Parmy Olson’s book, "Supremacy," has been awarded the prestigious Financial Times and Schroders Business Book of the Year Award, recognising its insightful examination of the rivalry between the founders of two leading artificial intelligence companies, OpenAI and Google DeepMind. The award ceremony took place in London on Thursday, where Olson was presented with a £30,000 prize, marking a significant milestone in the 20-year history of the award.
"Supremacy" emerges as the fourth winner in five years to centre on themes related to technology, highlighting the business, economic, social, and geopolitical implications of the rapid expansion of the AI sector. As FT editor Roula Khalaf noted during the event, “much has changed… From globalisation to de-globalisation, from the first digital revolution to the AI age. Our understanding of capitalism and markets has evolved too.” Khalaf chairs the judging panel and praised Olson's work for framing the development of AI as an exhilarating race to master this pivotal technology.
The book delves into the fierce competition between Demis Hassabis, co-founder of DeepMind, and Sam Altman, his counterpart at OpenAI. Khalaf remarked that Olson presents “a thrilling race to master the technology, build a business, and dominate the technological future.” Moreover, the narrative examines the contrasting motivations of the entrepreneurs—their aspirational goal of ensuring that AI will benefit humanity against the intense commercial pressures from their corporate backers, namely Google and Microsoft.
Peter Harrison, a former chief executive at Schroders and one of the judges, described Olson’s book as providing “deep insights into the defining technology of our age that are impossible to find elsewhere.” The recognition given to "Supremacy" adds to a distinguished list of previous award recipients, which includes titles that reflect critical insights into modern challenges, such as Amy Edmondson’s "Right Kind of Wrong" and Chris Miller’s "Chip War."
This year’s shortlist comprised several important works, including John Kay's "The Corporation in the Twenty-First Century," which evaluates the influence of shareholder value on modern corporations, and Michael Morris’s "Tribal," which explores the potential positive aspects of tribalism. Also included are "The Longevity Imperative" by Andrew Scott, which outlines a vision for leveraging longer, healthier lives, and "Unit X" by Raj Shah and Christopher Kirchhoff, highlighting technological advancements in modern warfare. Daniel Susskind’s "Growth" critiques society's fixation on growth amid competing priorities.
The judging panel for the 2024 award featured an array of prominent figures from various sectors, including finance, academia, and technology, ensuring a comprehensive evaluation of the written works. This prestigious award continues to honour significant contributions to literature that illuminate the understanding of contemporary global challenges, particularly as they relate to technological advancements.
Source: Noah Wire Services