Investigative journalist and AI expert Karen Hao initially believed OpenAI to be a benevolent force, founded as a nonprofit with safety at its core. However, her deep dive into the massively disruptive AI sector revealed a darker truth: success demands unprecedented resources, from high-end chips and vast data to exploited human labor and alarming energy consumption. This new age of empire is dominated by a handful of global companies, with OpenAI, backed by Microsoft, leading a breakneck race towards an undefined future. Hao's intimate access to the industry, including Sam Altman's dramatic firing and return, exposes the true nature of those controlling this technology and the deformative pressures shaping the entire field.

Why You Should Read?

• Gain an unparalleled insider's view into the opaque world of OpenAI and the broader AI industry, including the dramatic events surrounding Sam Altman.
• Understand the hidden costs and ethical implications of AI development, from resource extraction to labor exploitation in the Global South.
• Explore the power dynamics and ideological underpinnings of the AI empire, revealing how a few companies are shaping our future.
• Receive a trenchant analysis of where AI is headed, drawing on perspectives from Silicon Valley engineers, data laborers, and environmental activists.

About the Author

Karen Hao is an AI expert and investigative journalist known for her in-depth reporting on the technology industry. Her work often focuses on the societal impact and ethical considerations of artificial intelligence, drawing on extensive sourcing and on-the-ground investigations around the world.