Book Review: More Everything Forever: AI Overlords, Space Empires, and the Ideology of Technological Salvation by Adam Becker
As I opened Adam Becker’s More Everything Forever, I was struck by an immediate resonance with our current era—a time when technological promises seem to promise salvation but often mask deeper societal issues. Becker’s exploration of the “ideology of technological salvation” intrigued me, drawing on an extensive historical and philosophical backdrop to unravel the complexities behind movements like Effective Altruism and transhumanism. This book isn’t just a critique; it’s a lens into the narratives shaping our collective future, offering both clarity and discomfort.
In More Everything Forever, Becker delves into a network of ideologies that coexist in Silicon Valley, weaving together Rationalism, Effective Altruism, longtermism, and transhumanism. He engages with these groups not as separate entities but as intertwined movements promoting a vision of salvation through technology—a vision he argues warrants skepticism. What I found particularly striking was Becker’s take on existential risk, especially the fear that we might create a misaligned artificial general intelligence that could potentially obliterate humanity. His critique shows us how these ideas often pivot into a secular apocalypse narrative, replacing divine salvation with algorithmic control.
Becker’s writing is both engaging and accessible; he balances complex ideas with a conversational tone that makes even the densest arguments digestible. His background as an astrophysicist shines through, especially in his critiques of space colonization fantasies. However, I couldn’t help but feel a deep-seated tension in his perspective, especially when he dismisses the potential for future innovations as he weaves his arguments against billionaires and technophiles. It made me wonder—has he reached the end of imagination regarding technological advancements?
There are moments in the book that profoundly resonated with me. Becker’s assertion that the ideology of technological salvation serves as a “moral cover” for billionaires resonated deeply, prompting reflection on how easily we can normalize vast inequalities under the guise of altruism. I found myself contemplating the ethical implications of prioritizing speculative futures over pressing present-day issues, a recurring theme throughout the book.
Nonetheless, I also sensed a kind of bias throughout Becker’s critique. For instance, his somewhat simplistic portrayal of Effective Altruism felt disingenuous, as it leaned heavily on cherry-picked criticisms rather than a balanced discourse. The irony of proposing a "tax the rich" solution to counter the ambitions of billionaires while simultaneously critiquing techno-fantasies struck me as a blind spot in his argumentation.
In conclusion, More Everything Forever offers an entertaining, albeit polemical, exploration of a vast ideological landscape. It’s a book that will undoubtedly stimulate discussion, especially among those skeptical of technophilic narratives. If you’re engaged in debates about technology, ethics, or the role of billionaires in our society, Becker’s work will likely resonate with you. This book has impacted me deeply, urging me to think critically about the promises of technology and the narratives we subscribe to. While I may not fully align with Becker’s perspective, I appreciate the essential questions it raises about the intersection of ethics, power, and technology in shaping our future.
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