Book

Co-Existence: The Next Phase of AI

2026

Synopsis

We are entering a new era. AI systems can already outperform humans in some domains while failing spectacularly in others. They can act as tutors, collaborators, researchers, strategists, and creators...yet they can also produce falsehoods, generate convincing nonsense, and fail unpredictably. The challenge is no longer simply adopting new technology. It is learning how to think, work, and live in a world where machines are sometimes smarter than us.

In Co-Existence, Ethan Mollick—a Wharton professor and author of the widely read One Useful Thing newsletter—argues that the future of AI will not be defined by replacement, but by interaction.

Drawing on years of research, experimentation, and frontline experience with rapidly evolving AI systems, Mollick shows readers how to:

Work productively with AI while retaining judgment and autonomy;

Distinguish where human insight matters most;

Avoid becoming overly dependent on systems designed to persuade and imitate;

Adapt creatively as AI reshapes education, business, and everyday life; and

Build a durable human advantage in a world of intelligent machines.

Clear-eyed, practical, and written with warmth and humor, Co-Existence is your guide to navigating the next phase of the AI revolution.

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