AI Superpowers: China, Silicon Valley, and the New World Order
From Kai-Fu Lee’s 40 years at the forefront of AI research and industry, *AI·Future* unpacks the revolution reshaping our world. Starting with AlphaGo’s historic 2017 win over Go champion Ke Jie—China’s 'Sputnik moment' for AI—the book breaks down the divergent paths of US and Chinese AI development: America leads in foundational research and top talent, while China leverages massive real-world data and aggressive government policies to dominate AI applications. Lee outlines four waves of AI evolution, from internet recommendation engines to autonomous robots, and warns of urgent challenges: job displacement hitting white-collar workers first (per Moravec’s Paradox), widening wealth gaps, and overhyped fears of superintelligence. Drawing on his battle with lymphoma, Lee reframes the conversation: AI can’t replicate human empathy, love, or creativity. He proposes solutions like social contribution stipends to build a human-centric future where AI serves as a tool, not a threat, and we prioritize connection over efficiency.