June, 2026 Book of the Month

Empire of AI

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Empire of AI by Karen Hao exposes how OpenAI’s idealistic mission evolved into a powerful tech empire, revealing the hidden human, ethical, and global costs behind the race for artificial intelligence.

Empire of AI: Dreams and Nightmares in Sam Altman’s OpenAI by Karen Hao is an incisive investigative account that traces the rise of OpenAI from idealistic nonprofit to powerful tech empire, critically examining how the pursuit of artificial general intelligence has reshaped Silicon Valley’s culture and extracted real-world costs in labor, resources, and global influence.

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Meet the author

Karen Hao

Karen Hao is an acclaimed journalist and bestselling author who specializes in covering artificial intelligence, technology ethics, and the societal implications of emerging tech. Her debut book, Empire of AI, draws on years of reporting and became an instant New York Times bestseller. She has held key roles at prestigious outlets including The Wall Street Journal, MIT Technology Review, and The Atlantic, and co-created the Pulitzer Center’s AI Spotlight Series to train journalists around the world. Hao’s work has influenced academic curricula, been cited by governments, and earned multiple awards, including a National Magazine Award and recognition on TIME’s AI100 list. She holds a B.S. in mechanical engineering from MIT and began her career as an engineer before moving into journalism.

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