What happens when the most powerful AI company in the world is led by an idealist chasing godlike intelligence? Empire of AI by Karen Hao takes us deep inside the tech utopia—and potential dystopia—that is OpenAI. With rare access, in-depth research, and over 260 interviews, this book is not just a chronicle of how ChatGPT was born, but a revealing look into how power, secrecy, and ambition shape the future of technology.
Sam Altman, OpenAI’s co-founder and CEO, is both celebrated and feared. Through Empire of AI, Hao unpacks the complexity of this influential figure while shedding light on the opaque inner workings of one of Silicon Valley’s most fascinating—and possibly dangerous—companies.
A Tale of Two Visions: OpenAI vs. the World
OpenAI was created with a mission to ensure artificial general intelligence (AGI) benefits all of humanity. But as Hao shows, this noble mission has become entangled with corporate secrecy, power struggles, and conflicting ideologies. She details how OpenAI split from its open-source roots to become a capped-profit powerhouse. The shift wasn’t just business—it was philosophical.
The book contrasts OpenAI’s public idealism with its increasingly secretive practices, drawing attention to internal conflicts, high-profile resignations, and growing concerns among AI ethicists. It’s a gripping narrative of a company walking the tightrope between innovation and hubris.
Related: Read our review of Nexus: A Brief History of Information Networks
The Cult of Personality Around Sam Altman
Hao doesn’t shy away from profiling Sam Altman’s rise—from his early Y Combinator days to becoming the face of AI innovation. Altman emerges as a figure who genuinely believes in the promise of AGI but also courts an alarming level of power. The book outlines how OpenAI has taken on an almost messianic tone under his leadership, with employees describing the culture as cult-like.
Is Altman a visionary or a monopolist? Hao offers evidence for both views, letting readers draw their own conclusions. What’s clear is that OpenAI’s identity is inseparable from Altman’s personal philosophy—one rooted in accelerationism, effective altruism, and a belief in near-future superintelligence.
Behind the Curtain: Secrecy, Control, and AI Ethics
One of the book’s most unsettling themes is the level of secrecy surrounding OpenAI’s decision-making processes. Despite its name, OpenAI has become increasingly closed off, particularly as ChatGPT and GPT-4 skyrocketed in popularity. Hao exposes how decisions with global implications are being made by a small circle of elites, with little oversight or public transparency.
The implications are serious. From data usage and misinformation risks to AI alignment and global governance, Empire of AI makes it clear: who builds AGI—and how—will shape the world for decades.
Internal tensions have already made headlines. From the surprise ousting and reinstatement of Altman to debates over AI safety, the organization is far from unified. Hao’s reporting shows how these internal fractures mirror larger societal concerns about unchecked tech power.
Related: Read our review of Think Again by Adam Grant
Rethinking Technological Progress
What does it mean to be a tech optimist in the age of algorithmic control? Hao’s book implicitly challenges the reader to rethink what innovation should look like. Do we push ahead at all costs—or pause and ask deeper ethical questions?
Here, Empire of AI aligns beautifully with the lessons from Think Again and Deep Work. Grant teaches us the value of rethinking. Newport teaches us to focus. Hao, in her own right, shows us the cost of not doing either.
Related: Read our review of Deep Work by Cal Newport
Final Word: Essential Reading for the AI Era
Whether you’re an AI skeptic, enthusiast, or somewhere in between, Empire of AI is a must-read. It’s not a techno-utopian fantasy or a fearmongering screed. It’s a nuanced, deeply reported look at a company shaping our collective future.
Karen Hao proves herself to be one of the most important tech journalists of our time. Her book offers clarity in a space clouded by marketing hype, PR spin, and philosophical contradictions.
If you read Nexus to understand the history of information networks, Empire of AI is its sequel—a story of what happens when information becomes intelligence.
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