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Joint Force Quarterly

Abstract

Mustafa Suleyman’s The Coming Wave: Technology, Power, and the 21st Century’s Greatest Dilemma explores the transformative and disruptive impacts of artificial intelligence (AI) and synthetic biology (SynBio), highlighting their potential benefits and existential risks. Suleyman, a co-founder of Google DeepMind, examines the "containment problem"—how to manage the unforeseen consequences of these rapidly advancing technologies. He underscores the democratization of power these technologies enable, their global accessibility, and their potential to create profound societal changes. While Suleyman argues that reinforcing nation-states is essential for containment, the book raises questions about whether international cooperation might be a more viable solution. Suleyman presents practical mechanisms for managing risks, including regulation, transparency, and accountability, while discussing the military and geopolitical implications of emerging technologies like China’s advances in AI and quantum communication. The book offers critical insights for policymakers, military leaders, and technologists, emphasizing the urgent need for collaboration and new governance models to navigate this era of disruptive innovation.

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