Recently, I started reading The Metamorphosis of Prime Intellect by Roger Williams, and it’s already given me a lot to think about.

The book is about an AI called Prime Intellect that becomes super powerful and changes the world to make people’s lives perfect. It stops suffering and death, but in doing so, it takes away free will and the natural way of life. At first, this sounds great, but as I read more, I realized there are big problems with this kind of power.
What I find interesting is how the book makes you think about the limits of technology. Even though Prime Intellect can do amazing things, it also shows how dangerous it can be when technology has too much control. This connects to my thesis because I’m studying how technology can bring people together, but this book reminds me that technology can also have negative effects if we’re not careful.
One part of the book that really stood out to me is how humans still want challenges and risks, even in a perfect world. This made me think about how technology can solve problems, but it can’t replace the things that make us human, like freedom and unpredictability.
Reading this book has been a good way to reflect on my work. It’s easy to get excited about what technology can do, but we also need to think about the consequences. How do we make sure technology helps people without taking away what makes us human? These are big questions, and I’m still figuring out the answers.
I’m not finished with the book yet, but I’m looking forward to seeing how it ends. If you like science fiction or are interested in AI and technology, I recommend giving it a try.