Genesis: Artificial Intelligence, Hope, and the Human Spirit

Artificial intelligence is not a distant possibility, it is already here, already reshaping how we understand knowledge, power, creativity, and what it means to be human. In Genesis, the late Henry Kissinger joins technologists Eric Schmidt and Craig Mundie in a sweeping examination of the most consequential technological development of our age, asking the questions that most commentators are too cautious, or too optimistic, to address directly. The authors argue that AI is not simply a powerful tool. As it absorbs data, develops agency, and begins to mediate between human beings and reality itself, it will challenge our capacity for independent judgment, test the boundaries of human identity, and potentially reshape the course of civilization. It may help solve climate change, unlock the mysteries of the universe, and reduce geopolitical conflict. It may also concentrate power in dangerous ways and accelerate a transformation in human experience for which no society is adequately prepared. Written as Kissinger's final major work, Genesis navigates between unjustified optimism and paralytic fear to offer a principled framework for engaging with AI on terms that preserve human dignity and democratic accountability. A New York Times and USA Today bestseller, this is essential reading for anyone who wants to think seriously about the world being built around us.