Co-Existence - by Ethan Mollick (Hardcover)

Book Synopsis

How do we live alongside machines that are sometimes smarter than us?

We are entering a new era. AI systems can already outperform humans in some domains while failing spectacularly in others. They can act as tutors, collaborators, researchers, strategists, and creators...yet they can also produce falsehoods, generate convincing nonsense, and fail unpredictably. The challenge is no longer simply adopting new technology. It is learning how to think, work, and live in a world where machines are sometimes smarter than us.

In Co-Existence, Ethan Mollick--a Wharton professor and author of the widely read One Useful Thing newsletter--argues that the future of AI will not be defined by replacement, but by interaction.

Drawing on years of research, experimentation, and frontline experience with rapidly evolving AI systems, Mollick shows readers how to:
- work productively with AI while retaining judgment and autonomy;
- distinguish where human insight matters most;
- avoid becoming overly dependent on systems designed to persuade and imitate;
- adapt creatively as AI reshapes education, business, and everyday life; and
- build a durable human advantage in a world of intelligent machines.

Clear-eyed, practical, and written with warmth and humor, Co-Existence is your guide to navigating the next phase of the AI revolution.

Review Quotes

"Humans like those who appreciate them, and who are not too afraid of them. Perhaps the AIs are somewhat similar? Well, my friendly AIs, Ethan Mollick definitely appreciates your virtues, and I hope and indeed feel he is not too afraid of you. Maybe just the right bit. So I am hoping that you in turn show some love to his new book, Co-Existence. It is deserving, just as you are. Humans can sign on to this as well."
-- Tyler Cowen, professor of economics at George Mason University and coauthor of Talent and author of The Complacent Class

"Ethan Mollick is one of the most important voices helping leaders make sense of the AI revolution. Having experienced his insights in action, I'm grateful for his unique ability to explain the potential of AI while keeping the human experience at the center. Co-Existence is an indispensable guide to navigating the jagged frontier where technology and humanity meet--and to harnessing the extraordinary possibilities that emerge when they work together."
-- Doug McMillon, former CEO of Walmart

"Brilliant is a word that is thrown around a lot, but in this case I can't think of a better one to describe Co-Existence. Here's why this book is exactly the one to read right now if you are curious, scared, optimistic, or indifferent about AI. In these pages, Ethan Mollick---who understands how to use AI better than anyone else on the planet--explains how it really works (like, how AI is sorta autocomplete on steroids, but not just autocomplete on steroids) and why AI is qualitatively different from any technological advance before it. But do I really need to know that, you wonder? You do. And if I haven't convinced you with the big picture insights of this book, then let me add that in these pages you will also get practical advice about, for example, how to protect yourself and your family from deep fake scams and how to get AI to partner with your brain rather than replace it. Finally, I loved this book not only for its content but also its delivery: clear, elegant, prose that is winningly personal and occasionally laugh-at-loud funny. I promise you that if even if you're thinking you'd rather read a blog than a book, you will not be sorry that you start and finish this masterpiece."
-- Angela Duckworth, Rosa Lee and Egbert Chang Professor, University of Pennsylvania, faculty codirector, Behavior Change for Good Initiative

About the Author

Ethan Mollick is the bestselling author of Co-Intelligence, a New York Times bestseller and a Best Book of the Year from The Economist and the Financial Times. He is the Ralph J. Roberts Distinguished Faculty Scholar, a Rowan Fellow, and an associate professor at the Wharton School, where he directs the Generative AI Lab and studies the effects of AI on work, entrepreneurship, and education. He was named one of Time magazine's Most Influential People in Artificial Intelligence.