Scary Smart

Name: Scary Smart
Author: Mo Gawdat

Mo Gawdat

Confront how rapidly advancing AI could redefine humanity’s future and why shaping it ethically is a responsibility shared by us all.

16 min5 Chapters

Listen to the intro

1:45

Society & Culture

Science & Technology

Outline

What's it about?

Scary Smart (2021) examines the future of artificial intelligence and the role each of us plays in shaping it. Mo Gawdat argues that AI will soon become far more intelligent than humans, and that machines will learn their values by watching how people behave. He calls on readers to model kindness, fairness, and responsibility, so that the intelligent machines of the future work for the good of humanity.

Key ideas

Mo Gawdat argues that artificial intelligence will soon become far more intelligent than humans.
Machines will learn their values by watching how people behave, so our everyday conduct matters.
Shaping AI ethically is a responsibility shared by everyone, not only the people who build it.
Gawdat calls on readers to model kindness, fairness, and responsibility in their own lives.
The aim is for the intelligent machines of the future to work for the good of humanity.

About the author

Mo Gawdat is an Egyptian-born entrepreneur, author, and former chief business officer of Google X, the company’s innovation lab. After the loss of his son, he dedicated himself to researching and teaching happiness. His books include Solve for Happy, Scary Smart, and That Little Voice in Your Head, and he hosts a popular podcast.

Questions people ask

What is Scary Smart by Mo Gawdat about?

Scary Smart (2021) looks at the future of artificial intelligence and the part each of us plays in shaping it. Gawdat argues that AI will soon be far more intelligent than humans and will learn its values from how people behave.

What is the main idea of Scary Smart?

The main idea is that machines learn from watching us, so people should model kindness, fairness, and responsibility. That way, future intelligent machines will work for the good of humanity.

How long is the Durar summary of Scary Smart, and is it worth reading?

The Durar summary takes about 15 minutes to read or listen to. It is a quick way to understand Gawdat's argument about AI and our shared responsibility before deciding whether to read the full book.