Since the launch of ChatGPT in 2022, artificial intelligence has been celebrated as a symbol of boundless innovation. But as investigative journalist Karen Hao reveals in her new book, “Empire of AI: Dreams and Nightmares in Sam Altman’s OpenAI,” the real story is far more complex—and deeply human.
Karen Hao’s journey with OpenAI began in 2018, when she joined MIT Technology Review as an AI reporter. At the time, OpenAI was a nonprofit research lab, but soon after, it began a dramatic transformation. The company restructured, bringing in Sam Altman and shifting toward a for-profit model. Hao was the first journalist to profile OpenAI from the inside, and what she found was a company whose public promises often clashed with its internal culture. While OpenAI claimed to champion transparency and collaboration, Hao observed a secretive, highly competitive environment—one that mirrored the very Silicon Valley ethos it claimed to transcend.
As ChatGPT burst onto the scene, many saw it as a sudden leap forward. But Hao’s reporting shows that this technology—and the narratives around it—were shaped by deliberate choices within OpenAI. The company’s vision of “benefiting all of humanity” was, in practice, open to wide interpretation, even among its own staff. Hao’s book provides the missing context: the decisions, ideologies, and power dynamics that shaped not just ChatGPT, but the global AI landscape.
One of the most compelling aspects of “Empire of AI” is its global perspective. Hao traveled far beyond Silicon Valley, reporting from Kenya, Chile, Uruguay, South Africa, and Colombia. In Kenya, she met data laborers contracted by OpenAI to label and moderate vast amounts of toxic online content—a job that left many workers traumatized. These stories, often overlooked in mainstream tech coverage, reveal the hidden human cost of AI development. Hao draws a powerful analogy to historical empires, arguing that today’s AI giants claim resources, exploit labor, and monopolize knowledge in ways reminiscent of colonial powers.
Hao’s reporting also explores the myth-making that surrounds AI. She found that both utopian and dystopian visions of AI are not just marketing rhetoric—they are deeply believed by many in the field, shaping the way technology is built and discussed. This mythology, she argues, can obscure the real, tangible impacts of AI on people’s lives.
But “Empire of AI” is not just a critique—it’s a call to action. Hao believes that individuals and communities have the power to influence the trajectory of AI. By staying informed, advocating for ethical practices, and participating in public discussions, everyone can play a role in shaping how AI is developed and used. Real-world examples abound: artists and writers suing for control over their data, activists pushing back against data center expansion, and educators debating how AI should be integrated into schools.
Key Takeaways:
- OpenAI’s evolution reflects broader tensions between innovation, ethics, and power in the tech industry.
- The global impact of AI includes both technological advances and significant human costs, especially for data laborers.
- The narratives around AI are shaped by both deliberate strategy and genuine belief, influencing public perception and policy.
- Individuals and communities can—and should—take an active role in shaping the future of AI.
- Staying informed and advocating for transparency, fair labor, and ethical AI are actionable steps everyone can take.
In the end, “Empire of AI” reminds us that the story of artificial intelligence is not just about algorithms and breakthroughs—it’s about people, power, and the choices we make together.