Book · 2025 · Technology & Engineering
Empire of AI
Dreams and Nightmares in Sam Altman's OpenAI
Why people recommend it
Empire of AI by Karen Hao is a critically acclaimed investigative work that explores the hidden human and material inputs, dreams, and nightmares behind Sam Altman's OpenAI and the broader artificial intelligence boom. The book received high praise and deep discussion across multiple podcasts. On The Diary Of A CEO, Steven Bartlett strongly recommended the New York Times bestseller to his audience at the end of an interview with the author, and used the book's themes to guide a conversation about the origins of AI and the concerns parents should hold regarding the technology. Naomi Klein similarly recommended Empire of AI on The Ezra Klein Show, praising it as an incredible piece of globe-trotting investigative journalism that vividly reveals the physical and human costs of technological advancement. Conversely, the book also faced critical analysis; on Breaking Points, Emily Jashinsky brought up the book while discussing data center water usage, pointing out what she perceived to be a factual error in the text regarding water consumption statistics while still attempting to invite the author on the program. Across these diverse platforms, the book is recognized as a vital, sobering counterweight to corporate tech narratives, urging readers to look beyond marketing promises and examine the tangible infrastructure and societal consequences shaping the future of artificial intelligence.
Who recommended it
- Steven Bartlett Recommended
- Emily Jashinsky Discussed
- Naomi Klein Recommended
Steven Bartlett — 4 mentions
“Karen, how you've written this book in front of me here called Empire of AI: Dreams and Nightmares in Sam Alman's Open AI. I guess my first question is what is the research and the journey you went on in order to write this book we're going to talk about”
“So with that in mind, I'm going to ask you where does this journey begin and where should we be starting if we're talking about the subjects of empire of AI, AI generally artificial intelligence and also I'd say one thing I'm really keen to do in this conversation”
“So, what do you think my audience should do if they if they agree with everything written in your book, Age Empire of AI, Dreams and Nightmares, and Sam Mortman's Open AI? If they agree with everything said here, if they agree with everything we've discussed today, they're concerned about their kids, they they don't want everyone to become data”
“Empire of AI: Dreams and Nightmares in Sam Alman's Open AI by Karen How. I'll link it below for anyone that wants to read this book. I highly recommend you do. It's a New York Times bestseller for good reason.”
Emily Jashinsky — 1 mention
“Karen Hao wrote that book, Empire. By the way, Karen, if you're watching, we've been trying to get you on the show, so I'd really like to get you here. And this is in no way like a total criticism, but you made an error in your book”
Naomi Klein — 1 mention
“All right, so this is a little bit obvious, but but but Empire of AI um ; by Karen Hao. ; ; Just because it's it it's just such an incredible combination of just on the ground globe-trotting investigative reporting making the material inputs and human inputs of AI visible, but then it has this big idea thesis around empire”
Also mentioned in the same episodes
Other mentions (1: passing, ad reads, own books)
“And so I talk about the case of Dr. Timmy Gabru in my book who was the ethical AI team co-lead at Google when she was literally hired to critique the types of AI systems that Google was building.”