
This is a private event. Please email Renee Lamarque with any questions.
Join us for an evening with Craig Mundie discussing Genesis: Artificial Intelligence. This evening is being generously hosted by Tom Healy. Books will be available for all attendees.
“A timely exploration of the relationship between artificial intelligence and knowledge, power, and politics, this book pushes us to think hard about the risk and potential AI holds for humanity.”―Bill Gates
In his final book, the late Henry Kissinger joins forces with two leading technologists to mount “a profound exploration” (Walter Isaacson) of the epochal challenges and opportunities presented by the revolution in Artificial Intelligence: a breakthrough that dramatically empowers people in all walks of life while also raising urgent questions about the future of humanity.
As it absorbs data, gains agency, and intermediates between humans and reality, AI (Artificial Intelligence) will help us to address enormous crises, from climate change to geopolitical conflicts to income inequality. It might well solve some of the greatest mysteries of our universe and elevate the human spirit to unimaginable heights. But it will also pose challenges on a scale and of an intensity that we have never seen—usurping our power of independent judgment and action, testing our relationship with the divine, and perhaps even spurring a new phase in human evolution.
The last book of elder statesman Henry Kissinger, written with technologists Craig Mundie and Eric Schmidt, Genesis charts a course between blind faith and unjustified fear as it outlines an effective strategy for navigating the age of AI.
Craig Mundie is a distinguished technology executive with a career defined by significant contributions to the technology industry and public policy. He advises organizations and governments on emerging technologies, particularly in areas such as fusion energy, cybersecurity, quantum computing, molecular medicine, and artificial intelligence.
Mundie spent 22 years at Microsoft, holding leadership roles including Chief Technical Officer. Chief Research and Strategy Officer, and Senior Advisor to the CEO, where he shaped the company’s technology strategy and research initiatives. He continues to advise Microsoft on strategic initiatives.
In addition to his corporate achievements, Mundie served for 10 years on the U.S. National Security Telecommunications Advisory Committee, offering critical and trusted guidance to three U.S. administrations on tech and national security. He was also part of President Obama’s Council of Advisors on Science and Technology (PCAST) for 8 years, helping shape national science and technology policies.
Mundie is a leading advocate for responsible technology development, particularly in the fields of artificial intelligence, advanced computing systems, and global technology policy. He co-authored Genesis: Artificial Intelligence, Hope, and the Human Spirit with Eric Schmidt and Henry Kissinger. Mundie currently co-chairs a Track II dialogue with China on Artificial Intelligence, continuing his work in global technology policy and innovation.
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