'The Coming Wave' By Mustafa Suleyman Highlights The Struggle To Control Powerful Innovations

'The Coming Wave', authored by Mustafa Suleyman and Michael Bhaskar and published by Crown Publishing House, explores how AI, quantum computing, and emerging technologies will transform society. It highlights opportunities and risks, including governance challenges and the ‘containment problem’—the struggle to control powerful innovations.

This article is in collaboration with Dinis Guarda.

‘The Coming Wave: Technology, Power, and the Twenty-first Century’s Greatest Dilemma’ by Mustafa Suleyman and Michael Bhaskar, published on 5 September 2023 by Crown Publishing House, is a vital work exploring the impact of artificial intelligence (AI) and other emerging technologies on society. This 332-page hardcover book provides a comprehensive analysis of how the rapid advancement of AI, quantum computing, and autonomous systems is reshaping industries, governments, and daily life.

Mustafa Suleyman, CEO of Microsoft AI, offers a firsthand perspective from within the AI revolution. His insights, combined with the expertise of author and publisher Michael Bhaskar, make ‘The Coming Wave’ an essential read for understanding the challenges and opportunities presented by the next technological era.

“Over time, then, the implications of these technologies will push humanity to navigate a path between the poles of catastrophe and dystopia. This is the essential dilemma of our age", Mustafa Suleyman.

‘The Coming Wave’: A defining technological shift

‘The Coming Wave’ examines how artificial intelligence will soon play a dominant role in operating businesses, running government services, and even influencing global security. Suleyman highlights the profound challenges that come with these innovations, including risks to national stability, the rise of surveillance, and the erosion of traditional governance structures.

The book introduces ‘the containment problem’—a central theme that underscores the difficulty of maintaining control over these exponentially powerful technologies. Suleyman argues that governments are unprepared for the scale of change that AI and related technologies will bring, leaving societies at risk of either extreme technological disruption or overbearing regulatory responses.

The challenge of containment: Navigating risks and opportunities

Suleyman and Bhaskar explore potential strategies for navigating this landscape, urging policymakers, businesses, and individuals to engage in thoughtful discussions on how to manage the wave of emerging technologies.

The book presents a dual dilemma:

• On one side, unprecedented technological risks—from AI-driven misinformation to the erosion of nation-states—could destabilise existing structures.
• On the other, overbearing regulation and surveillance could stifle innovation and restrict progress.

Key themes explored in the book

• AI-driven transformation – How artificial intelligence will take on increasingly complex roles in society.
• Technological revolution – The implications of quantum computing, synthetic biology, and autonomous systems.
• The containment challenge – The urgent need to control and regulate powerful technologies before they spiral beyond human control.
• Impact on governance – The potential decline of traditional nation-states as AI-driven systems gain influence.
• Balancing progress and risk – The importance of strategic decision-making to avoid a future of unchecked AI dominance or excessive surveillance.

Mustafa Suleyman: The CEO of Microsoft AI

Mustafa Suleyman has been instrumental in shaping the modern AI landscape. As co-founder of DeepMind (now part of Google), he played a key role in advancing AI research and its practical applications. Currently, as the CEO of Microsoft AI, he continues to influence the development of AI on a global scale.

In ‘The Coming Wave’, Suleyman warns that societies are unprepared for the rapid evolution of AI and emerging technologies. He introduces the ‘containment problem’, highlighting the urgent need for governance frameworks to prevent risks such as surveillance overreach and destabilisation of nation-states.

As a thought leader, Suleyman is at the forefront of discussions on AI regulation, ethical development, and the future of governance, making his insights critical for policymakers, businesses, and technology experts.

Michael Bhaskar

Michael Bhaskar is a writer, researcher, and publisher specialising in technology, digital content, and the future of knowledge. He co-authored ‘The Coming Wave: Technology, Power, and the Twenty-First Century’s Greatest Dilemma’ with Mustafa Suleyman, examining the impact of AI and emerging technologies on global society.

Bhaskar has an extensive background in digital publishing and content strategy. He co-founded Canelo, a digital-first publishing company, and previously served as Digital Publishing Director at Profile Books, focusing on digital transformation and content distribution.