This is not just a book for people in business or finance; it’s a book for everyone.
Reviewed by Georgia Colgrave
Nerdection Rating: “Nerdection Must Read”
Reading this book is like opening a can of worms. I read the book, found myself intrigued, and made my merry way onto the internet to perform further research, only to find myself manifestly down the rabbit hole.
The topic of Artificial Intelligence (AI) is contentious and somewhat polarizing. Between some people believing AI will be an incredible ally to humanity in the future and others touting it will bring about the end days, there are people like me who previously haven’t felt fussed by AI either way. After reading Transcend, I find myself with a new appreciation for aspects of technology, healthcare, and education — things that AI has permeated, and I have been taking for granted.
Spoiler-free Summary
Faisal Hoque is here to educate us all about AI with Transcend: Unlocking Humanity in the Age of AI. It was done in a way that I believe most people will find approachable, which is clever because it means that, realistically, anyone with some curiosity on the topic will be able to pick this book up and enjoy and learn. This is not just a book for people in business or finance; it’s a book for everyone.
Hoque uses examples to make the philosophical and technical explanations make sense and feel relatable and engaging. The flow of the book is methodical, beginning with the history and philosophy before building up to potential applications for AI for individuals, businesses, and governments. The additions of acronym flowcharts and exert help to keep the reader’s attention and expand their understanding of these concepts.
My Take on Transcend: Unlocking Humanity in the Age of AI
While reading Transcend, I was reminded of a social media post I stumbled across a few months ago. The summary is that a creative person was unhappy with AI’s current trajectory. She doesn’t want AI to create stunning artwork or write beautifully while she does mundane house tasks. She wants AI to do her dishes and laundry so that she can spend her time creating art and writing. I think this strikes at the heart of what Hoque argued it meant to be human–the creativity, the passion, the desire to make. I found the first part of the book, where all of these philosophical concepts were examined through a lens of comparison to AI, very stimulating and thought-provoking.
I found Hoque to be level-headed and fair in his examination of both the anti and pro sides of the AI argument. He takes pains to warn of several dangers of AI, including reduced creativity in language and thinking, increased difficulty developing critical thinking skills, and reduced capacity for delayed gratification, all due to an over-exposure to the convenience provided by AI. However, it is clear that Hoque believes that AI can still be a power for good in the future. Ultimately, AI needs to be tempered by intention — good intention — since AI looks to humans for all of its data. Through the research and development process with AI, people will need to keep asking themselves, “Why?” to ensure that we are only using AI to benefit everyone and for the right reasons.
I found Hoque’s closing chapter particularly touching after reading a social media post from last month in which he names his son, who has been battling multiple myeloma, as the inspiration for this book. In Transcend, Hoque opines that humanity may do anything it wants with AI if the intent is steeped in love. After all, AI is but a mirror of humanity, so we must show it our best side if we are to truly reap the benefits.
Audience
This is a book primarily for adults. It contains complex themes about business, economics, and philosophy that require a high level of reading comprehension and critical thinking skills.
Original Review @ Book Nerdection.
