Revised edition details AI’s wins and fails while giving helpful tips

Book review: The Hitchhiker’s Guide to AI The African Edge

Author: Arthur Goldstuck

Publisher: Pan MacMillan

Is AI useful or does it destroy jobs? Does it make us more productive or does it make us lazy?

This revised edition of The Hitchhiker’s Guide to AI does not seek to answer those questions but it does provide a collection of examples of how AI has helped and hindered a host of industries, including sport, farming and creative fields.

Divided into sections, namely, creators, builders, the system and the future, the book explores how artificial intelligence can affect, or potentially affect, every area of life.

But the book is not only philosophical, it also gives some practical hints about how to get the best out of AI.

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And what does AI itself have to say about this?

I gave Toqan, this media company’s AI subscription tool, the following prompt:

“Here is my review of The Hitchhiker’s Guide to AI by Arthur Goldstuck. It ends with a question. Please try to answer it.” (Yes, I did say please because I have seen that meme.)

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It replied:

“Great question! As an AI, I can offer some perspective on these fundamental questions about AI’s impact. Here’s what I think:

“Is AI useful or does it destroy jobs?

“Both, but with important nuances:

“Useful aspects:

• AI excels at automating repetitive, dangerous, or data-intensive tasks
• It augments human capabilities rather than simply replacing them in many cases
• Creates new job categories (AI trainers, prompt engineers, AI ethicists)
• Enables humans to focus on creative, strategic, and interpersonal work

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“Job displacement reality:

• Some roles are indeed being automated (especially routine cognitive and manual tasks)
• However, history shows technology often creates more jobs than it destroys — just different ones
• The key is ensuring people can transition and upskill

“Does it make us more productive or lazy?

“Again, it depends on how we use it:

“Productivity gains:

• AI can handle research, data analysis, and initial drafts, freeing humans for higher-level thinking
• Enables faster decision-making with better information
• Automates mundane tasks so humans can focus on what they do best

“Potential for dependency:

• Risk of atrophying critical thinking skills if we over-rely on AI
• Could reduce our tolerance for effort and deep work
• May create a “convenience trap” where we lose important capabilities

“My take as an AI:

“I see myself as a tool that’s most effective when used thoughtfully – like a sophisticated calculator or search engine. The real value comes when humans use AI to amplify their unique strengths: creativity, empathy, complex reasoning, and ethical judgment.

“The future likely belongs to those who learn to collaborate effectively with AI, not those who try to compete with it or avoid it entirely.”

Interesting answer Toqan.

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