Book · 2025 · Technology & Engineering
Empire of AI
Dreams and Nightmares in Sam Altman's OpenAI
- mentions
- 9
- people
- 5
- podcasts
- 5
- episodes
- 6
- recommendations
- 3
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.
Naomi Klein · The Ezra Klein Show · Mar 2026 Listen at 1:22:36 What they say about it
- Highly recommends reading“I highly recommend you do”3
- Discusses research and writing“what is the research and the journey”2
The best things said about it
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.
The book claimed surging AI demand could use up to 1.7 trillion gallons of fresh water globally by 2027.
I'm reading this book what is it called? Empire of AI excellent.
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.
Karen Hao's Empire of AI does an excellent job of discussing how many of these people's fart in a glass and sniff it because they have jobs there where they just sit around going, What if this happens? What if this happens?
Where and when it comes up
Most mentions, by podcast
5 people who brought it up
Why people recommend it
Empire of AI by Karen Hao is an investigative non-fiction book that explores the human and material costs behind the rapid rise of artificial intelligence and Sam Altman's OpenAI. Steven Bartlett strongly recommended the book on The Diary Of A CEO with Steven Bartlett, calling it a New York Times bestseller for good reason and advising his audience to read it if they were concerned about the future. Naomi Klein also recommended the book on The Ezra Klein Show as an incredible piece of globe-trotting investigative reporting that makes the material and human inputs of AI visible. Emily Jashinsky discussed reading the book on Breaking Points while debating the competitive pressures between the U.S. and China, though she also questioned a specific statistic regarding water consumption. Robert Evans referenced estimates from the book on Behind the Bastards regarding the staggering amount of fresh water withdrawn by AI data centers annually. Steven Bartlett hosted Karen Hao on The Diary Of A CEO with Steven Bartlett to discuss her extensive research and the journey she undertook to write the book, prompting a deep conversation about the origins and future trajectory of artificial intelligence.
Every mention
Steven Bartlett Empire of AI: Dreams and Nightmares in Sam Alman's Open AI by Karen How. I'll link it below for anyone that… 4
Discussed
“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”
Discussed
“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”
Recommended
“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”
Recommended
“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.”
Naomi Klein All right, so this is a little bit obvious, but but but Empire of AI um ; by Karen Hao. ; ; Just because it… 1
Recommended
“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”
Emily Jashinsky Karen Hao wrote that book, Empire. By the way, Karen, if you're watching, we've been trying to get you on t… 2
Critiqued
“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”
Discussed
“Um I'm I'm reading this book what is it called? Empire of AI excellent. Yeah, and so I'm going through this portion right now”
Ed Zitron Karen How's Empires of AI does an excellent job of discussing how many of these people's fart in a glass an… 1
Discussed
“Karen How's Empires of AI does an excellent job of discussing how many of these people's fart in a glass and sniff it because they have jobs there where they just sit around going, "What if this happens? What if this happens?"”
Robert Evans Almost all of that 1.7 trillion gallons of water per year is specifically water that is withdrawn and then… 1
Discussed
“Almost all of that 1.7 trillion gallons of water per year is specifically water that is withdrawn and then returned to the source,’ Masley told me, referring to a widely cited estimate from Karen House's Empire of AI. The book claimed surging AI demand could use up to 1.7 trillion gallons of fresh water globally by 2027, or half the”
Also mentioned in the same episodes
Other mentions (2: passing, ad reads, own books)
Plugged
“And you said, the unnamed book Empire of AI is mine. Do you believe that tweet from Sam Altman was in reference to your book? 100%.”
Plugged
“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.”