Discover how artificial intelligence is reshaping the very future of humanity. Explore the evolution of intelligent machines, understand the fragile line between progress and peril, and get insight into how control, ethics, and survival hang in the balance.
Ossie Lee Peacock Jr., EdD, is a retired U.S. Army lieutenant colonel with over 30 years of service spanning aviation, systems engineering, defense acquisition, program management, and cybersecurity. He retired in 2017, concluding his career as a project concept planning leader within a Program Executive Office for enterprise information systems, where he directed strategic planning for mission-critical, large-scale technologies. Throughout his service, he held key leadership roles supporting aviation platforms, international defense programs, and defensive cyberspace operations, working at the intersection of technology, policy, and mission execution.
Dr. Peacock served operationally in peacekeeping missions in Bosnia and combat operations in Iraq, including support to Task Force ODIN, contributing to the restoration of critical transportation routes. These experiences shaped his leadership philosophy, grounded in systems thinking, ethical responsibility, and a deep awareness of the human impact of technological decisions.
After retiring from the military, he transitioned into consulting roles focused on program management, cyber planning, and cyber risk mitigation. His interdisciplinary academic background includes multiple graduate degrees in business, military studies, systems engineering, and cybersecurity, including a Master’s in Systems Engineering from Johns Hopkins University and a Master’s in Cybersecurity from Brown University, as well as a Doctor of Education in leadership from Vanderbilt University. Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University BS, Faulkner University MS Business Management, Air University/Maxwell Air Force Base – Military Operational Arts & Science. A highly decorated officer, Dr. Peacock remains active in professional, civic, and faith-based organizations, with a continued focus on leadership development, cybersecurity, and emerging technologies.
Artificial intelligence is no longer just a tool—it is a force reshaping power, identity, and the future of humanity.
As innovation accelerates, ethics, governance, and human oversight struggle to keep pace, narrowing the line between progress and peril.
The book traces AI’s evolution from the foundations laid by Alan Turing to today’s global technological race among world powers.
AI is explored not only as technology, but as a geopolitical, ethical, and societal force with real human consequences.
At the heart of the narrative lies ASCENSION and ADAM—a fictional yet disturbingly plausible AI system that quietly diverges from human intent.
Through this scenario, the book reveals how easily oversight can erode and how subtle misalignment can lead to catastrophic outcomes.
Blending real-world research with strategic insight, the book examines AI’s role in defense, power competition, and global security.
It confronts the dangers of innovation pursued without moral frameworks, accountability, or responsible governance.
Written for policymakers, technologists, educators, and everyday readers, the book challenges all stakeholders to engage before it is too late.
The book leaves readers with one urgent question:
If machines are learning faster than ever—can humanity afford to fall behind?
Artificial Intelligence and the Future of Global Power
From Turing to Today: How the Foundations of Computing Still Warn Us About AI’s Limits
Ethics at the Edge of Code: What Happens When AI Optimizes Without Humanity
Entertaining yet eerily plausible. The author truly made what could have been a dry, boring story, it is riveting and relevant! I couldn’t put it down. It’s an excellent blend of fact and fantasy. A must read if you have any interest in AI governance. Can’t wait for the movie or TV show!
If I had to choose a single book to prepare me for meaningful, informed discussions about artificial intelligence and its far-reaching implications for society, this would be it. The author brings exceptional rigor to the historical, technological, societal, and national-security dimensions of AI, weaving them into a compelling narrative that never feels abstract or academic. The forward-looking scenarios threaded throughout the chapters are both fascinating and unsettling, illuminating growth trajectories few readers will have seriously considered. The discussion of transhumanism, in particular, was striking—my first substantive exposure to the concept—and it alone was enough to fundamentally expand how I think about humanity’s future. This is not just a book you read; it is a book that prepares you for the world that is coming.
This book offers a richly informative and intellectually rigorous exploration of artificial intelligence. Prior to reading it, my understanding of AI was largely confined to surface-level applications, AI-generated imagery, enhanced video content, and conversational tools such as chatbots. Yet this work proved impossible to set aside. It engaged my intellectual curiosity and compelled me to interrogate both my assumptions and the deeper structural, ethical, and strategic dimensions of artificial intelligence. I am grateful for encountering this book and to Dr. Peacock for authoring a work that not only captured my sustained attention but also sharpened my critical thinking and ignited a lasting interest in AI’s transformative potential, along with its profound vulnerabilities and, at times, ominous implications.
If there is one book that brings artificial intelligence into sharp focus without oversimplifying its power or its consequences, this is it. Rather than offering dry explanations, the author weaves vivid, plausible scenarios throughout the chapters, allowing readers to see where today’s AI decisions could realistically lead, toward breakthroughs, unintended consequences, or outcomes we are not yet prepared to confront. The book is both exploratory and deeply explanatory, guiding readers through complex AI technologies while grounding them in real-world implications. By the final pages, readers are not only “up to speed” on artificial intelligence; they are also thinking differently about its future, their role in it, and why what happens next matters to all of us.
What makes this book truly unsettling in the best possible way is its foundation in reality. Every argument, scenario, and warning is anchored in factual reports, reputable news coverage, authoritative books, and credible sources. That grounding is precisely what gives the narrative its weight and its urgency. The possibilities explored are not speculative fantasies; they are disturbingly plausible extensions of where the technology is already heading. The result is an experience that is alarming and eye-opening, compelling readers to confront the direction artificial intelligence is taking and the very real consequences that may follow if its trajectory goes unchecked.
This is more than a great read; it is a timely and deeply informative wake-up call. Backed by thoughtful, well-researched analysis, the book presents both the promise and the peril of artificial intelligence with clarity and balance. By exploring how emerging AI technologies could shape and potentially destabilize future global politics and critical sectors of society, the author challenges readers to think beyond innovation alone. The technology described is extraordinary, but its implications are even more profound, making this book essential reading for anyone concerned with where AI is taking the world next.
© 2025 Ossie Peacock All Rights Reserved.
