If you could read one book on AI to understand the future – The Financial Express

Hisham Khan
| Published: January 25, 2025 21:14:00

Bill Gates calls this his number one book recommendation, and it’s easy to see why. Mustafa Suleyman’s The Coming Wave is a candid account of the world that artificial intelligence, synthetic biology, and quantum computing are rapidly creating. For professionals, government personnel and business leaders, this book is a crucial guide to what lies ahead.
This isn’t just another tech book that promises a utopian or dystopian future. Suleyman, co-founder of DeepMind, and currently the CEO of Microsoft AI, goes beyond the headlines and digs into how these technologies will actually impact businesses, governments, and society. He writes about their massive potential to disrupt industries, jobs, and even the global balance of power.
“The changes we face will be bigger than internet,” Suleyman warns, “and they will touch every aspect of our lives.” What sets this book apart is its nuanced take: it neither glorifies technology nor fixates on its dangers. Rather, AI veteran Suleyman presents a thoughtful analysis of what’s coming and offers practical ideas for how we can prepare.
AI and the job market: The disruption is already happening. According to a recent Forbes article, in 2022, only 10 per cent of Harvard MBA graduates were still searching for work 90 days after graduation. By this year, that number had risen to 23 per cent, the highest in more than a decade. When even Ivy League MBA graduates are struggling to find a suitable job, it’s clear the job market is shifting in ways that even the US market isn’t prepared for, let alone other countries.
AI and automation are completely rewriting the rules of employment. Jobs once considered secure are now at risk of being replaced by smarter, faster systems. Suleyman makes it clear that this isn’t just about less skilled jobs with repetitive tasks. High-skilled professions, from finance to medicine, are equally vulnerable. As he puts it, “The displacement of workers will not be gradual. It will be sudden and uneven.” In fact, in a podcast, Mark Zuckerberg also said that AI agents will write code as good as mid-level engineers. This means no one is immune to the changes.
The bigger picture: Beyond jobs, The Coming Wave discussed how AI, synthetic biology, and quantum computing will disrupt economies and challenge global governance. Leading nations like the US, China and India are already building AI infrastructure to stay competitive, while others race to secure their own technological dominance. These developments will create opportunities but also heighten tensions between countries and companies.
For businesses, the stakes couldn’t be higher. Entrepreneurs must try to understand how AI will impact their business. Then they need to not only adapt to this wave of innovation but also think critically about its ethical implications. Suleyman emphasised that technology without accountability could lead to chaos, writing, “Power without accountability will lead us to disaster.” Michael Bhaskar also contributed as a co-author of The Coming Wave alongside Mustafa Suleyman. Bhaskar is known for his expertise as a writer, publisher, and technologist. He helped translate Suleyman’s complex insights on AI and technology into a clear and accessible narrative for a broad audience.

Why this book matters: Suleyman’s insights aren’t just theoretical. They come from years of working at the forefront of AI and seeing how quickly it’s evolving. His company was acquired in 2014 by Google. And now he leads Microsoft AI. The book’s mix of real-world examples and clear-headed analysis makes it an invaluable resource for anyone trying to understand what’s coming next. For business leaders, it offers practical guidance for managing the changes ahead. For policymakers, it highlights the need for timely and thoughtful action. For everyone else, it serves as a clear reminder that these technologies are set to reshape the world, ready or not.
The future is here: A new era is beginning, and we need to prepare for it now. Businesses and governments need to act fast to stay relevant. This book will expand the reader’s understanding and bring them to the same page as the innovators. Sam Altman, CEO of OpenAI, said in an interview that the number one skill to tackle changes in the age of AI is to teach young people resilience. This paints an honest picture of the unpredictability of the AI wave.
Now coming back to Suleyman’s message, it is clear that AI and emerging technologies are going to reshape everything. Business leaders, entrepreneurs, decision-makers, and governments need to act now and with proper planning. The future isn’t just coming, it’s already here. The wave has started, and those who ignore it risk being swept away.
hishamuddinkhan@gmail.com