The Next Renaissance: AI and the Expansion of Human Potential

by Zack Kass

Overview

“A refreshing, well-crafted treatise on the many possible good things that thinking machines can bring.” – Kirkus Reviews

An eye-opening discussion on the transformative impact of AI and how to prepare for a new future.

In The Next Renaissance: AI and the Expansion of Human Potential, acclaimed AI advisor Zack Kass presents an optimistic and compelling vision of how artificial intelligence will shape our lives. Drawing on historical context, cutting-edge advancements, and firsthand experience, Kass lays out how AI will become a collaborative partner in building a better, more creative, and more compassionate world.

Just as the original Renaissance revolutionized art, science, and society, today’s AI-driven Renaissance will redefine how we create, innovate, and flourish. Kass leverages his deep industry expertise to explain how this transformative technology will solve previously unimaginable challenges, presenting entirely new possibilities.

Inside the book, you'll discover:

• Practical strategies to navigate AI’s integration into everyday life.
• Clear guidance on future-proofing your career by emphasizing uniquely-human skill.
• Insights into how AI opens up entirely new domains of knowledge by solving ambiguous problems.
• How to overcome the psychological and societal barriers to AI adoption.
• Concrete examples of AI amplifying human potential by saving time and resources, and sparking creativity.

A must-read for anyone interested in the most powerful technological advancement since the steam engine. The Next Renaissance is here.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781394381098
Publisher:	Wiley
Publication date:	01/12/2026
Sold by:	JOHN WILEY & SONS
Format:	eBook
Pages:	256
File size:	1 MB

About the Author

ZACK KASS is one of the world’s most sought-after voices on artificial intelligence, having spent his entire career at the frontier of the field. He is known for combining deep technical insight with a rare ability to see what others miss—connecting the science of AI to its profound social, economic, and human implications.

As one of OpenAI’s first 100 employees and its Head of Go-To-Market, Kass helped transform the company from a research lab into a global force, guiding organizations through the dawn of generative AI.

Over the past five years, he has sat in more than 500 boardrooms, advising global leaders, governments, and academic institutions on how to lead and build in the age of unmetered intelligence. His counsel is trusted by thousands of executives, and he has delivered keynotes to more than 300,000 people across five continents.

Kass currently collaborates with Hong Kong University of Science and Technology and the University of Virginia, studying the future of work and intelligence. He is also the AI for Conservation Fellow at Conservation International. His work has been cited dozens of times and he appears regularly across international media like Forbes, The Wall Street Journal, CNN, CNBC, and Business Insider.

Table of Contents

Introduction ix

Part I Foundations of the RenAIssance 1

Chapter 1 The Past, Present, and Future of Artificial Intelligence 3

Chapter 2 Conditions to the RenAIssance 41

Chapter 3 Costs of the RenAIssance 57

Chapter 4 The Promise of the RenAIssance 79

Chapter 5 Questions of the RenAIssance 91

Part II A Glimpse into the Future 109

Chapter 6 Education 2.0 111

Chapter 7 Widening Wall Street 139

Chapter 8 Resuscitating Healthcare 153

Chapter 9 The Future of Work 171

Part III A Simple Guide to the RenAIssance 185

Chapter 10 Principles for Thriving in the Era of AI 187

Epilogue: A Last, Honest Story 197

Glossary 201

Notes 207

Acknowledgments 219

About the Author 223

Index 225