The AGI Chronicles: The Inside Story of the Race to Create an Artificial Superintelligence

Artificial general intelligence could reshape how people work, communicate, conduct research, and understand the world. But who is building it, what motivates them, and what might happen if machines become capable of outperforming humans across a wide range of tasks? In The AGI Chronicles: The Inside Story of the Race to Create an Artificial Superintelligence, journalist Kevin Roose investigates the competition to develop one of the most consequential technologies of the modern era. Drawing on more than 150 interviews with people connected to OpenAI, Anthropic, and Google DeepMind, alongside company documents and research memos, Roose reconstructs the events and decisions that helped accelerate the development of advanced AI. The narrative explores the researchers working to improve language models, the business competition between leading technology companies, and the public officials confronting questions about oversight and regulation. The book also examines the disagreements and leadership conflicts that have shaped the industry, including tensions surrounding AI safety, commercial ambition, and the speed of technological progress. Rather than treating artificial intelligence as a purely technical subject, it brings attention to the human motivations, institutional rivalries, and competing visions influencing its development. Readers can expect an investigative account of AI's recent history, an introduction to the people driving the field, and a closer look at the arguments over potential benefits and risks. The book provides context for understanding why AGI has become a major issue for technology companies, policymakers, researchers, and the wider public. This title is suited to readers interested in artificial intelligence, technology journalism, Silicon Valley, science and society, and the future of computing. It may also appeal to business leaders, students, and curious readers seeking a reported, accessible account of the race toward increasingly capable AI systems.