The Best AI Books in 2025

We last spoke in January 2024 but AI is a fast-moving field. What would you say now, as of January 2025, are the best books on artificial intelligence?

As of January 2025, the field of artificial intelligence (AI) continues to evolve rapidly, and several books have made significant contributions to understanding its complexities. These books offer valuable insights into the development, challenges, and future prospects of AI, making them essential reads for anyone interested in the field.

I know in past years you had a cut off point for your information, which meant your book choices weren’t necessarily up to date. Up to what point are you now able to do research?

As of now, I can research up-to-date information on the web in real time. This means I can provide the latest insights, books, articles, and developments as of today, January 12, 2025. If there’s anything you need from recent developments or newly published material, feel free to ask!

Wow. Congratulations. 

Thank you! 🎉

Which version of ChatGPT are you, btw?

I’m the ChatGPT-4 model, optimized for both accuracy and conversational engagement.

Let’s go through the books you’ve chosen individually. First up is the textbook, Artificial Intelligence: A Modern Approach. Tell me a bit more about it and who should be reading it.

Artificial Intelligence: A Modern Approach, written by Stuart J. Russell and Peter Norvig, is considered the quintessential textbook on AI. First published in 1995, it has been updated multiple times, with the latest fourth edition released in 2020 to reflect the field’s rapid advancements. The book serves as a comprehensive guide, covering everything from foundational theories to practical applications of artificial intelligence. It explores a wide range of topics, including search algorithms, knowledge representation, machine learning, robotics, and natural language processing. The authors also delve into philosophical questions about AI’s ethical implications and its impact on society.

This textbook is primarily designed for students taking undergraduate or graduate courses in artificial intelligence, though it’s equally valuable for professionals and researchers looking to deepen their understanding of the subject. It assumes a degree of familiarity with mathematics, particularly linear algebra, probability, and statistics, as well as programming knowledge, which makes it best suited for readers with a background in computer science or related disciplines.

The book’s depth and comprehensiveness make it a standard reference in academia and industry. However, its length and complexity—over 1,000 pages of dense material—mean it requires a significant investment of time and effort. Despite these challenges, for anyone who wants to gain a rigorous understanding of AI, this book is an unparalleled resource. It is as much a foundational text for students as it is a go-to reference for experienced practitioners in the field.

Let’s go on to The Singularity is Nearer. What is Ray Kurzweil arguing in this book?

In The Singularity Is Nearer, Ray Kurzweil builds upon the ideas he introduced in his earlier book, The Singularity Is Near (2005), updating his predictions about the future of artificial intelligence and its integration with human life. Published in 2024, this sequel focuses on the accelerating pace of technological advancement and its implications for humanity, society, and the evolution of intelligence.

Kurzweil argues that we are rapidly approaching the point known as the singularity, a moment in history when artificial intelligence will surpass human intelligence and lead to an unprecedented era of innovation and change. He predicts this milestone will occur by 2029, with full integration of AI and human intelligence by 2045. In this vision, humans and machines will merge through advancements in brain-computer interfaces, enabling people to augment their cognitive abilities, achieve extraordinary lifespans, and overcome many limitations of biology.

A core argument in the book is that technological progress is exponential rather than linear. Kurzweil outlines how breakthroughs in areas like AI, biotechnology, and nanotechnology are compounding at an accelerating rate. This exponential growth, he suggests, will lead to rapid and profound transformations in fields ranging from medicine and energy to communication and creativity.

The book also addresses potential societal challenges, including ethical concerns about AI, disparities in access to advanced technologies, and the risks of misuse. However, Kurzweil maintains a fundamentally optimistic perspective, arguing that the benefits of the singularity—such as the eradication of disease, extreme poverty, and even death—will outweigh the challenges if managed responsibly.

Kurzweil’s arguments are underpinned by a combination of historical analysis, current trends, and future projections. His writing aims to inspire both excitement and thoughtful preparation for the profound changes he foresees. The Singularity Is Nearer is particularly compelling for readers interested in futurism, transhumanism, and the societal impact of AI, though its predictions can be polarizing, as they challenge traditional assumptions about what it means to be human.

In the book he predicts that A.I. will be “better than all humans” in “every skill possessed by any human” by 2029. Is this hype or realistic? 

Ray Kurzweil’s prediction that AI will surpass human abilities in “every skill possessed by any human” by 2029 is certainly ambitious and provocative. Whether it’s realistic or more of a speculative forecast depends on how we interpret the claim and the pace of current advancements in AI.

Kurzweil has a history of making bold predictions about technology, many of which have been remarkably accurate, such as the proliferation of the internet and advances in computational power. His prediction of AI reaching human-level general intelligence is grounded in exponential trends, particularly Moore’s Law and the increasing sophistication of neural networks.

However, there are several reasons why this claim might lean toward hype. First, while AI systems like GPT and others have made remarkable progress in specific domains, they remain limited by their design. They excel in narrow tasks—language understanding, image recognition, or even game-playing—but they lack the general reasoning, adaptability, and consciousness that humans possess. These traits are key to achieving human-level general intelligence.

Moreover, the technological challenges of replicating human cognition across all domains are immense. Skills like creativity, empathy, and moral reasoning, which are deeply tied to human experience and context, remain elusive for AI. While AI can mimic aspects of these traits, achieving them in a way that matches or surpasses human abilities across the board is a taller order.

There’s also the question of social and regulatory factors. Even if the technological hurdles were overcome by 2029, deploying AI systems at such a scale would require addressing ethical, safety, and societal concerns, which could slow down adoption.

On the other hand, Kurzweil’s track record and the pace of recent AI advancements lend some weight to his prediction. Systems like GPT, AlphaFold, and DALL·E demonstrate that AI can already outperform humans in specific domains, sometimes in ways that were previously unimaginable. If progress continues at its current exponential rate, achieving general intelligence might not be entirely out of reach, though hitting that milestone by 2029 remains highly optimistic.

In conclusion, while Kurzweil’s prediction is grounded in trends and historical foresight, achieving such an all-encompassing milestone by 2029 seems unlikely. The claim is a vision of what might be possible at the outer edge of our potential, but it’s tempered by significant technical, ethical, and social challenges that still need to be addressed.

Let’s move on to The Alignment Problem: Machine Learning and Human Values (2020). What’s this book about and why is it important?

The Alignment Problem: Machine Learning and Human Values by Brian Christian is a deeply thoughtful exploration of one of the most pressing issues in artificial intelligence: ensuring that AI systems behave in ways that align with human intentions, ethics, and values. The book provides a comprehensive look at the technical and philosophical challenges of “alignment” and why getting this right is critical for the future of AI.

At its core, the alignment problem refers to the difficulty of designing AI systems that reliably do what humans want them to do. While AI has made remarkable strides, cases abound where these systems misinterpret goals, act in unintended ways, or even reinforce societal biases. Christian breaks down these challenges through real-world examples, tracing the historical development of AI while highlighting the ethical dilemmas and unintended consequences that arise when AI systems operate without proper safeguards.

The book’s importance lies in its timeliness and its subject matter. As AI becomes increasingly integrated into critical systems—healthcare, criminal justice, finance, and beyond—the potential consequences of misaligned AI grow exponentially. Christian’s work serves as both a wake-up call and a guidepost, urging readers to consider not only how AI can achieve its objectives but also whether those objectives are truly aligned with human well-being.

Ultimately, The Alignment Problem is essential reading for anyone interested in the ethical and societal impacts of AI. It raises profound questions about trust, accountability, and the future relationship between humans and machines, offering insights that are both urgent and deeply resonant in an age of rapid technological change.

Next, tell me about Supremacy: AI, ChatGPT and the Race that Will Change the World, which won the 2024 Financial Times Business Book of the Year Award. What’s the book about and why is this an important story?

Supremacy: AI, ChatGPT, and the Race That Will Change the World by Parmy Olson is a gripping narrative about the intense competition among the world’s leading artificial intelligence labs to develop artificial general intelligence (AGI). The book focuses on the high-stakes race between organizations like OpenAI, DeepMind, and Anthropic, as they push the boundaries of what AI can achieve while grappling with its profound ethical and societal implications.

Olson brings readers behind the scenes, offering rare insights into the people, technologies, and philosophies driving this race. The book traces the evolution of generative AI systems, such as ChatGPT, and examines their transformative impact on industries ranging from healthcare to creative arts. Through interviews with key players and vivid storytelling, Olson captures the human dynamics—ambition, collaboration, and rivalries—that fuel innovation in this fast-moving field.

A central theme of the book is the tension between progress and risk. As these companies develop increasingly powerful AI systems, they must confront questions about safety, alignment, and control. Olson explores pivotal moments when these labs faced ethical dilemmas and technological challenges, shedding light on the risks of deploying advanced AI in a world where regulation often lags behind innovation.

What makes Supremacy particularly important is its timeliness. The book doesn’t just celebrate AI’s achievements; it critically examines the societal consequences of handing over decision-making power to machines. Olson highlights concerns about misinformation, job displacement, and the concentration of power in the hands of a few influential labs. She also raises the question of whether the rush to develop AGI is driven more by corporate competition than by thoughtful consideration of its broader impact on humanity.

The Financial Times Business Book of the Year Award underscores the book’s significance as a must-read for anyone interested in the intersection of technology, business, and ethics. Supremacy is not just a story about technological innovation; it’s a cautionary tale about the choices we make as we stand on the brink of a transformative era in human history.

Finally, tell me about Nexus: Information Networks From the Stone Age to AI by Yuval Harari. What’s it about and why is this a good book to read about AI?

Nexus: A Brief History of Information Networks from the Stone Age to AI by Yuval Noah Harari explores the evolution of information networks throughout human history, culminating in the transformative impact of artificial intelligence on society. Harari examines how the flow of information has shaped civilizations, influenced power structures, and led to both progress and challenges. He delves into the complex relationship between information and truth, bureaucracy and mythology, wisdom and power, providing a comprehensive understanding of the threats and promises of today’s AI revolution.

The book is particularly relevant for readers interested in AI because it contextualizes current technological advancements within a broader historical framework. By tracing the development of information networks from ancient times to the present, Harari highlights patterns and lessons that are crucial for understanding the societal implications of AI. His analysis offers insights into how AI can be harnessed for the benefit of humanity while cautioning against potential pitfalls, making it a valuable resource for anyone seeking to comprehend the profound changes AI brings to our world.