Bill Gates announced his four favorite books in 2024 on his blog "Gatesnotes", two of which focus on discussing how the advancement of artificial intelligence (AI) and technology will change our living, learning and emotional patterns; The other book looks back at history and leads us to find the life wisdom of our predecessors through difficult times; the last book helps us understand the important infrastructure in our daily lives that is not noticed but supports the functioning of society.
Gates concluded that these four books all discuss how to understand the world around us, and "we are going through an era of rapid change, and it is only natural to try to understand the things around us."
Bill Gates 2024 recommended book list! 4 good books to accompany you through the end of the year and welcome the new year
1. "The Coming Wave" by Mustafa Suleyman
"The Coming Wave: Technology, Power, and the Twenty-first Century's Greatest Dilemma" is considered by Gates to be one of the best books on the field of AI, and he strongly recommends it to heads of state. , business leaders, and anyone interested in AI.
Gates highly appreciated the author Mustafa Suleyman's deep understanding of the history of science and the development of technological revolutions, as well as his rich experience as the founder of DeepMind and Inflection AI, and the head of Microsoft's artificial intelligence department. experience.
Gates believes that AI is only one part of many technological breakthroughs. Gene editing, DNA synthesis and other biotechnologies are also developing simultaneously. These changes will reshape all aspects of society. Breakthroughs in different fields have their own issues worthy of attention.
As far as AI is concerned, Gates believes that there are three risks that need to be paid special attention to. The first is the rapid disruption of the economic order. He mentioned that AI may completely change the nature of work and affect employment in most industries, including white-collar positions that have traditionally been unaffected by automation.
The second risk is as AI becomes more and more advanced, how to ensure that they are always consistent with human values and interests.
Finally, when bad actors gain access to AI, they become more dangerous and more capable of conducting cyberattacks, creating biological weapons, and even endangering national security. And this is the biggest challenge of contemporary society: containment - how can contemporary people use technology to gain benefits while limiting their dangers?
Gates particularly appreciated the series of solutions proposed by Suleiman in the book, including technical solutions, institutional changes, etc., such as establishing emergency shutdown switches for AI systems, new global treaties, modern regulatory frameworks, and government, A historic collaboration between business and scientists.
Despite these challenges, Gates remains optimistic about the future of AI and biotechnology. He believes these technological advances can help people find breakthrough treatments for deadly diseases, combat climate change, and provide high-quality education for all. But he also emphasized that true optimism is not blind belief, but to strive to create better results after seeing opportunities and risks.
2. "The Anxious Generation" by Jonathan Haidt
The book "The Anxious Generation: How the Great Rewiring of Childhood Is Causing an Epidemic of Mental Illness" caused Gates to reflect.
He mentioned that when he was a child, he liked to freely explore and take risks, and often ran around outside without parental supervision. However, most children today are in an over-protected real-life environment and are allowed to hang out on the Internet without supervision. world. Gates worries that growing up in such an environment will cause teenagers to lose critical thinking and lack attention.
3. "Engineering in Plain Sight" by Grady Hillhouse
Gates recommends "Engineering in Plain Sight: An Illustrated Field Guide to the Constructed Environment" to readers who are curious about living infrastructure. Author Grady Hillhouse uses exquisite illustrations to explain common devices in daily life, such as electrical boxes, transformers, base stations, etc., and explains their functions and operating principles.
Gates believes that "Engineering in Plain Sight" not only satisfies people's curiosity, but also answers some questions that people have never thought about. It can help us better understand the world around us and appreciate the things we have become accustomed to. Even important facilities are ignored.
4. "An Unfinished Love Story" by Doris Kearns Goodwin
"An Unfinished Love Story: A Personal History of the 1960s" is a memoir by the author Doris Kearns Goodwin, describing and The life of her late husband, Richard Naradof Goodwin, in the 1960s.
There are many parallels between the 1960s and today, such as political unrest, generational conflict and campus protests, and Gates believes the book will resonate with a different type of reader. Whether you know the history of the 1960s or not, you can find something of interest in "An Unfinished Love Story".
Source: Gatesnote
