The Coming Wave

A short summary on the book

In The Coming Wave, Mustafa Suleyman argues that the next decade will be defined by two transformative forces: artificial intelligence and synthetic biology. These technologies promise breakthroughs in healthcare, productivity, and global problem-solving, but they also carry profound risks—ranging from mass unemployment and social disruption to bioengineered threats and the loss of human oversight. As powerful tools become cheaper and more widely available, individuals and small groups will gain unprecedented influence, challenging governments and institutions that are often too slow to respond. Suleyman frames this moment as a historic dilemma: society must urgently establish guardrails to harness innovation while preventing catastrophe. The coming wave is inevitable, but whether it uplifts humanity or destabilizes it depends on choices made now.