Introduction to Generative AI, Second Edition, builds on the first edition with revised content throughout. It introduces two new chapters—one on prompt engineering, with strategies for writing more effective prompts, and one on AI agents, exploring how they’re built and where they’re going. It also covers new topics, including retrieval-augmented generation, multimodal models, reasoning capabilities, and mixture-of-experts systems.

The book has been updated to reflect recent developments in policy, regulation, and industry use. It expands the discussion of data governance, licensing, and creator rights, and takes a closer look at the global adoption of generative AI and its impact on education, labor, and investment. It reinforces the first edition’s focus on both the technical workings and the societal impact of generative AI. These remain deeply sociotechnical challenges, and the book is written to make them accessible to readers from a wide range of backgrounds.

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  • Understanding AI is indispensable to understanding the world today. Introduction to Generative AI is your essential guide. From the core concepts to real-world uses—and the big ethical questions in between—this book brings you fully up to speed on the most powerful technology of our time.

    Mustafa Suleyman, CEO of Microsoft AI and co-founder of Google DeepMind

  • With the great power of Generative AI comes great responsibility. In this book, authors Numa Dhamani and Maggie Engler brilliantly capture the duality of technical competence and ethical consideration for anyone utilizing Generative AI, which is woven throughout this highly approachable book. Introduction to Generative AI provides you with an up-to-date and comprehensive overview of Generative AI while also situating this transformative technology in the timely economic, educational, legal, and ethical discussions. You’ll gain not only knowledge, but also confidence in how to apply it responsibly.

    David Ryan Polgar, Founder & President of All Tech Is Human

  • Engler and Dhamani's book crackles with clarity and authority. The second edition of this already popular book, doesn’t just update the conversation on generative AI; it elevates it. The book cuts through the noise of modern AI discourse with the precision that only hands on practioners like them can bring. This book is indispensable for anyone serious about building, governing, or simply understanding the next era of AI. You are going to keep coming back to this book again and again and again.

    Ram Shankar Siva Kumar, Head of AI Red Team, Microsoft

Introduction to Generative AI discusses generative AI models at a high level, with an emphasis on large language models (LLMs). The book illustrates how LLMs could live up to their potential while building awareness of the limitations of these models. It also discusses the broader economic, legal, and ethical issues that surround them, as well as recommendations for responsible development and use, and paths forward.

The book is written for anyone who has an interest in generative AI models. It aims to build an intuition into the technical pitfalls that are inherent to LLMs and discusses how generative AI models can exacerbate societal issues. These are sociotechnical challenges that require a whole-of-society response, and we hope that this book can make a diverse set of concepts accessible to a wide range of individuals.

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  • Introduction to Generative AI is an indispensable guide to the rapidly evolving world of Generative AI. Covering foundational principles, practical applications, as well as vital ethical and legal considerations, this comprehensive overview is essential reading for anyone eager to understand or work with this transformative technology.

    Ron Green, Co-Founder & CTO of KUNGFU.AI

  • As AI plays an increasingly important role in society, there is a vital need to achieve greater AI literacy across society. Introduction to Generative AI is a wonderful resource for anyone who is interested in learning more about generative AI and its broader historical and societal context. Engler and Dhamani do an excellent job of breaking down both the technical inner workings and the societal implications of generative AI in a straightforward and easy-to-understand manner. They provide clear and compelling examples of both the limitations of generative AI and how it can and must be improved. I highly recommend this book to anyone who is interested in learning more about generative AI and its impacts on the world.

    Kenneth R. Fleischmann, Professor in the School of Information at the University of Texas at Austin and Founding Chair of Good Systems: Ethical AI at UT Austin

  • This book is a perfect introduction to the emerging field of Generative AI and to all the promise and peril it portends. I can think of no defter guides to the technology and its implications than Maggie and Numa.

    Dr. Daniel Rogers, Co-Founder, The Global Disinformation Index

  • Staying informed on the societal implications of generative AI is crucial. This book provides a comprehensive overview of the potential benefits and risks, as well as ethical considerations. It’s a must-read for anyone looking to expand their knowledge and become an active participant in the conversation.

    Edgar Markevicius, Security Engineering Manager at Meta