Futureproof

9 Rules for Humans in the Age of Automation

By: Kevin Roose

Narrated by: Mike Chamberlain

“While we need to rewrite the rules of the twenty-first-century economy, Kevin’s book is a great look at how people can do this on a personal level to always put humanity first.”—Andrew Yang

“A clear, compelling strategy for surviving the next wave of technology with our jobs—and souls—intact.”—Charles Duhigg, author of The Power of Habit

The machines are here. After decades of sci-fi fantasies and hype, artificial intelligence has leapt out of research labs and Silicon Valley engineering departments and into the center of our lives. Algorithms shape everything around us, from the news we see to the products we buy and the relationships we form. And while the debate over whether or not automation will destroy jobs rages on, a much more important question is being ignored:

What does it mean to be a human in a world that is increasingly built by and for machines?

In Futureproof: 9 Rules for Humans in the Age of Automation, New York Times technology columnist Kevin Roose lays out a hopeful, pragmatic vision of how people can succeed in the machine age by making themselves irreplaceably human. He shares the secrets of people and organizations that have survived technological change, and explains how we can protect our own futures, with lessons like

• Do work that is surprising, social, and scarce (the types of work machines can’t do).
• Demote your phone.
• Work near other people.
• Treat A.I. like an army of chimpanzees.
• Add more friction to your life.

Roose rejects the conventional wisdom that in order to compete with machines, we have to become more like them—hyper-efficient, data-driven, code-writing workhorses. Instead, he says, we should let machines be machines, and focus on doing the kinds of creative, inspiring, and meaningful things only humans can do.


* This audiobook edition includes a downloadable PDF that contains the Appendix and Reading List from the book.

Critic reviews

“Engaging . . . Roose delves into this crisis with an accessible touch that nicely explains how AI is infiltrating every part of our society and workforce.”—The Times

“Artificial intelligence—and robots themselves—can be terrifying, but Kevin Roose provides a clear, compelling strategy for surviving the next wave of technology with our jobs—and souls—intact. Whether you’re an optimist or a pessimist about the future, Futureproof is the survival guide you need.”—Charles Duhigg, author of The Power of Habit

“Tech companies are changing the way we live, but no one is in charge of making sure that technology is improving lives. While we need to rewrite the rules of the twenty-first-century economy with solutions powerful enough to deal with these changes, Roose’s book is a great look at how people can act on a personal level to always put humanity first.”—Andrew Yang

“While I think that Skynet is still going to send the Terminator back to try to kill humanity someday, it’s worth your time and attention—if that is still a thing in the addled Internet age—to read Kevin Roose’s bracing book now. Why? Because it’s a primer on the future and how to deal with the incoming today, from AI to automation to robotics and more, by using the tools of creativity and just being human. Whether the digital threat comes from a cybernetic organism from 2459 arriving in a big ball of lightning or from that innocent-looking mobile supercomputer in your hand, I do know that you need to prepare for the next tech age. And there’s no better way to do it than to futureproof yourself by letting Roose show you how.”—Kara Swisher, host of Sway and Pivot, New York Times contributing opinion writer

excelente!

i absolutely loved this book! amazing insight. This book direction in which we should move to cope with new technologies

Good listen

It was read by an AI, right?? Was waiting for a referral at the end. Otherwise that’s what I think of the audiobook experience. Ironically robotic.

Book’s great though! Each of the tips are well argued and presented. Offers me some food for thought as to how I can stay relevant as technology creeps. I mostly love the empowering notions about how te future is not written and it’s humans who design the robots. For now.

Relevant and interesting read

I have recommended Futureproof to all my friends since my first day of reading it. This book brings to light engaging and thought-provoking concepts about our place (as humans) in an AI world. I am also a huge fan of Kevin Roose's podcast Hard Fork in which they discuss tech news. This book juxtaposed Kevin Roose's positive outlook on new technology with a thoughtful person looking to hold onto their humanity.

Muy reconfortante

Me encantó el balance entre realidad y optimismo. Kevin es periodista y te lleva de una manera muy amena sobre los peligros de dejarse llevar solamente por la tecnología, pero también te da esperanza sobre el futuro si logramos hacer equipo y usar la tecnología en beneficio de la humanidad.

Required reading

I shall recommend this book to all I know who work with technology and have the ability to define their career paths.