The books selected for next year’s Silicon Valley Reads explore the ramifications of artificial intelligence, from a nonfiction work about AI’s potential impact on society to fictional stories about how it can be used for both exploitation and connection.
The countywide community engagement program features books on the theme “Empowering Humanity: Technology for a Better World.” Silicon Valley Reads kicks off on Jan. 30, 2025, with a free in-person and live-streamed event at De Anza College in Cupertino. Sal Pizarro of the Mercury News will moderate a discussion with the authors of the three featured books.
Recently dubbed “The Godmother of AI” by Wired Magazine, Dr. Fei-Fei Li shares her personal journey and insights into the development and potential of the technology in “The Worlds I See: Curiosity, Exploration, and Discovery at the Dawn of AI.”
“The Mountain in the Sea,” a sci-fi novel by former Santa Clara University professor Ray Nayler, follows a marine biologist who is studying a highly intelligent octopus species, sparking a global race to understand and potentially exploit the species.
“Loneliness and Company” by Charlee Dyroff is set in a near-future New York, where isolation has seemingly been eradicated. The novel follows a woman tasked with training an AI companion.
In addition to the curated book list, Silicon Valley Reads will host a series of events throughout February and March, where participants can hear from leading figures in the AI movement, examine how technology is shaping our daily lives, discuss the ethical implications of AI and other emerging technologies and learn about innovative ways to use technology to address societal challenges.
Silicon Valley Reads is presented annually by the Santa Clara County Library District, Santa Clara County Office of Education and San José Public Library. The complete schedule of events will be available at siliconvalleyreads.org in the new year.