This is a book summary of Empire of AI by karen Hao. The book asks whether Sam Altman and the Open AI gang are sociopaths with no regard for humanity or the planet? Is artificial intelligence and the drive to AGI driven only by ego?

From data farms to global labor networks, the story of AI is ugly. The systems are sustained by unseen humans. Millions of workers labeling data, moderating content, and maintaining the illusion of automation and paid peanuts.

At the top, in their castles in San Francisco, sit the new emperors of technology, CEOs and policymakers navigating a system that no single person can command or fully comprehend. And one man sits at the top of the empire: Sam Altman.

In part two of our Empire of AI book summary, we get a reality check.

Please enjoy the show.

--

Other ways to connect with us:

• ⁠Listen to every podcast⁠

• Follow us on ⁠Instagram⁠

• Follow us on ⁠X⁠

• Follow Mark on ⁠LinkedIn⁠

• Follow Jeremy on ⁠LinkedIn⁠

• Read our ⁠Substack⁠

• Email: [email protected]

--

🕰️ TIMESTAMPS

(00:00) Trailer

(02:00) Introduction to Empire of AI & Karen Hao

(03:41)Shifting power dynamics in Silicon Valley

(03:59) Karen Hao’s warnings in Empire of AI

(04:56) Humanity V the relentless race for scale

(06:32) The environmental impact of AI systems

(07:38) Stochastic parrots: Silencing Critics

(09:48) Sam Altman Loves A Military Quote

(10:53) What Cost Humanity?

(15:14) The global race for AI advancement

(18:32) The hidden labor behind ChatGPT

(25:07) The ethical dilemma at the heart of AI development