Empire of AI by Karen Hao – The Rise, Fall, and Future of OpenAI’s Power Play
Introduction: What Is “Empire of AI” Really About?
In a time when artificial intelligence is reshaping every part of our lives, Empire of AI by Karen Hao hits like a thunderbolt. This groundbreaking book isn’t just a biography of OpenAI or Sam Altman—it’s a bold investigation into the dark side of AI ambition, the myth of Artificial General Intelligence (AGI), and the human cost of technological progress.
If you've ever asked: Is OpenAI truly building AI for the benefit of humanity? This book—and this review—will answer that for you.
About the Book and Author
- Title: Empire of AI: Dreams and Nightmares in Sam Altman’s OpenAI
- Author: Karen Hao
- Publisher: Penguin Press
- Published: May 2025
- Length: 496 pages
Karen Hao is a former AI reporter for MIT Tech Review and The Wall Street Journal, known for her deep reporting on AI ethics and global tech labor. Her work is respected globally for uncovering truths hidden behind AI labs' shiny PR machines.
Summary of Empire of AI – No Stone Left Unturned
This book is split into four parts, each revealing a new layer of how OpenAI became a global power player—and what it cost.
Part I: The Divine Right to Scale
OpenAI begins with an idealistic mission—creating AGI that benefits all humanity. But this chapter uncovers how religious belief in AGI’s inevitability started to distort that mission. The “non-profit” model was a myth from the start, as OpenAI quietly transitioned to a for-profit powerhouse.
Part II: Disaster Capitalism Disguised as Progress
With Microsoft’s billion-dollar deal and GPT-3's release, OpenAI soared—but at what cost? The exploitation of low-wage labor in Kenya, water-guzzling data centers, and global data scraping show how AI colonialism mirrors older forms of imperialism.
Part III: The Coup – Sam Altman’s Firing and Reinstatement
In a jaw-dropping internal power struggle, Sam Altman is fired by OpenAI’s board… only to be reinstated days later after employee threats and corporate pressure. Hao details how this moment exposed the illusion of accountability in OpenAI’s governance.
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Part IV: The Formula for Empire
Karen Hao ends by showing how OpenAI is not just building AGI—it’s creating a new techno-empire, powered by secrecy, labor extraction, and unshakable belief in its mission. It’s not a conspiracy. It’s a pattern.
Key Takeaways and Arguments
✅ OpenAI began with a utopian vision but slid into profit-first behavior.
✅ Sam Altman’s leadership style combines prophet-like charisma with corporate ruthlessness.
✅ The so-called “open” part of OpenAI is a strategic illusion.
✅ Karen Hao reveals AI’s global labor and resource inequalities.
✅ AGI is not inevitable—it’s a choice being made by a few, for a few.
Strengths and Weaknesses of the Book
Strengths:
- Deep investigative journalism across continents
- Balanced tone—neither alarmist nor sycophantic
- Personal stories from AI laborers, not just CEOs
- Clear, compelling narrative structure
Weaknesses:
- Slight repetition in the ideological critiques
- Requires some prior interest in AI to fully appreciate nuance
Why This Book Matters Now
In 2025, we are at a crossroads. Generative AI is entering schools, hospitals, governments. Who decides how it’s built and for whom?
Empire of AI makes the case that AI is not just technology—it’s ideology, politics, and empire. And if we don’t question it now, we may lose the ability to later.
Final Verdict
If you only read one book about AI this year, let it be Empire of AI. It’s not just a review of what OpenAI has done—it’s a warning of what unchecked power can do. Whether you're an AI enthusiast, policymaker, or concerned citizen, this book gives you the knowledge and urgency to act.