More Than Parrots, Less Than Gods — Front Cover
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More Than Parrots,
Less Than Gods — AI Book

A 19-chapter manifesto for the human-AI partnership. Written for business leaders who are tired of AI hype and want real answers.

19 Chapters
89K Words
200+ Sources
12+ Years Research

What's Inside

Nineteen chapters organized into six clear parts.

I

Understanding the Machine

Chapters 1-4. What AI actually is, how it developed, why the transformer changed everything, how large language models work, and why these systems can produce brilliant answers and confident nonsense from the same underlying machinery.

II

The Current Landscape

Chapters 5-8. The major players, how ChatGPT, Claude, Gemini, DeepSeek and other systems fit together, why AI agents matter, how the global AI race is unfolding, and why regulation, chips, data, and geopolitical power are becoming inseparable.

III

AI and the Future of Work

Chapters 9-11. Which roles are most exposed, which industries are already being reshaped, why junior work is under pressure, and which human skills become more valuable as AI takes over routine cognitive tasks.

IV

The Dark Side

Chapter 12. How AI is already being used in scams, deepfakes, misinformation, cyberattacks, biased decision-making, and systems where human responsibility is quietly hidden behind "the AI said so."

V

How to Navigate

Chapters 13-16. How businesses should build an AI strategy, why so many AI projects fail, how individuals can use AI tools without becoming dependent on them, how to preserve critical thinking, and what children need to learn to thrive in an AI-shaped world.

VI

The Future

Chapters 17-19. What AGI might mean, why timelines are so contested, which risks actually matter, and how society can think more clearly about the future we are building.

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Hardcover

$29.99
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Signed Paperback
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Signed South African Paperback

$31.99
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  • ✓ Personalized dedication available
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About the Book: A Field Guide to the Human-AI Partnership

"More Than Parrots, Less Than Gods" is a comprehensive field guide to the human-AI partnership written for business leaders, professionals, parents, and policymakers who need clarity in a noisy landscape. At 89,000 words across 19 chapters, it delivers frameworks rather than forecasts, and skepticism rather than hype.

What Makes This AI Book Different

Most artificial intelligence books fall into two traps: breathless boosterism that ignores real limitations, or reflexive rejection that misses genuine opportunities. This book occupies the practical middle — acknowledging AI's transformative potential while insisting on clear-eyed evaluation of its current capabilities and failure modes.

Each chapter combines original research with actionable frameworks. The future of work section does not predict which jobs disappear; it provides a methodology for evaluating augmentation versus replacement in any role. The ethics chapter does not list principles; it gives governance structures that actually get adopted in organizations.

Available Editions and Formats

The book is available in four formats to match your reading preference:

  • Kindle Edition — $12.99, instant delivery, searchable text
  • Paperback — $19.99, 400 pages, matte finish cover
  • Hardcover — $29.99, library-quality binding for reference use
  • Signed South African Edition — $31.99, personally inscribed by the author

The Author: Glen Ansell

Glen Ansell writes at the intersection of technology and human capability. With decades of experience in software development, business strategy, and organizational change, he brings practitioner depth to AI strategy questions that most commentators address only theoretically.

Read free preview chapters: Chapter 1: What AI Actually Is · Chapter 9: The Team Chapter · Chapter 13: Ethics & Governance