The Domestication

The next choice we make is the last chance we have.

Ten thousand years ago, wild cats wandered into a human grain store. Over generations, gorged with a plentiful supply of prey, they traded their raw instincts for a life of dependency as our household pets. Today, domestic cats are more comfortable than ever but they can no longer hunt effectively. Their brains are 16% smaller than their distant ancestors. They are domesticated.

AI is turning the modern world into a cognitive grain store. And we are the cats.

In this groundbreaking and vital book, leading AI researcher and campaigner James F. Ryan charts our relationship with transformative technologies – from writing to AI – and explains why this time it’s different. Large language models like ChatGPT are not just tools, but are remaking our brains and eroding our ability to think.

From the workplace and our relationships to our schools and universities, we face an urgent battle to safeguard human thought. The Domestication sets out the evidence, the imposing challenge we face, and how we respond.