An AI book reading list to spark yourself up for the year ahead
The best newish reads to get your gears grinding about AI and the future of creativity
As we step into 2025, and artificial intelligence gains a foothold in mainstream consciousness, now is the time to deeply explore the intersection of AI and creativity—a confounding space that promises complexity if nothing else.
Whether you're an AI enthusiast who’s curious about how AI can amplify human ingenuity or a critic concerned about its ethical implications, these five books offer rich perspectives to spark your inquiry and deepen your understanding. From Ethan Mollick’s insights on working alongside AI to Rick Rubin’s reflections on reconnecting with our creative essence, these reads are perfect for anyone looking to start the year with a fresh take on the relationship between technology and humanity.
Dive in, and let these thought-provoking works inspire your journey into the evolving world of AI and creativity.
Co-Intelligence: Living and Working with AI
By Ethan Mollick. Penguin Random House, 2024
AI whisperer and Wharton professor of management, entrepreneurship, and innovation Ethan Mollick challenges readers to deepen their understanding of machine learning while keeping their creative agency intact. He argues that experimenting with AI not only enhances our technological fluency but also offers a unique lens through which to explore what it means to be human in a rapidly evolving digital landscape.
Nexus: Creativity in the Age of AI
By Yuval Noah Harari. Penguin Random House, 2024
Through his trademark mix of historical context and forward-thinking analysis, Yuval Noah Harari explores the tension between human creativity and the autonomy of AI, questioning how we can maintain control in an era where machines might shape the creative process as much as we do.
The Worlds I See: A Visionary Journey into AI and Humanity
By Fei-Fei Li. Penguin Random House, 2024
A trailblazer in AI research and ethics, Fei-Fei Li offers a deeply personal and thoughtful exploration of how AI shapes our perception of the world and ourselves. Drawing on her seminal work in computer vision, Li reflects on the pleasures and perils of a technology so adept at influencing the human experience. With a focus on empathy, diversity, and ethical innovation, she challenges readers to envision an AI-powered future that amplifies humanity’s shared values rather than eclipsing them.
The Creative Act: A Way of Being
By Rick Rubin. Penguin Random House, 2023
Legendary music guru Rick Rubin offers meditative reflections on tapping into your creative instincts. For Rubin, art isn’t about productivity—it’s a way of life, a mindset that shapes how we experience and engage with the world. He urges readers to embrace curiosity, silence the noise, and trust the creative process. While not directly about AI, it serves as a spiritual guide to reconnecting with the deeply human essence of creativity.
More Than a Glitch: Confronting Bias in AI
By Meredith Broussard. MIT Press, 2023
Data journalist and AI researcher Meredith Broussard uncovers the biases embedded in AI and their real-world consequences. She explores how AI systems mirror the data we post only, which in turn perpetuates inequality, amplifies stereotypes, and fails the very people they’re meant to serve. Broussard challenges readers to think critically about how we design and use technology to prioritize fairness and accountability. Equal parts eye-opening and empowering, it’s a gripping look inside the AI mechanism.