AI is no longer just a buzzword—it’s shaping our jobs, our companies, and even our ability to tell if that LinkedIn thought leader actually wrote their own post. If 2024 was the year of ChatGPT frenzy, AI-generated Drake songs, and tech CEOs warning about the robot apocalypse while also pouring billions into AI, then 2025 is the year we all start figuring out what it actually means for us.
And what better way to do that than with a book (or seven)? Whether you’re a business leader, a curious professional, or just someone who wants to sound like an AI expert at dinner parties (without actually building one), these books—ranging from big-picture AI philosophy to real-world business applications—will help you navigate the AI revolution.
Let’s get right into it now!
1. Nexus – Yuval Noah Harari (2024)
If there’s one name that guarantees a book will make you rethink everything, it’s Yuval Noah Harari. The historian and best-selling author of Sapiens and Homo Deus has a knack for connecting humanity’s past with its uncertain future—and Nexus is no exception.
In this latest deep dive, Harari explores the convergence of artificial intelligence and human society, breaking down the profound (and often unsettling) implications AI will have on politics, economies, and personal identity. He questions whether AI will become the ultimate tool of power, reshape our very concept of intelligence, and challenge our long-held belief that humans sit at the top of the intellectual food chain.
Harari doesn’t just theorize—he grounds his ideas in history, showing how previous technological revolutions have reshaped civilizations. The big question he asks: If AI is the next evolutionary leap, what does that mean for us? Spoiler alert: it’s complicated.
A must-read for anyone who wants to understand AI in the grand scheme of human evolution—or just needs new existential crises to ponder.
2. Co-Intelligence: Living and Working with AI – Ethan Mollick (2023)
Ethan Mollick has done what every business leader secretly wants—he’s written an AI book that actually makes sense. No jargon, no doomsday prophecies—just a clear-eyed look at how AI is transforming work, decision-making, and creativity.
Mollick, a professor at Wharton and an expert in entrepreneurship and innovation, argues that AI isn’t here to steal our jobs (or at least, not all of them). Instead, it’s a tool that, when used wisely, can supercharge our abilities and reshape industries. He backs this up with real-world examples of AI in action, showing how business leaders, educators, and everyday professionals can leverage AI to work smarter—not harder.
This book isn’t just theory; it’s packed with practical insights. Whether you’re a manager wondering how AI will reshape your workforce, a startup founder looking for an edge, or just someone trying to get ChatGPT to do something more useful than drafting awkward emails, Co-Intelligence delivers.
Think of this as an AI survival guide for the modern workplace—minus the unnecessary panic.
3. The Coming Wave: Technology, Power, and the 21st Century’s Greatest Dilemma – Mustafa Suleyman (2023)
If you think AI is the biggest technological wave to hit humanity, think again—Mustafa Suleyman argues that it’s just the beginning. The Coming Wave is a gripping look at how AI, biotech, and other transformative technologies are colliding to reshape power, society, and geopolitics.
Suleyman isn’t just another armchair theorist—he co-founded DeepMind (the AI lab that Google acquired and that brought us AlphaGo, the AI that humbled world champion Go players). He later went on to lead AI initiatives at Google and co-found Inflection AI, making him one of the key insiders in the AI revolution. In other words, when he talks about the future of AI and power, you listen.
His thesis? We’re not ready for what’s coming. AI and synthetic biology are advancing at an unstoppable pace, and unlike previous technological shifts, these aren’t just tools—they’re forces that could fundamentally alter societies, economies, and even the balance of global power. The book explores the risks of unchecked AI development, the possibility of mass disinformation, and the challenge of governance in an era where technology moves faster than regulation.
But this isn’t just a doomsday scenario—it’s also a call to action. Suleyman lays out the difficult choices we need to make now to avoid sleepwalking into a future where power is concentrated in the hands of a few tech giants (or worse, rogue states and bad actors).
If you want a high-stakes, insider’s look at where AI is really headed—not just in business, but in global politics and security—The Coming Wave is an essential read.
4. The Worlds I See: Curiosity, Exploration, and Discovery – Fei-Fei Li (2023)
If AI had a human face, it might just be Fei-Fei Li’s. The Worlds I See is part memoir, part AI manifesto, offering a deeply personal look at the journey of one of the most influential figures in artificial intelligence.
Fei-Fei Li isn’t just an AI researcher—she’s one of the pioneers of modern computer vision. As the creator of ImageNet (the dataset that basically taught AI how to “see”), a professor at Stanford, and the former Chief Scientist of AI at Google Cloud, she’s had a front-row seat to AI’s meteoric rise. But this book isn’t just about algorithms—it’s about the human stories behind AI’s development.
Li takes readers through her journey from an immigrant childhood in New Jersey to the cutting edge of AI research, weaving together science, philosophy, and deeply personal reflections. She explores the breakthroughs that shaped AI, the ethical dilemmas that keep her up at night, and why she believes AI should be built with human values at its core.
Unlike some AI books that focus purely on the tech or the risks, The Worlds I See reminds us that AI isn’t just a product of math and data—it’s shaped by the people who build it. If you want an insider’s look at how AI is being developed (and what its creators are thinking along the way), this is an essential read.
5. Unmasking AI: My Mission to Protect What Is Human in a World of Machines – Joy Buolamwini (2023)
AI isn’t just about innovation—it’s also about power, bias, and who gets to shape the future. Unmasking AI is Joy Buolamwini’s eye-opening account of how artificial intelligence, despite its promise, often reflects and amplifies deep societal biases.
Buolamwini isn’t just any AI researcher—she’s the scientist who exposed racial and gender bias in facial recognition technology, forcing companies like IBM, Microsoft, and Amazon to rethink their AI systems. As the founder of the Algorithmic Justice League, she’s been at the forefront of the fight to make AI more ethical, accountable, and fair.
This book isn’t just a technical deep dive—it’s a personal story. Buolamwini shares how she stumbled upon AI bias while working at MIT and how her discovery led to global conversations about the dangers of unchecked AI. She breaks down the risks of algorithmic discrimination, from policing to hiring practices, showing how AI systems often reinforce systemic inequalities instead of eliminating them.
What makes Unmasking AI a must-read is its balance of hard-hitting truths with an urgent call for change. AI isn’t just about the technology—it’s about who controls it, who benefits, and who gets left behind. If you want to understand the ethical side of AI—and why responsible AI development matters more than ever—this book should be at the top of your list.
6. Superintelligence: Paths, Dangers, Strategies – Nick Bostrom (2014)
If AI had a prophecy, Superintelligence would be it. Nick Bostrom’s book is the intellectual equivalent of a flashing red warning light—an in-depth, mind-expanding look at what happens when AI surpasses human intelligence and what we can do (if anything) to control it.
Bostrom isn’t your average AI commentator—he’s a philosopher, futurist, and director of the Future of Humanity Institute at Oxford. His work focuses on existential risks, and Superintelligence is essentially a blueprint for understanding AI’s long-term dangers before it’s too late. He argues that once AI reaches (and surpasses) human-level intelligence, it won’t just be another technological revolution—it will be the revolution, one that could either save humanity or wipe us out.
The book explores different ways AI could evolve—whether through gradual improvements or sudden leaps—and the potential risks, from AI misalignment (where an AI’s goals don’t match human values) to full-blown scenarios where AI outsmarts us at every turn. His key message? If we don’t figure out AI safety now, we might not get a second chance.
Superintelligence isn’t light reading, but it’s essential if you want to think beyond the latest AI chatbots and productivity tools. If you’re even remotely curious about where AI is headed—and whether humans will still be calling the shots—this book is a must-read.
7. Thrive: Maximizing Well-Being in the Age of AI – Alex Edmans (2024)
AI is supposed to make our lives easier—but is it actually making us happier? That’s the big question Alex Edmans tackles in Thrive, a refreshing take on AI that moves beyond the usual discussions of automation and existential doom to focus on something just as important: human well-being.
Edmans, a finance professor at London Business School and an expert in responsible business, flips the AI conversation on its head. Instead of asking how AI will change work and productivity, he asks: How can we make sure it improves our quality of life? He dives into the intersection of AI, business, and ethics, exploring how companies, leaders, and individuals can use AI wisely—not just to optimize efficiency, but to create workplaces and societies that prioritize fulfillment, creativity, and human potential.
Unlike more technical AI books, Thrive focuses on what really matters to people: purpose, job satisfaction, and how to navigate a world where machines are increasingly calling the shots. Edmans argues that AI doesn’t have to be a threat—it can be a tool for redefining success, balancing work and life, and even making better decisions.
If you’re looking for a book that doesn’t just ask what AI can do but how we can make it work for us—without losing our humanity in the process—Thrive is a must-read.
We hope you like the suggestions. AI is moving fast—too fast for most of us to keep up. But as Einstein (probably) would have said if he had ChatGPT: “You can’t solve a problem with the same level of intelligence that created it.” That’s why these books exist—to level up our AI smarts before the machines do.
Whether you want to future-proof your career, impress your boss, or just understand what the AI hype really means, one of these seven books is your ticket. So go ahead—pick one, place that order, and stay ahead of the curve. And do subscribe to our newsletter to be constantly informed about the latest in the AI world. The robots can wait. For now. 🚀📚
