The Coming Wave

by Mustafa Suleyman, Michael Bhaskar
The Coming Wave cover
Good Books rating 3.17
Technology and Innovation
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Format • £23.75
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  • ID: 2682
  • Added: 2025-10-16
  • Updated: 2025-10-16
  • ISBN: 9781847927484
  • Publisher: Bodley Head
  • Published: 2023-09-01
  • Formats: 3
  • Reviews: 3

The Coming Wave by Mustafa Suleyman, co-founder of DeepMind, part of Google, offers a gripping exploration of the technological revolution on the horizon. Suleyman argues that the next decade will be shaped by rapid advancements in AI, synthetic biology, and quantum computing, which will bring both immense prosperity and significant threats to global order. He highlights the 'containment problem,' the challenge of maintaining control over these powerful technologies, as the defining issue of our time. /n/n Suleyman draws on his insider knowledge to provide a comprehensive overview of how these technologies will impact our daily lives, businesses, and governments. He warns of the potential for unprecedented harms and the risk of overbearing surveillance, urging us to find a balanced path between catastrophe and dystopia. This groundbreaking book is essential reading for understanding the future and the critical choices we must make to navigate it.

Reviews
Issues · 2025-10-16
unsatisfying 3.00

The book is informative and bold but ultimately unsatisfying due to its lack of depth in addressing key issues.

Issues.org finds the book to be informative and bold, with a strong promotional backing. However, the reviewer feels that it falls short in providing a deeper analysis of the critical issues it raises. They appreciate the author's efforts to highlight the challenges posed by AI and synthetic biology but find the book's conclusions to be underwhelming. The reviewer suggests that a more thorough exploration of solutions would have made the book more impactful.

Quick quotes

    Although informative and bold—not to mention much endorsed and promoted—Mustafa Suleyman's new book, The Coming Wave, is ultimately unsatisfying.

    The book raises important questions but fails to provide adequate answers.

    A more comprehensive approach to addressing the challenges of AI and synthetic biology would have been beneficial.

SPE · 2024-11-21
disappointing 2.50

The narrative is repetitive and the prose is both platitudinous and sensationalist, which detracts from the book's overall impact.

The SPE review criticizes the book for its repetitive narrative and sensationalist tone, which they feel undermines the seriousness of the topics discussed. While they acknowledge the importance of the subject matter, they find the execution lacking, making it difficult to fully engage with the author's arguments. The reviewer suggests that a more balanced and nuanced approach would have improved the book's effectiveness.

Quick quotes

    Unfortunately, the narrative is repetitive, and the prose manages to be both platitudinous and sensationalist.

    The book has moments of insight but is often bogged down by its own style.

    A more measured approach would have made the arguments more compelling.

The Guardian · 2023-09-08
urgent 4.00

This book is a compelling warning about the rapid expansion of technology, urging readers to consider the potential consequences. The author's insider perspective provides a unique and informative take on the subject.

The Guardian's review highlights how this book serves as a wake-up call about the accelerating pace of technological advancements. The reviewer appreciates the author's ability to translate complex ideas into accessible insights, making it a must-read for anyone interested in the future of technology. However, they also note that the book's warnings can feel overwhelming, leaving readers with a sense of urgency but also a need for more concrete solutions.

Quick quotes

    The Coming Wave is Suleyman's book-length warning about technological expansionism: in close to 300 pages, he sets out to persuade readers that artificial ...

    Suleyman's insights are grounded in his deep understanding of the tech industry, making his arguments particularly compelling.

    The book's warnings about the future of AI and synthetic biology are both informative and unsettling.

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