Superintelligence: Paths, Dangers, Strategies

Superintelligence: Paths, Dangers, Strategies by Oxford philosopher Nick Bostrom, published in 2014, is the foundational text on the Long-Term Risks of Advanced AI. Bostrom systematically analyzes the pathways through which artificial intelligence might surpass human capability, the strategic dynamics of such a transition, and the alignment problem — ensuring that powerful systems pursue goals genuinely compatible with human values.

For senior leaders, Bostrom's analysis is not science fiction but rigorous Strategic Risk Management. The frameworks he introduces — instrumental convergence, the orthogonality thesis, the treacherous turn — have become standard vocabulary in AI safety, policy circles, and the boards of leading AI companies. Executives building AI capability into their organizations need to understand these concepts to make defensible long-horizon decisions and to engage credibly with regulators and stakeholders.