking to the subculture's fiercest critics and tackling those topics head-on. Those chapters were a bit awkward for me to get through, but I understand why they had to be there.

Overall, this is the first popular book or article that I can recommend to friends and family who want to understand my community, and I deeply appreciate that.