Genesis: Artificial Intelligence, Hope, and the Human Spirit by Henry Kissinger, Craig Mundie, and Eric Schmidt
What does ChatGPT have in common with Anglo-Irish explorer Ernest Shackleton’s (failed) mission to reach the South Pole? Both, according to GenesisThey are symptoms of the same innate human impulse to explore, as well as a healthy appetite for risk.
The last of 20 books by Henry Kissinger, who died at age 100 last November, Genesis It is the veteran diplomat’s second attempt to examine the impact of advances in AI. The first, The age of AIpresented technology as humanity’s greatest enemy so far. GenesisCo-authored with technology business leaders Eric Schmidt and Craig Mundie, it is no less emphatic about the seismic changes ahead, but leaves more room for optimism.
The book draws on references to everything from Greek and Norse mythology to Disney. aladdin in his attempt to investigate how human societies will be shaped by our first interaction with a higher intelligence.
Arguing that the benefits of technological exploration still outweigh the risks, Genesis He is perhaps most compelling when he draws on Kissinger’s personal experience to suggest that AI “could transcend the rather mixed record of human diplomacy.”
Kissinger and his co-authors argue that humanity’s survival will ultimately depend on our ability “to assert more clearly what it is that distinguishes us from machines.” His book, perhaps inevitably, has more questions than answers on this topic. Stephanie Stacey
‘Working backwards: the revolutionary way to work smarter and live better’, by Tim Duggan
“In the future, we will work a little and be completely fulfilled because we will live our purpose every day. Does it sound incredible? Well, it’s all bullshit.”
That’s according to Tim Duggan, a self-proclaimed optimist best known for co-founding Australian independent publishing platform Junkee Media. Duggan says there is no “silver bullet” that will transform our working lives. “The future of work is doing the work, thinking deeply about who you are, and then testing, experimenting, iterating, and repeating until you slowly get better,” he says.
As the title of Duggan’s third book, preceded by Killer thought and cult status — suggests, we should work backwards by identifying the lifestyle we aspire to, pinpointing the income that lifestyle would require, and building our work lives around it.
To help us answer the all-consuming question: “what do I want out of life?”, Duggan, who is also a former Rolling Stone journalist, outlines his MAP framework, questioning where we find meaning in our work and identifying our anchors and priorities. .
Like our values, our anchors motivate us beyond a salary. Duggan rejects “the outdated idea” of a separate personal and work self, and advises that we try to “fully understand” our motivations. Lea Quinn
‘Buffett’s Early Investments: New Research into the Decades in Which Warren Buffett Earned His Best Returns,’ by Brett Gardner
Investment has been at the center of any financial planning for centuries. While modern technology drives much of the process today, the timeless lessons of the past continue to offer guidance.
In his first book, investor Brett Gardner offers a research analysis of Warren BuffettInvestments made in the 1950s and 1960s reveal how the chairman and CEO of Berkshire Hathaway became one of the world’s most respected investors.
The author delves into the formative years of Buffett’s career and examines the key factors that contributed to his success. Gardner reveals Buffett’s strategies, illustrating his focus on value and thorough analysis, which allowed him to outperform the market.
The book’s unique value lies in its case studies of fundamental investments that shaped Buffett’s principles, including in companies such as American Express and Walt Disney. Gardner’s research reveals Buffett’s approach and shows how he went beyond traditional metrics, looking for qualitative elements in a business (such as brand strength and market positioning) long before they became standard considerations in value investing.
Over the course of 10 chapters, the book serves as a blueprint for thoughtful investing and the benefits of a long-term view. It offers readers deep insight into how dedication, strategic knowledge, and an eye for quality can generate exceptional investment results. Leo Cremonezi
‘China’s business conundrum: ensuring that win-win doesn’t mean Western companies lose twice’, by Ken Wilcox
The collapse and liquidation of Silicon Valley Bank dominated headlines across the United States last year, but less discussed was the gradual closure of its business in China, an equally fascinating story.
Ken Wilcox’s new book, China’s business conundrum tells the little-known story of SVB’s ambitious expansion into China, fueled by a feeling of Fomo: “If we don’t follow our venture capital friends across the ocean into these markets. . . We will miss the great opportunity,” writes the former president of SVB and former president of the Chinese subsidiary.
But, once in the market itself, a complex network of “guanxi” and the Chinese government’s dominant role in business proved far beyond Wilcox’s imagination. After years of navigating licensing delays and delicate dances with local bureaucracy, the author concluded that any attempt to transplant the original SVB model to Chinese soil was doomed to failure.
Ignorance or lack of preparation may have contributed to the company’s problems, Wilcox recalls. However, what ultimately determined its fate was, in his view, China’s intention all along: rather than seeking a direct trade partnership, the goal appeared to be a calculated move to absorb and replicate its business model within its own banking sector.
The type of technology financing promoted by SVB has not taken off in China to date, and the author’s story reflects a broader frustration of foreign companies operating there. Filled with unusual insights, this memoir is a valuable guide as the world faces increasing business turbulence when dealing with China, especially following the return of Donald Trump. Cheng Leng