The New Divide: Power, Control & the Cost of AI By Jibu Elias

AN ESSENTIAL PERSPECTIVE ON THE HUMAN COST OF THE AI REVOLUTION.

Artificial intelligence is being hailed as the next great miracle, but behind the glossy surface of "innovation" lies a more complex reality. The New Divide is a powerful, urgent exploration of how AI is quietly reshaping our economies, our social boundaries, and our very definition of human agency.

Drawing on nearly a decade of experience at the forefront of the AI governance landscape, Jibu Elias peels back the layers of the tech industry’s optimism to reveal the true cost of unchecked development. From mass job displacement and embedded biases to the consolidation of power by tech giants and the heavy environmental toll of these systems, Elias asks the questions we can no longer afford to ignore: Who truly benefits? Who is being left behind? And, most importantly, how do we reclaim our future?

Moving beyond Silicon Valley narratives, this book offers a vital perspective from the Global South. It is a clarion call for ethical governance, regulation, and a human-centric approach to technology. As AI accelerates, The New Divide serves as both a roadmap for understanding our current predicament and a call to action to safeguard our digital and cultural autonomy.

Why this book is a must-read:

• A Necessary Perspective: Provides a critical, grounded view from the Global South on the global AI race.

• Expert Insight: Written by a leading policy advisor and AI governance researcher who helped shape India’s national AI mission.

• Human-Centric Focus: Explores the intersection of technology, ethics, and culture, and the urgent need to protect what makes us human.

• A Call to Action: Demands urgent attention to governance and regulation, making it a crucial read for policymakers, technologists, and concerned citizens alike.

The window for action is closing—reclaim control. Add The New Divide to your collection at Beetle Bookshop today.