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SHORTLISTED FOR THE WOMEN’S PRIZE FOR NON-FICTION 2024

What does it mean to be human in a world that is rapidly changing with the development of artificial intelligence?

‘Highly readable and deeply important’ – The Guardian

‘Code Dependent is the No Logo of the 2020s’ – The Times

Through the voices of ordinary people in places far removed from Silicon Valley, Code Dependent explores the impact of a set of powerful, flawed, and often exploitative technologies on individuals, communities, and our wider society. Madhumita Murgia, AI Editor at the FT, exposes how AI can strip away our collective and individual sense of agency – and shatter our illusion of free will.

AI is already changing what it means to be human, in ways large and small. In this compelling work, Murgia reveals what could happen if we fail to reclaim our humanity.

‘The intimate investigation of AI that we’ve been waiting for, and it arrives not a moment too soon.’ – Shoshana Zuboff, author of The Age of Surveillance Capitalism

‘A nuanced, thoughtful and very accessible picture of a world deeply affected by AI’ – Martha Lane Fox

Publisher Review

Code Dependent is the intimate investigation of AI that we've been waiting for, and it arrives not a moment too soon. -- Shoshana Zuboff, author of The Age of Surveillance Capitalism Brilliant story telling. Books about AI often put the tech centre stage but Murgia makes you, the human, the hero and sadly often the victim in this fascinating collection of stories about the impact of code on our future. -- Marcus du Sautoy, author of The Creativity Code With its compelling narrative, Code Dependent is a testament to the power of storytelling in unraveling the complexities of AI. Murgia's profound insights and meticulous research offer a rare and invaluable perspective on the intersection of technology and society. -- Azeem Azhar, founder of Exponential View Murgia explores what the rise of AI means for us as a society by looking at the impact it has on nine ordinary people around the world. -- BBC Culture, '2024's Most Anticipated Books'