*2021 Financial Times Best Book of the Year* A bold exploration and call-to-arms over the widening gap between AI, automation, and big data—and our ability to deal with its effects We are living in the first exponential age. High-tech innovations are created at dazzling speeds; technological forces we barely understand remake our homes and workplaces; centuries-old tenets of politics and economics are upturned by new technologies. It all points to a world that is getting faster at a dizzying pace. Azeem Azhar, renowned technology analyst and host of the Exponential View podcast, offers a revelatory new model for understanding how technology is evolving so fast, and why it fundamentally alters the world. He roots his analysis in the idea of an “exponential gap” in which technological developments rapidly outpace our society’s ability to catch up. Azhar shows that this divide explains many problems of our time—from political polarization to ballooning inequality to unchecked corporate power. With stunning clarity of vision, he delves into how the exponential gap is a near-inevitable consequence of the rise of AI, automation, and other exponential technologies, like renewable energy, 3D printing, and synthetic biology, which loom over the horizon. And he offers a set of policy solutions that can prevent the growing exponential gap from fragmenting, weakening, or even destroying our societies. The result is a wholly new way to think about technology, one that will transform our understanding of the economy, politics, and the future. From Azeem Azhar, Renowned Technology Analyst And Host Of The Global Tech Podcast Exponential View, Comes A Bold Exploration And Call-to-arms Over The Widening Gap Between Ai, Automation, And Big Data--and Our Ability To Deal With Its Effects We Are Living In The First Exponential Age. High-tech Innovations Are Created At A Dazzling Speed; Technological Forces We Barely Understand Remake Our Homes And Workplaces; Centuries-old Tenets Of Politics And Economics Are Upturned By New Technologies. It All Points To A World That Is Getting Faster At A Dizzying Pace. Azeem Azhar Knows This Better Than Most. Over The Last Three Decades He Has Founded Companies Bought By Amazon And Microsoft, Served As The Economist's First Ever Internet Correspondent, And Created A Leading International Tech Newsletter And Podcast, The Exponential View. Now, Azhar Offers A Revelatory New Model For Understanding How Technology--especially That Of Facebook, Apple, Amazon, Netflix, Google, And Spotify--is Changing The World. He Roots His Analysis In The Idea Of An Exponential Gap, In Which Technological Changes Rapidly Outpace Our Society's Ability To Catch Up With Them. Azhar Shows That This Divide Explains Many Problems Of Our Time--from Political Polarization To Ballooning Inequality To Unchecked Corporate Power. With Stunning Clarity Of Vision, He Delves Into How The Exponential Gap Is A Near-inevitable Consequence Of The Rise Of Ai, Automation, And Big Data. And He Offers A Set Of Policy Solutions That Can Prevent The Growing Exponential Gap From Destroying Our Societies. The Result Is A Wholly New Way To Think About Technology. It Will Transform Your Understanding Of The Economy, Politics, And The Future. "A revelatory take on where technology is taking us, from one of the worlds most-followed tech writers. We are entering the Exponential Age. Between faster computers, better software and bigger data, ours is the first era in human history in which technology is constantly accelerating. Azeem Azhar - writer, technologist, and creator of the acclaimed Exponential View newsletter - understands this shift better than anyone. Technology, he argues, is developing at an increasing, exponential rate. But human society - from our businesses to our political institutions - can only ever adapt at a slower, incremental pace. The result is an 'exponential gap', between the power of new technology and our ability to keep up. In Exponential, Azhar shows how this exponential gap can explain our society's most pressing problems - from established businesses' difficulty keeping up with digital platforms, to the sclerotic response of liberal democracies to fast-moving social problems. And he draws on cutting-edge social science to explain how to stop the exponential gap eroding our economies, our politics and our lives. Exponential technology is upending our society. This book explains how"--Publisher's description The Exponential Age Title Page Copyright Contents Preface - The Great Transition Chapter One - The Harbinger Chapter Two - The Exponential Age Chapter Three - The Exponential Gap Chapter Four - The Unlimited Company Chapter Five - Labor’s Loves Lost Chapter Six - The World is Spiky Chapter Seven - The New World Disorder Chapter Eight - Exponential Citizens Conclusion - Abundance and Equity Acknowledgments Notes Select Bibliography About the Author
