Steven Kotler on We Are As Gods: Godlike Power, Stone Age Minds

Steven Kotler’s new book *We Are As Gods* builds on the data‑driven optimism of *Abundance* while confronting the darker externalities of a world flooded with AI, carbon emissions, and technological unemployment. He and Peter Diamandis chart exponential growth in energy, connectivity and clean water, arguing that the metrics overwhelmingly point to a better world. Yet the same surge creates unprecedented risks, making large‑scale cooperation the essential “killer app” for the 21st century. Kotler frames this tension as the central thesis of the work.

At the heart of the problem Kotler calls out “Stone Age cognition trying to keep pace with space‑age technology.” He argues that our neuro‑biological wiring limits decision‑making, stress tolerance and collaborative capacity in an era of instant data streams. The emerging field of performance neuroscience, which he helped found, supplies evidence‑based techniques—flow training, neurofeedback and targeted mental‑fitness protocols—to upgrade our internal operating system. By applying these tools, individuals and organizations can expand attention, reduce anxiety and harness collective intelligence, turning the cognitive gap into a competitive advantage.

Critics question the role of techno‑philanthropists, labeling figures like Elon Musk and Jeff Bezos as modern robber barons. Kotler acknowledges the mixed legacy but points to concrete outcomes: 200 million people lifted out of extreme poverty, a billion new electricity connections, and seven‑billion smartphones enabling global dialogue. These metrics illustrate that, despite uneven distribution, capital‑driven innovation continues to shrink fundamental deprivations. The book’s call to upgrade our mental software, paired with coordinated action, offers a pragmatic roadmap for navigating AI disruption, climate challenges, and the next wave of exponential growth.