Polity Rescuing the Future: Reimagining Artificial Intelligence in a World on the Edge

Explore the critical juncture humanity faces regarding Artificial Intelligence and its potential to either lead to extinction or restoration. This reference book delves into the historical shift from an adaptive, process-oriented view of the world to one of inert substances, and how our current trajectory, accelerated by the Industrial Age, has brought us to the brink of ecological collapse.

The core of the discussion revolves around the existential choice presented by AI: will it be used by powerful tech giants to further exploit a depleted planet, leading to a 'singularity' and an AI-framed substance ontology? Or can a distributed AI infrastructure, stewarded by bioregional commons governance and fostering collaborative intelligence, guide us towards a 'People's AI' rooted in process ontology and a biophilic realignment with nature?

This book is essential for understanding the profound implications of our choices in shaping the future of life on Earth through the development and application of Artificial Intelligence.

Key Sections:

• The historical shift from process ontology to substance ontology.
• The current environmental crisis and its link to resource extraction.
• Two contrasting visions for the future of AI: geopolitical control vs. distributed, commons-based governance.
• The concept of 'People's AI' and its potential for ecological restoration.
• The critical choice between AI substance ontology and AI process ontology for planetary survival.

Specifications:

• Author: Jeremy Rifkin
• Publisher: Polity
• Publication Date: September 4, 2026
• Edition: 1st
• Language: English
• Print Length: 240 pages
• Binding: Hardcover
• Dimensions: 15.75 x 2.54 x 23.11 cm
• Weight: 476 g
• ISBN-10: 150956442X
• ISBN-13: 978-1509564422

This reference work provides a deep dive into the philosophical and practical considerations of Artificial Intelligence, offering a critical perspective on its role in shaping our planet's future.