Thank you to the publisher for an early copy in exchange for an honest review.

Audio Review: The audio is okay, if you prefer your nonfiction that way, it is a fine way to take in the information.

Review: It is so hard to review a book like this. All I have to say is p (doom) 100. If you read the book you know.

Okay but really, this felt like a thriller and I couldn't put it down. Turns out it's real life. There are so many fascinating things about AI, how we got here and where we are going. It's both exciting and horrifying. The main problem that is going to impact AI and it's development and what we allow it to do is going to be greed. I think if you are at all interested in AI and ChatGBT you should pick this book up. I don't read a lot of non-fiction (I am a work in progress) and I loved this. It's well written but also sticks to the facts. I just think this is a very important novel for our time. Highly, highly, recommend this book.

As a librarian on a university campus, it's hard not to be concerned about the advent of ChatGPT specifically, and generative AI in general. The world is full of useful technologies that have aided in our learning and understanding. I can't imagine using a bound periodical index to find journal articles ever again, but we also have to be aware of the drawbacks--like the ever increasing costs of access to journals through academic publishers. ChatGPT and its competitors are no different. There is a world of possibility in generative AI to improve life on Earth, but there are also risks involved that we have to consider.

This book, written in an accessible style, breaks down the beginnings of generative AI research, focusing on two key players, Sam Altman of OpenAI and Demis Hassabis of DeepMind. Parmy Olson, a technology journalist, does an admiral job of distilling a lot of information into an easy-to-understand story highlighting the good and bad of AI. I particularly appreciated the author's focus on ethical issues related to the data used to train generative AI that often perpetuates racist and sexist systems. It's highly readable and fascinating (and a little terrifying!).

The discussion of AI looms at the edge of all the work that we do as librarians. Some are adamantly opposed to it at any cost, others, like myself are curious to learn more, while others are using it on a regular basis.

This book caught my eye with the title and cover. While I thought it would be more about the current use and trends, it actually gave a really great perspective on how we got here and the innovators that brought us here today.

There were a lot of facts and scenarios about AI, Google, Chatgpt, etc. that I didn't know about and that I found fascinating as a user.

I enjoyed listening to this while working and have already ordered a copy for the library. I also recommended it to a few folks interested in generative AI.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the advance copy in exchange for an honest review.

I loved this book. I learned so much about the growth of the two main AI firms, DeepMind & OpenAI, and the philosophy and financing behind their operations. It was really interesting to me to put all of the headlines about AI over the last few years into context, and to flesh out my understanding of this complicated topic. And the author Parmy Olson is amazing. Highly recommend.

Parmy Olson does a thorough job of taking you through the creation of DeepMind in the U.K. and OpenAI in California with a focus on how their entanglements with massive, entrenched tech firms with rabid shareholders relentlessly pursuing ever growing stock price led to ethics boards and whistleblowers being dismissed and steamrolled to speed up an unregulated release of unprecedented neural networks to the world. The alleged good intentions of the founders to share the benefits of this technology with the world were no match for the inherent need for ever more massive computing resources and capital. This seems to be leading to even deeper inequality with wealth funneling to an ever more narrowing group of companies and individuals.

Olson also admirably demystifies what DeepMind's and OpenAI's creations do and how they work so this is a good starting point for those confused by AI because you get a foundation of what they are and how they work together with the story of how they came to be.

Lisa Flanagan is a fantastic narrator who ably navigates tech jargon and keeps the book compelling.

Many thanks to Macmillan Audio and Netgalley for providing a copy of this audiobook for review purposes. My opinions are my own.

This is an approachable and interesting addition to the important but crowded field of AI books. It explores the origins of our current situation and mentions some of the ramifications

Very well written and fascinating read on a hot topic. This audiobook delves into the histories of the AI war and the men behind it. Their history and the building of these individuals that has led us to where we are today with AI and ChatGPT.

This book could quickly become a boring textbook, but it’s written in an engaging manner and the narrator is fantastic and captivating.

Thank you to netgalley and Macmillan audio for the audio ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Thanks to NetGalley for the advance audiobook copy! This audiobook details the race for developing AI between Open AI and DeepMind. There is a lot of information shared, and a lot to consider. For me, it stood out that current AI technology is biased and often racist and sexist. Much of the technology was developed by teams of white men, and other perspectives were not taken into account. The race for advanced AI technology is motivated by money and greed, not for the hood of humanity and for the planet.

Olson was able to bring to life the personalities of the main players. It was interesting to hear the backstories and how things played out. The narrator did a nice job. At times, the amount of information presented was a bit overwhelming to me. I had trouble keeping track of all of the details, however the main points were clear. There is a lot I did not know and understand about AI technology, and I feel like this audiobook has filled in some of the gaps.

Supremacy sharply alerts readers to the real threat of artificial intelligence that its top creators are ignoring: the profit-driven spread of flawed and biased technology into industries, education, media and more.

Thank you St. Martin’s Press & Macmillan Audio for both of my ARCs of this book! I don’t know anything about AI. I don’t follow any sort of news that has to do with AI. I’ve only played around with AI for fun so I didn’t think I would like this book very much but I liked this book. I found it very interesting hearing about how AI was created and I liked learning about the tech startups. I would recommend this book if you want to learn about AI and tech startups.

Parmy Olson's *Supremacy* is a riveting exploration of the artificial intelligence landscape, presenting a comprehensive overview of the technology and the dynamic personalities driving its evolution. This book is not just another technical manual; it's an engaging narrative that delves into the history, ethics, and competition within the Al industry, making it essential reading for anyone interested in understanding how we arrived at this pivotal moment in technology.
Olson meticulously covers the various milestones in Al development while ensuring that the spotlight remains on the brilliant creators behind these innovations. She highlights the intense competition between tech giants like Microsoft and Google, which has transformed the Al landscape into a battleground for supremacy. Importantly, “Supremacy* shines a light on the original intent of these creators: to leverage Al as a tool for positive change in a world facing significant challenges.

Olson meticulously covers the various milestones in Al development while ensuring that the spotlight remains on the brilliant creators behind these innovations. She highlights the intense competition between tech giants like Microsoft and Google, which has transformed the Al landscape into a battleground for supremacy. Importantly,
*Supremacy* shines a light on the original intent of these creators: to leverage Al as a tool for positive change in a world facing significant challenges.
While Olson acknowledges the valid concerns regarding the potential pitfalls of Al-echoing the fears many of us have after watching films like *Terminator*— she primarily focuses on the narrative of innovation and the drive for ethical applications. This balanced approach keeps the reader engaged, as she juxtaposes the promise of Al with the very real anxieties surrounding its impact on society.

For readers who may not have a robust background in Al, *Supremacy* serves as an accessible entry point. Olson provides a clear and insightful overview of machine learning and Al's evolution, all while weaving in the ethical dilemmas and the fear of a future dominated by sentient machines. The personal stories of visionaries like Sam Altman and Demis Hassabis are particularly compelling, showcasing their motivations and aspirations amid the fierce competition for funding and market dominance.
The latter part of the book, which focuses on the launch of ChatGPT and its implications, may feel somewhat less engaging simply due to its proximity to current events that already saturate the media. However, Olson summarizes these significant developments succinctly, making it an excellent resource for those who might not be following every twist and turn in the Al saga.

Overall, *Supremacy* is a well-researched, eye-opening read that offers both inspiration and cautionary tales about the future of Al. It prompts readers to consider critical questions regarding the ethical responsibilities of tech companies in a capitalist society. I highly recommend this book to anyone looking to understand the intricate dynamics shaping our current technological landscape. A big thank you to NetGalley and Macmillan Publishing for providing an ARC of this vital work!

Clearly well researched and an expert in the field of AI, Parmy Olson lays out compelling information about the history of AI, it's flaws and where it's going. I will never look a paperclips the same way, iykyk. An important read given how fast the industry is growing and the rate in which it is taking over the internet. I was really fascinated by how much bias/prejudice becomes inherent within AI; but really it makes sense given what information it has access to. Terrifying to contemplate what this looks like a decade from now.

The narrator did a great job.

Thank you Macmillan Audio for the gifted ALC.

Supremacy is a fascinating profile of the AI innovation explosion of the past several years, told with particular detail to Sam Altman of OpenAI and Demis Hassabis of DeepMInd. The book excels at showing how the personalities and experiences of the founders shape the companies and technologies they create, as well as the dance any startup has to do with the established tech players in trading money for autonomy and how that affects the workforce, culture, product direction, etc. So many parts of technology become foundational to people's lives, so the ethics and values of companies is extremely important for things like privacy, use of data, addictiveness, value, etc. That is exceedingly important with AI, as people and companies seek to give more and more control to it to save cost and effort and enhance capabilities in all sorts of tasks. However, without transparency into how the AI is making the decisions on which actions to take and when, there could be severe unintended consequences. Notably, both companies profiled started from positions of great concern and oversite about this only being for the good of the world, but that begs the question of who decides what that means. Olson does a great job examining the biases and limitations around this, and the plight of people calling for more diversity in training material and testers; as well as why those fears and claims might be more opportunistic than advantageous.

This book is an interesting history of AI but after finishing it, I couldn’t help but wonder what was the point? The author is obviously wary of AI - a point which I don’t necessarily disagree with - however, what is next? I spent ten hours listening to how Altman and Hassabis seemingly went from well-meaning optimists who wanted to improve humanity to hyper competitive sellouts who care more for creating the smartest AI than the consequences of said AI. I came out of this book thinking that wow AI can definitely be a problem, but I already knew most of the issues (ingrained racism/sexism, cheating capabilities, etc.), and I don’t even consider myself a super knowledgeable person regarding AI.

Thank you NetGalley for the advanced copy of this audiobook.

I don’t have much background knowledge on AI, and I really enjoyed this overview of how machine learning and AI have grown over the years, intertwining its greatness against fears of bad ethics, and AI taking over the world… will we become a paper clip?

Altman & Hassabis are both brilliant, and they have made a gigantic impact in this community. I was shocked to find out that they say they don’t care about the money, and wanted this system to redistribute goods… however we have a capitalist society and are tech companies morally sound?

A great read with a lot of research. Highly recommend!

Supremacy: AI, ChatGPT, and the Race that Will Change the World by Parmy Olson is a timely and meticulously researched exploration of the rapid advancements in AI, focusing on the intense rivalry between Sam Altman and Dennis Hassabis. This nonfiction audiobook, narrated by Lisa Flanagan, dives deep into the ethical, societal, and philosophical questions surrounding AI development. I highly recommend this to anyone interested in the current and future state of AI. As someone who prefers listening to nonfiction over reading it, I found this audiobook to be fantastic!

Narration: Lisa Flanagan’s narration is a standout feature of this audiobook. Her voice perfectly suits the material, providing clear distinctions between the various individuals and concepts discussed. The pacing is well-matched to the content, making it easy to follow the chronological progression of events and the back-and-forth narrative between Altman and Hassabis. Flanagan’s delivery brings the text to life, making complex subject matter accessible and engaging. If you’re choosing between formats, the audiobook is an excellent option, thanks to Flanagan’s superb narration that enhances the overall experience.

Recommendation: Parmy Olson’s book showcases her ability to clearly present complex topics through excellent reporting. Olson doesn’t shy away from the hard questions, delving into the lack of transparency in the industry and the ethical dilemmas faced by those on the cutting edge of AI development. The story also features other Silicon Valley power players, including Elon Musk, Larry Page, Mark Zuckerberg, and Sam Bankman-Fried, offering a comprehensive view of the broader AI landscape. The flow is smooth, with clear transitions between sections, making it easy to follow without getting lost in the technical details.

The book touches on several critical issues, including AI’s rapid deployment to the public, its strange hallucinations, lack of regulation, the proxy wars between Google and Microsoft, bias and prejudice, mission drift, and AI’s real power over human lives (such as its use in credit scoring and mortgage approval).

Supremacy offers a thought-provoking look at the potential futures AI could bring, whether it leads us toward utopia or something far more ominous. My only wish is that the book delved deeper into AI’s relation to eugenics and sustainability, but overall, it’s a fascinating and essential listen—especially if you, like me, are concerned about a possible robot apocalypse!

Thank you, NetGalley, for providing an ARC of this audiobook in exchange for my honest review.