Recommended reading: Artificial Intelligence (AI)
The development of artificial intelligence is moving faster than perhaps any other field of study in our time. On this page I have collected books that provide insight into how artificial intelligence works, how the technology affects people, businesses and society, and how it can be used to create value. The books range from practical manuals to strategic perspectives and have been important sources of inspiration in the work on The Invisible Capital .
Introduction
Artificial intelligence is changing the way we work, learn, communicate, and find information. At the same time, its development reminds us of something that has been a common thread throughout my professional journey: Technology creates opportunities, but it is people who create value.
The books on this page have been chosen because they provide different perspectives on artificial intelligence – from the technical principles and the development of language models to how AI affects management, marketing, content development, search engines and digital services. Several of them have also been important sources in the work on the blog series on artificial intelligence and knowledge architecture at Den usynlige Kapitalen .
The goal is not to collect as many books as possible, but to recommend literature that provides lasting insight. The category will therefore develop over time as new knowledge, new experiences, and new books find their way into our universe of knowledge.
Recommended books
Mastering AI: A Survival Guide to Our Superpowered Future
Authors: Jeremy Kahn
Short review
Mastering AI takes the reader behind the scenes of the companies and researchers shaping the modern AI revolution. Jeremy Kahn explains how artificial intelligence is developed, the technological breakthroughs that have made today's language models possible, and how AI is impacting business, politics, and society.
Why we recommend the book
A highly relevant book that combines technology, business, and societal development. Perfect for leaders, decision-makers, and anyone who wants to understand where artificial intelligence is headed.
AI Needs You
Author: Verity Harding
Short review
AI Needs You is about why artificial intelligence is not just a technological issue, but also a question of democracy, ethics and social development. Verity Harding argues that the AI of the future must be developed in collaboration with people, governments and business.
Why we recommend the book
An important book for anyone who wants to understand how artificial intelligence affects society and why responsible development will be crucial in the years to come.
The Worlds I See
Author: Fei-Fei Li
Short review
The Worlds I See is the personal story of Fei-Fei Li, one of the world's most influential AI researchers. The book combines autobiography with the history of the development of modern artificial intelligence, showing how research, technology, and human values are closely intertwined.
Why we recommend the book
An inspiring book that provides a unique insight into the development of artificial intelligence through the eyes of one of the field's most central researchers.
Co-Intelligence: Living and Working with AI
Author: Ethan Mollick
Short review
One of the most recommended introductory books on artificial intelligence. Ethan Mollick explains in an easy-to-understand way how humans and AI can collaborate, what opportunities the technology offers, and why understanding artificial intelligence is becoming an important skill for everyone – not just technologists.
Why we recommend the book
This is one of the best books to start with if you want a practical and understandable introduction to artificial intelligence. It is a perfect fit as the first book in our blog series about AI.
The AI Advantage: How to Put the Artificial Intelligence Revolution to Work
Author: Thomas H. Davenport
Short review
A practical and insightful book that shows how artificial intelligence can be used to create value in businesses. Thomas H. Davenport combines research and concrete examples to explain how AI can improve decisions, streamline work processes, and contribute to innovation.
Why we recommend the book
This book is well suited for managers, employees, and decision-makers who want to understand how artificial intelligence can be used in practice. It bridges the gap between technology and value creation, and therefore fits well with the philosophy behind The Invisible Capital.
Artificial Intelligence: A Guide for Thinking Humans
Author: Melanie Mitchell
Short review
Melanie Mitchell provides a balanced and easy-to-understand introduction to what artificial intelligence is, how the technology works, and what limitations it still has. The book distinguishes between myth and reality and makes complex topics accessible to a wide audience.
Why we recommend the book
This book is perfect for those who want a deeper understanding of artificial intelligence without having to be a programmer or data scientist. It complements the other recommendations by placing today's AI developments in a larger academic and historical perspective - exactly the understanding we want to build through this blog series.
Prediction Machines: The Simple Economics of Artificial Intelligence
Authors: Ajay Agrawal, Joshua Gans and Avi Goldfarb
Short review
This book shows how artificial intelligence is primarily about making better predictions. The authors explain how cheaper and more accurate predictions can change decisions, business models, and the way organizations create value.
Why we recommend the book
One of the most important books for understanding the economic significance of artificial intelligence. It helps the reader see why AI impacts far more than technology – it changes how people and businesses make decisions.
Competing in the Age of AI
Authors: Marco Iansiti and Karim R. Lakhani
Short review
The book explains how artificial intelligence is changing competition, organizations, and business models. Through practical examples, the authors show how data, digital platforms, and AI are creating new opportunities for businesses.
Why we recommend the book
This book is especially suitable for leaders and decision-makers who want to understand how AI will impact the businesses of the future. It shows that artificial intelligence is as much about strategy and organization as it is about technology.
The Alignment Problem: Machine Learning and Human Values
Author: Brian Christian
Short review
Brian Christian explores how artificial intelligence can be developed in line with human values. Combining technology, philosophy, and ethics, the book provides an engaging introduction to one of the most important questions in modern AI research.
Why we recommend the book
A thought-provoking book for anyone who wants to understand why responsible development of artificial intelligence is so important. It shows that the AI of the future is not just about what the technology can do, but also about what values it should be built on.
Generative Engine Optimization: The Definitive Guide to AI Visibility
Author: Dixon Jones
Short review
This book provides a practical introduction to optimizing websites for generative search engines and artificial intelligence. It explains how ChatGPT, Gemini, Claude, and other AI-based services find, understand, and use content—and what businesses can do to become more visible in the new search landscape.
Why we recommend the book
One of the first books to systematize artificial intelligence search. Perfect for anyone who wants to understand how traditional SEO is evolving into AI Search Optimization and Generative Engine Optimization.
GEO: Generative Engine Optimization – How to Rank in ChatGPT, Perplexity & AI
Author: Chris Carr
Short review
A practical guide that shows how businesses can adapt content and websites to be recommended by generative search engines. The book focuses on how visibility is changing as more and more users get answers directly from artificial intelligence.
Why we recommend the book
This book is well suited for marketers, content producers, and businesses who want to understand how they can work purposefully with visibility in ChatGPT, Perplexity, and other AI-based search services.
Optimizing for AI Search: Mastering AIO & GEO
Author: Amit Kothiyal
Short review
The book shows how traditional search engine optimization is evolving towards AI Search Optimization (AIO) and Generative Engine Optimization (GEO). Through practical advice, the author explains how structure, content, and semantics can make websites more relevant to the search engines and language models of the future.
Why we recommend the book
An exciting book for anyone who wants to stay ahead of the curve. It bridges the gap between classic SEO and the new reality where artificial intelligence is becoming an increasingly important source of information and recommendations.
AI Engineering
Author: Chip Huyen
Short review
AI Engineering is one of the most relevant books on how artificial intelligence is developed and put into practice. Chip Huyen explains how language models, data, machine learning, and modern work processes can be combined to build robust AI solutions. The book provides both a strategic and practical perspective on how businesses can create value with artificial intelligence.
Why we recommend the book
This is a book for those who want to move from understanding artificial intelligence to understanding how it is actually developed, implemented, and creates value. One of the strongest books we have found on the practical use of artificial intelligence.
Building AI Powered Products
Author: Marily Nika
Short review
Building AI Powered Products shows how artificial intelligence can be used to develop smarter products, services, and digital customer experiences. Marily Nika combines technology, product development, and innovation in an easy-to-read book full of practical, real-world examples.
Why we recommend the book
A book that is perfect for anyone working with digitalization, innovation, product development and user experiences. It shows how artificial intelligence can be used to create products people actually want to use.
Prompt Engineering for Generative AI
Writers: James Phoenix and Mike Taylor
Short review
Prompt Engineering for Generative AI is a practical guide that teaches you how to communicate better with language models like ChatGPT, Claude, Gemini, and other generative AI tools. Through concrete examples, the authors show how good prompts produce more precise, creative, and useful responses.
Why we recommend the book
One of the most practical books on prompt engineering. Perfect for anyone who wants to work more effectively with artificial intelligence and get significantly better results through smarter questions and clearer instructions.
Human Compatible: Artificial Intelligence and the Problem of Control
Author: Stuart Russell
Short review
Human Compatible is considered one of the most important books on artificial intelligence and the future of humanity. Stuart Russell explains in an easy-to-understand way why the development of artificial intelligence must be based on human values, ethics and responsibility. The book combines research, philosophy and practical examples, and gives the reader a deeper understanding of both the opportunities and challenges that artificial intelligence represents.
Why we recommend the book
This is a book that anyone who wants to understand artificial intelligence should read. Stuart Russell is one of the world's leading researchers in artificial intelligence, and the book provides a unique insight into how humans and artificial intelligence can develop together in a safe and responsible way.
You Look Like a Thing and I Love You
Author: Janelle Shane
Short review
With humor, warmth, and a host of entertaining examples, Janelle Shane explains how artificial intelligence actually works. The book shows why language models and other AI systems sometimes make surprising mistakes, and how these mistakes help us understand both the strengths and limitations of the technology.
Why we recommend the book
One of the most easy-to-read and entertaining introductions to artificial intelligence. Perfect for those who want to understand how AI works without having to read heavy technical books. A book that makes complicated topics easy to understand.
A Brief History of Intelligence
Authors:Max Bennett
Short review
This fascinating book takes the reader on a journey through the history of intelligence – from the first simple organisms to today’s advanced language models and artificial intelligence. Max Bennett combines insights from biology, neuroscience, psychology and artificial intelligence and shows how understanding the human brain can help us develop better and more responsible AI systems.
Why we recommend the book
A unique book that places artificial intelligence into a larger historical and scientific perspective. Perfect for readers who want to understand what intelligence really is, and why the development of artificial intelligence is a natural part of human technological history.
Build a Large Language Model (From Scratch)
Author: Sebastian Raschka
Short review
This book takes the reader behind the scenes and shows how a modern language model is actually built – step by step. Sebastian Raschka explains advanced concepts in an educational way and provides a unique understanding of how large language models like ChatGPT work. Although the book contains code examples, it is also very valuable for anyone who wants a deeper understanding of the technology behind artificial intelligence.
Why we recommend the book
One of the most talked about books on large language models. Perfect for those who want to understand how artificial intelligence works beneath the surface and why language models have become a revolution in digitalization and knowledge sharing.
Quick Start Guide to Large Language Models
Author: Janelle Shane
Short review
This book provides a practical and easy-to-understand introduction to large language models (LLMs). Sinan Ozdemir explains how language models are used in modern businesses, how they can be integrated into work processes, and why they have become one of the most important technologies in artificial intelligence.
Why we recommend the book
A very good book for anyone who wants a quick and practical introduction to language models. It is suitable for both beginners and professionals who want to understand how LLMs are used in practice.
Artificial Intelligence: A Modern Approach: The Future Is Coming! Discover How Artificial Intelligence Will Change Your Life!
Authors: Stuart Russell & Peter Norvig
Short review
This is the world's most famous textbook on artificial intelligence and is used in universities worldwide. The book covers the entire subject area – from problem solving and machine learning to language understanding, robotics and ethics – and is considered a classic in the AI field.
Why we recommend the book
If you are only going to own one academic book on artificial intelligence, this is one of the very best choices. A timeless classic that provides a solid academic understanding of artificial intelligence and is still used as a syllabus at leading universities around the world.
The Coming Wave
Author: Mustafa Suleyman
Short review
The Coming Wave explores how artificial intelligence and other breakthrough technologies will transform work, business, and society in the coming decades. Mustafa Suleyman, one of the founders of DeepMind, combines his own experiences from AI development with analyses of the technology's opportunities, risks, and significance for the future.
Why we recommend the book
One of the most important books on the future of artificial intelligence, the book provides a unique insight into how AI will impact people, businesses and society – and why responsible technology development is becoming increasingly important.
Rebooting AI
Authors: Gary Marcus and Ernest Davis
Short review
Rebooting AI challenges many of the myths surrounding artificial intelligence. The authors explain what today's AI can actually do, where its limitations lie, and why human judgment is still crucial. The book bridges the gap between research, technology, and practical application.
Why we recommend the book
A thought-provoking book that provides a balanced perspective on artificial intelligence. Perfect for those who want to understand both the strengths and weaknesses of today's language models and AI systems.
Atlas of AI
Author: Kate Crawford
Short review
Atlas of AI shows that artificial intelligence is about much more than algorithms and technology. Kate Crawford explores how data, energy, people, politics, and economics are connected to the development of artificial intelligence. The book places AI in a broader societal perspective.
Why we recommend the book
An essential book for anyone who wants to understand how artificial intelligence is impacting society. It shows that AI is not just about technology – it is also about people, resources, power, knowledge and value creation.
AI Snake Oil
Writers: Arvind Narayanan & Sayash Kapoor
Short review
Artificial intelligence is surrounded by both high expectations and many misunderstandings. In AI Snake Oil, the authors distinguish between what today's AI can actually do and what is still exaggerated or unrealistic. The book provides a fact-based and easily accessible review of the technology's strengths, limitations, and practical applications.
Why we recommend the book
An essential book for anyone who wants a realistic view of artificial intelligence. It is especially suitable for leaders, decision-makers, and anyone who wants to separate fact from hype.
Generative AI For Dummies
Author: Pam Baker
Short review
Generative AI For Dummies provides an easy-to-understand introduction to generative artificial intelligence. The book explains key concepts, shows practical examples, and gives the reader a safe start on how the technology can be used in work, education, and everyday life.
Why we recommend the book
A very good introductory book for anyone who is curious about generative AI, but who does not necessarily have a technical background.
Co-Intelligence: Living and Working with AI (Expanded Edition)
Author: Ethan Mollick
Short review
In this expanded edition, Ethan Mollick builds on how artificial intelligence can function as a collaborative partner in the workplace. With new examples and updated reflections, he shows how humans and AI can create more value together.
Why we recommend the book
One of the most practical and inspiring books on how artificial intelligence can be used in everyday life and in businesses. Suitable for managers, employees and students alike.
A little ending
Knowledge is constantly evolving, and so is this site. As new books are read, new research is published, and new perspectives emerge, the collection will be updated. The goal is to build a living scholarly library that can inspire both today's and tomorrow's readers.
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