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Books Artificial Intelligence Co-Intelligence

Co-Intelligence
Living and Working with AI

by Ethan Mollick 2024 243 pages

4.07 6k+ ratings

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Key Takeaways

1. AI: The Alien Mind Among Us

 We have invented technologies, from axes to helicopters, that
boost our physical capabilities; and others, like spreadsheets,
that automate complex tasks; but we have never built a
generally applicable technology that can boost our
intelligence.

A new form of intelligence. Large Language Models (LLMs) like ChatGPT

represent a breakthrough in artificial intelligence, exhibiting capabilities that
seem almost human. Unlike previous AI systems focused on narrow tasks,
LLMs can engage in human-like conversation, generate creative content,
and solve complex problems across various domains.

Rapid adoption and impact. The speed at which LLMs have been
developed and adopted is unprecedented. ChatGPT reached 100 million
users faster than any previous product in history. This rapid integration into
daily life and work processes is already reshaping how we interact with
technology and each other.

Ethical and societal implications. The emergence of AI that can mimic

human intelligence raises profound questions about the nature of
consciousness, creativity, and the future of work. As these systems become
more advanced, society must grapple with issues of AI alignment, ensuring
these powerful tools serve human interests rather than potentially harming
them.
2. The Jagged Frontier: AI's
Unpredictable Capabilities

There are always problems with giving the AI tests, because

the answer key might be in its training data, effectively
allowing it to cheat by knowing the answers in advance.

Uneven abilities. AI's capabilities are not uniformly distributed across tasks.
Some tasks that humans find difficult, AI can perform with ease, while
others that seem simple to us can be challenging for AI. This creates a
"jagged frontier" of AI abilities that is difficult to predict or map.

Hallucinations and limitations. Despite their impressive capabilities, LLMs

are prone to "hallucinations" - generating plausible but incorrect
information. They don't truly understand or know facts, but rather predict
likely sequences of words based on patterns in their training data.

Implications for assessment and use. The jagged frontier and potential for
hallucinations make it challenging to accurately assess AI capabilities or rely
on them for critical tasks without human oversight. Understanding these
limitations is crucial for effectively integrating AI into workflows and
decision-making processes.
3. Alignment: Ensuring AI Serves
Humanity

Aligning an AI requires not just stopping a potential alien

god but also considering these other impacts and the desire
to build an AI that reflects humanity.

Existential risks. Some AI researchers worry about the potential for

superintelligent AI to pose existential risks to humanity if not properly
aligned with human values and goals. This "alignment problem" is a central
concern in AI ethics and development.

Immediate ethical challenges. Beyond long-term risks, current AI systems

present more immediate ethical challenges:

Bias and fairness issues in AI decision-making

Privacy concerns related to data used for training

Potential for misuse in creating disinformation or manipulating people

Impact on jobs and economic inequality

Multifaceted approach to alignment. Addressing AI alignment requires

efforts on multiple fronts:
 Technical solutions to make AI systems more transparent and
controllable
Ethical guidelines and regulations for AI development and deployment

Public education and engagement to shape the future of AI in society

Ongoing research into AI safety and beneficial AI development

4. Four Principles for Working with AI

Always invite AI to the table.

Principle 1: Always invite AI to the table. Experiment with AI in various

tasks to understand its capabilities and limitations. This exploration allows
you to become an expert in applying AI to your specific domain.

Principle 2: Be the human in the loop. Maintain oversight and critical

thinking when using AI. Human judgment remains crucial for verifying AI
outputs and ensuring ethical use.

Principle 3: Treat AI like a person (but tell it what kind of person it is).
Frame your interactions with AI by giving it a specific persona or role. This
can lead to more tailored and effective responses.

Principle 4: Assume this is the worst AI you will ever use. AI capabilities
are rapidly improving. Stay open to new developments and be prepared for
AI to become increasingly capable over time.

5. AI as a Creative Partner: Augmenting

Human Abilities

Given a machine that can make anything, we still default to

what we know well.

Enhancing creativity. AI demonstrates remarkable creative abilities, often

outperforming humans on standard creativity tests. However, its true power
lies in augmenting human creativity rather than replacing it.

Democratizing creative expression. AI tools are enabling people with

limited artistic skills to express themselves creatively in new ways. This
democratization of creativity has the potential to unlock human potential on
a vast scale.

Challenges and ethical considerations:

Potential loss of originality as people rely too heavily on AI-generated

content
Copyright and attribution issues for AI-generated works

Need to redefine creativity and authorship in the age of AI

6. The Workplace Revolution: AI as
Coworker

Even if you could replace a doctor with an AI overnight,

would patients be okay being seen by a machine? How
would liability rules work? How would other health-care
professionals adjust?

Task transformation. AI is reshaping work by automating or augmenting

many tasks, particularly in knowledge-intensive fields. This doesn't
necessarily mean job replacement, but rather a shift in the nature of work.

Productivity gains and skill leveling. Studies show that AI can significantly
boost productivity, especially for lower-performing workers. This has the
potential to reduce performance gaps within organizations.

Adaptation strategies:

"Centaur" approach: Strategic division of labor between humans and AI

"Cyborg" approach: Deep integration of AI into human workflows

Focusing on uniquely human skills and expertise

Reimagining organizational structures and processes to leverage AI

capabilities
7. Reimagining Education in the AI Era

AIs can help us flourish by making it impossible to ignore

the truth any longer: a lot of work is really boring and not
particularly meaningful.

The homework apocalypse. AI's ability to complete assignments and write

essays is forcing educators to rethink traditional assessment methods and
the purpose of homework.

AI as tutor and learning companion. AI has the potential to provide

personalized, adaptive learning experiences at scale, potentially addressing
the "two sigma problem" in education.

Shifting focus of education:

Emphasizing critical thinking and creativity over rote memorization

Teaching AI literacy and effective collaboration with AI tools

Preparing students for a rapidly changing job market

Leveraging AI to create more engaging, interactive learning

experiences
8. AI as Coach: Enhancing Expertise and
Learning

The issue is that in order to learn to think critically,

problem-solve, understand abstract concepts, reason through
novel problems, and evaluate the AI's output, we need
subject matter expertise.

Building foundational knowledge. Despite AI's vast knowledge base,

human experts still need a strong foundation of facts and understanding to
effectively work with and evaluate AI outputs.

Deliberate practice with AI. AI can enhance the process of deliberate

practice by providing immediate feedback, personalized challenges, and
continuous assessment.

Redefining expertise:

Shifting from memorization to effective information synthesis and

application

Developing skills in AI collaboration and prompt engineering

Cultivating uniquely human abilities like empathy, creativity, and

complex problem-solving
9. Four Futures: Scenarios for AI's
Impact on Society

There is no theoretical reason why this can't happen, but

also no reason to suspect that it might. There are world
experts on AI who argue both positions.

Scenario 1: As Good as It Gets. AI capabilities plateau, leading to

incremental improvements but no major breakthroughs. Society adapts to
current AI capabilities without radical disruption.

Scenario 2: Slow Growth. AI continues to improve at a steady, manageable

pace. This allows for gradual adaptation of social, economic, and
educational systems.

Scenario 3: Exponential Growth. Rapid AI advancement leads to dramatic

societal changes, potentially including widespread job displacement and the
need for new economic models.

Scenario 4: The Machine God. AI achieves human-level intelligence or

beyond, fundamentally altering humanity's place in the world and raising
existential questions about our future.

Preparing for an uncertain future:

 Developing flexible policies and regulations that can adapt to different
AI scenarios

Investing in AI safety research and alignment efforts

Fostering public dialogue about the ethical implications of AI

development

Prioritizing human-AI collaboration and coexistence rather than

replacement

Last updated: January 22, 2025

FAQ

What's "Co-Intelligence: Living and

Working with AI" about?

Exploration of AI's impact: The book delves into how AI, particularly
Large Language Models (LLMs), is transforming various aspects of life,
including work, education, and creativity.

AI as a co-intelligence: It introduces the concept of AI as a "co-

intelligence," a tool that can augment human capabilities rather than
replace them.
 Practical implications: The author, Ethan Mollick, provides insights into
the practical implications of AI in everyday tasks and the broader
societal changes it may bring.

Future of AI: The book also speculates on the future of AI, discussing
potential scenarios ranging from slow growth to the emergence of
superintelligent machines.

Why should I read "Co-Intelligence:

Living and Working with AI"?

Understanding AI's role: It offers a comprehensive understanding of

how AI is reshaping industries and personal lives, which is crucial in
today's tech-driven world.

Practical advice: The book provides practical advice on how to

integrate AI into daily tasks, making it a valuable resource for
professionals and students alike.

Insightful scenarios: Mollick presents various future scenarios of AI

development, helping readers prepare for potential changes in the job
market and society.

Engaging narrative: The book is written in an engaging style, making

complex AI concepts accessible to a broad audience.
What are the key takeaways of "Co-
Intelligence: Living and Working with
AI"?

AI as a General Purpose Technology: AI is a transformative technology

that affects all industries, similar to the internet or steam power.

Human-AI collaboration: The book emphasizes the importance of

humans working alongside AI, leveraging its strengths while maintaining
human oversight.

Ethical considerations: It discusses the ethical implications of AI,

including issues of bias, privacy, and the potential for misuse.

Future preparedness: Readers are encouraged to prepare for a future

where AI plays a significant role in both personal and professional
spheres.

How does Ethan Mollick define "co-

intelligence" in the book?

Collaborative intelligence: Co-intelligence refers to the collaboration

between humans and AI, where AI acts as a partner rather than a
replacement.
 Augmenting human capabilities: It emphasizes using AI to enhance
human decision-making, creativity, and productivity.

Dynamic interaction: The concept involves a dynamic interaction

where both humans and AI contribute to problem-solving and
innovation.

Ethical alignment: Co-intelligence also includes ensuring that AI

systems are aligned with human values and ethical standards.

What practical advice does "Co-

Intelligence: Living and Working with
AI" offer for integrating AI into daily
tasks?

Experiment with AI: The book encourages readers to experiment with

AI in various tasks to understand its capabilities and limitations.

Human in the loop: It stresses the importance of keeping humans

involved in AI processes to ensure accuracy and ethical decision-
making.

Task delegation: Mollick suggests identifying tasks that can be

delegated to AI, freeing up time for more complex and creative work.

Continuous learning: Readers are advised to stay updated on AI

developments and continuously learn how to leverage new tools
effectively.
What are the potential future scenarios
of AI development discussed in the
book?

As Good as It Gets: This scenario suggests that AI may have reached

its peak capabilities, with no significant advancements expected.

Slow Growth: AI continues to improve at a steady pace, leading to

gradual changes in industries and society.

Exponential Growth: AI capabilities grow rapidly, leading to significant

disruptions and transformations across various sectors.

The Machine God: A scenario where AI achieves superintelligence,

potentially surpassing human intelligence and altering the balance of
power.

How does "Co-Intelligence: Living and

Working with AI" address the ethical
concerns of AI?

Bias and fairness: The book discusses how AI systems can inherit
biases from their training data and the importance of addressing these
issues.
 Privacy concerns: It highlights the potential risks to privacy posed by
AI's ability to process vast amounts of personal data.

Alignment with human values: Mollick emphasizes the need for AI

systems to be aligned with human values to prevent harmful outcomes.

Regulatory challenges: The book explores the challenges of regulating

AI development and ensuring responsible use.

What role does AI play in education

according to "Co-Intelligence: Living
and Working with AI"?

AI as a tutor: The book discusses the potential of AI to provide

personalized tutoring, enhancing learning outcomes for students.

Flipped classrooms: AI can support flipped classroom models by

delivering content outside of class and enabling active learning during
class time.

Homework and assessments: It addresses the challenges AI poses to

traditional homework and assessments, necessitating new approaches
to education.

Skill development: Mollick suggests that AI can help develop critical

thinking and problem-solving skills by providing real-time feedback and
support.
How does Ethan Mollick suggest AI can
enhance creativity?

Idea generation: AI can assist in generating a wide range of ideas,

serving as a valuable tool in brainstorming sessions.

Creative collaboration: The book highlights how AI can collaborate with

humans in creative tasks, offering new perspectives and insights.

Overcoming creative blocks: AI can help overcome creative blocks by

providing suggestions and alternative approaches to problems.

Art and design: Mollick discusses the role of AI in art and design,
where it can produce novel and unique creations.

What are the best quotes from "Co-

Intelligence: Living and Working with
AI" and what do they mean?

"AI is a tool, not a crutch." This quote emphasizes the importance of

using AI to enhance human capabilities rather than relying on it entirely.

"We have invented a kind of alien mind." It highlights the unique nature
of AI as a non-human intelligence that can interact with humans in
unprecedented ways.
 "The future is unfolding, but our destination is unwritten." This quote
reflects the uncertainty and potential of AI's impact on the future,
urging readers to shape its development.

"AI can be a mirror, reflecting back at us our best and worst qualities."
It underscores the idea that AI reflects human values and biases,
making ethical considerations crucial.

How does "Co-Intelligence: Living and

Working with AI" suggest we prepare
for the future of work with AI?

Embrace change: The book encourages readers to embrace the

changes AI brings to the workplace and adapt to new ways of working.

Skill development: It emphasizes the importance of developing skills

that complement AI, such as critical thinking and creativity.

Collaboration with AI: Mollick suggests fostering a collaborative

relationship with AI, where humans and machines work together
effectively.

Ethical awareness: Readers are advised to stay informed about the

ethical implications of AI and advocate for responsible use in their
organizations.
What is the "Jagged Frontier" concept in
"Co-Intelligence: Living and Working
with AI"?

Invisible boundary: The Jagged Frontier refers to the invisible

boundary between tasks that AI can perform well and those it struggles
with.

Experimentation required: Understanding the Jagged Frontier requires

experimentation to determine which tasks are suitable for AI.

Dynamic nature: The frontier is dynamic and changes as AI capabilities

evolve, necessitating continuous learning and adaptation.

Strategic task allocation: Mollick suggests using the Jagged Frontier

concept to strategically allocate tasks between humans and AI for
optimal results.
Review Summary

4.07 out of 5
Average of 6k+ ratings from Goodreads and Amazon.

Co-Intelligence: Living and Working with AI offers practical advice

on using AI as a collaborative tool. Readers appreciate Mollick's
balanced approach, highlighting AI's potential while acknowledging
its limitations. The book provides strategies for effective AI
integration in various fields, emphasizing human oversight and critical
thinking. Some find it a valuable primer for AI novices, while others
familiar with the topic consider it somewhat superficial. The book's
timely insights may become outdated quickly due to rapid AI
advancements. Overall, it's seen as an accessible guide to navigating
the evolving AI landscape.
About the Author

Ethan Mollick is a professor at the Wharton School of the University

of Pennsylvania, known for his expertise in innovation and
entrepreneurship. He has gained recognition for his insights on
artificial intelligence, particularly through his popular newsletter "One
Useful Thing." Mollick's work focuses on the practical applications of
AI in business and education. His approach combines academic rigor
with real-world examples, making complex AI concepts accessible to
a general audience. Mollick is considered a thought leader in the field
of AI integration in various sectors, offering balanced perspectives on
both the opportunities and challenges presented by this rapidly
evolving technology.