8 Books to Read In 2020 For AI Leaders

January 10, 2020

As AI technologies developing and maturing at lightning speed in 2020, it becomes increasingly important for AI leaders to stay on top of the tech trends and strengthen leadership skills to drive continued innovation and success. Here we put together a list of 8 books to read this year, from the latest AI trends and applications, to leadership and culture creation advice from renowned tech leaders and investors. Enjoy reading!

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Superhuman Innovation - World's first book co-authored by AI about AI

This book is a discussion on the impact AI will have on careers and the wider world of work, focusing on how it will shape businesses and brands, and allow for an increase of innovation. It is written by creative technologist Chris Duffey, and co-authored by automated AI assistant, Aimé. Duffey described the text as “The World's First Book Co-Authored by AI about AI”. It has also won the CES 2020 Top Technology Book of the Year.

Rebooting AI: Building Artificial Intelligence We Can Trust

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Rather than building AI which is designed to handle data and statistics, this book argues that the field needs to focus on building systems with concepts such as common sense and practical decision-making. To create AI which has genuine intelligence, we will need programs which are less rigid in their capabilities, and more open-minded. Rebooting AI: Building Artificial Intelligence We Can Trust is written by CEO of Robust.AI, Gary Marcus, and professor of Computer Science at Courant Institute of Mathematical Science, Ernest Davis. It has been described by philosopher Noam Chomsky as a “valuable guide to developments that will surely have a major impact on the social order and intellectual culture”. It has also earned praise from Rodney Brooks, former director of the MIT Computer Science and Artificial Intelligence Laboratory, describing it as “a realistic look at how far AI and robotics still have to go.”

Thinking, Fast and Slow

In this book, psychologist and winner of the Nobel Prize in Economics, Daniel Kahneman, explores the methods in which humans think and make decisions, offering insights into how trustworthy our own intuitions are, and how to more regularly employ slow and deliberative thinking. It is the winner of the National Academy of Sciences Best Book Award, as well as the Los Angeles Times Book Prize, and was chosen by The New York Times Book Review as one of the top ten books of 2011. Yoshua Bengio, Turing Award winner and pioneer of Deep Learning, referred to this book at his NeurlPS 2019 keynote talk "From System 1 Deep Learning to System 2 Deep Learning". Dr. Bengio was recently interviewed by Robin.ly, where he shared his thoughts on consciousness and AI.

Trillion Dollar Coach

‍Trillion Dollar Coach is a book which explores the leadership lessons and strategies taught by entrepreneurial coach Bill Campbell. Campbell coached numerous prominent figures in the tech world such as Larry Page, Jeff Bezos, and Steve Jobs. The book is written by former Google CEO, Eric Schmidt, former Senior Vice President at Google, Jonathan Rosenberg, and Director of Executive Communications at Google, Alan Eagle. Both The New York Times and The Wall Street Journal have called Trillion Dollar Coach a bestseller.

What You Do Is Who You Are: How to Create Your Business Culture

This book focuses on how businesses and leaders can actively foster the types of cultures they desire. It explains why cultures need to be purposefully crafted, rather than left to be formed by mistake. Renowned Venture Capitalist and best selling author, Ben Horowitz, dissects multiple cultures throughout history from Genghis Khan’s leadership to CEO Reed Hastings’ at Netflix, to give insights into how teams should be run. undefined

Applied Artificial Intelligence: A Handbook For Business Leaders

Rather than discussing the intricacies of AI or its affect on society, Applied Artificial Intelligence, looks at what the technology means for business leaders. It is a guide for people who wish to lead successful AI initiatives and build robust teams. It focuses on the practical and real-world applications of AI. It is written by Marketing and Artificial Intelligence Strategist, Adelyn Zhou, AI Designer and Technologist, Mariya Yao, and CEO and Head of Revenue at MetaMaven, Marlene Jia. This book was selected as the CES 2018 Top Technology Book of the Year.

Work Rules!: Insights from Inside Google That Will Transform How You Live and Lead

Attracting and retaining the right talent for your business can be tough, especially when there is so much competition. Work Rules! is designed as a guide for building a workplace where the employees feel valued and appreciated. This book covers a range of lessons which can be learned from numerous businesses including Google, which is regularly rated as one of the best places to work in the world. It is written by CEO of Humu and former Senior Vice President of People Operations at Google, Laszlo Bock.

Secrets of Sand Hill Road: Venture Capital and How to Get It

Often times, startups begin seeking venture capital without fully understanding how to do so, and what it will mean for their business. This book helps to explain how exactly the world of venture capital works, offering insights into how VCs make decisions and form opinions. It is written by Scott Kupor, a Managing Partner at Andreessen Horowitz's and Co-Founder and Co-Director of the Stanford Venture Capital Director's College.

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