Empire of AI a book by Karen Hao that examines the history, inner workings, and societal impact of OpenAI, particularly focusing on its co-founder, Sam Altman. The book details the controversies surrounding Altman's leadership, including his temporary ouster, allegations of dishonesty, and personal issues, alongside the intense internal conflicts between the "Boomers" (those prioritizing rapid AI deployment) and "Doomers" (those focused on extreme safety risks). Furthermore, the book explores the company's shift from a nonprofit ideal to a commercial powerhouse, its reliance on deep learning and scaling laws, and the broader global issues of AI colonialism and the immense environmental and labor costs, such as the use of workers in Kenya and the massive resource extraction required for AI development. Finally, the book traces the evolution of AI concepts from early chatbots like ELIZA and the rise of deep learning to the current race for Artificial General Intelligence (AGI), often driven by intense competition among tech giants like Microsoft and Google.
