Early on in this intriguing novel inspired by real events and individuals, the Austrian physicist Paul Ehrenfest discusses a “strange new rationality” emerging as the certainties of classical physics crumble. He describes it as a “spectre haunting the soul of science… both logical and utterly irrational… poised to enter our lives through technology, captivating the brightest minds with promises of superhuman power and godlike control”.
Ehrenfest’s words set the tone for Benjamín Labatut’s book, which delves into how these brilliant individuals, mostly men, set out to unleash this spectre with stunning and devastating consequences. Following a brief, captivating account of Ehrenfest’s tragic demise – taking his own life and that of his son in 1933 as the Nazis came to power – we meet John von Neumann. This incredibly intelligent Hungarian mathematician, physicist, and computer scientist played a role in the Manhattan Project, paved the way for modern computing (developing the computer named Maniac), and predicted the potential of artificial intelligence. The narrative then jumps forward to the rise of AI, captivating its developers with its promises while they grapple with its apocalyptic possibilities.
Labatut’s previous book, When We Cease to Understand the World, explored the intellectual struggles of influential scientists and mathematicians of the 20th century. One of these figures, Fritz Haber, was instrumental in creating chlorine gas and artificial fertilizer. Written with exceptional clarity and a penchant for macabre details, Labatut clarified that it was a work of fiction based on real events, with the fictional elements growing as the story unfolded.
The Maniac also presents a blend of fact and fiction. While the details align with historical accounts, Labatut gives himself creative freedom to delve into the inner lives of these real individuals. He delves into Ehrenfest’s feverish mind as he awaits the train that will take him to his tragic final act. Later, we witness the epiphany experienced by Demis Hassabis, the British programmer who is now the head of AI at Google, as he stands in a field in Liechtenstein, with thoughts of chess moves and church bells swirling through his consciousness.
When it comes to von Neumann, introduced as “the smartest human being of the 20th century,” Labatut takes a step back, seemingly overwhelmed by the task of bringing his monstrous intelligence to life. Instead, he gives voice to those who orbited von Neumann – the colleagues he amazed and alienated, the family members he drove to distraction – creating a multi-dimensional portrayal that a single perspective couldn’t capture. We follow von Neumann to the United States, where his coldly logical mindset served state power. It was von Neumann who influenced the US army to detonate the atomic bomb higher above Japanese targets, knowing it would cause even greater devastation.
By examining the minds of these architects of the nuclear age, we gain insight into the current race towards artificial general intelligence. In the competitiveness, arrogance, and insatiable curiosity of von Neumann and his contemporaries, we may find explanations for why today’s AI pioneers are so driven to forge ahead despite the risks. At the same time, we see the appeal of utilizing machine power to solve the world’s problems in Hassabis, even if his initial goal is to defeat human opponents in the game of Go.
Labatut deftly navigates these complex ideas, unraveling them with eloquent, lengthy sentences that propel the reader forward at an exhilarating pace (this being his first book written in English). Even in the more fevered passages, where yet another brilliant mind succumbs to madness, haunted by the spectres they have unleashed upon the world, Labatut maintains complete control over his material.
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