358: The Last Book Written by a Human | Jeff Burningham

Humanity’s Future with AI with Jeff Burningham

What does it mean to be human in a world increasingly shaped by artificial intelligence? This existential question pulses at the heart of episode 358 of the Authors Who Lead podcast, where I sit down with entrepreneur, investor, and now author Jeff Burningham. Our conversation, anchored in Burningham’s newly released book, The Last Book Written by a Human: Becoming Wise in the Age of AI, explores personal disruption, spiritual awakening, and the bold, hopeful possibilities that AI opens up for humanity.

From Doing to Being: The Awakening that Sparked a Book

For Jeff Burningham, it wasn’t a meticulously charted career pivot that led him to authorship. Instead, it was a transformative awakening—what he describes as an “ego death” following his loss in Utah’s gubernatorial race during the turbulent summer of 2020. After a lifetime devoted to ambitious entrepreneurship, Burningham felt a deep call to examine life’s bigger questions. If machines could soon outperform humans at nearly every task, he wondered, what was left for us?

This period of deep introspection—heightened by unforgettable moments at the Ganges River and a revelatory experience in India—opened him to the realization that “being” is the essential ingredient of humanness. Too often, Burningham says, we become “human doings,” relentlessly measuring worth by output instead of presence or love. In the shadow of increasingly capable AI, he reasons, reclaiming our sense of being is more crucial than ever.

AI as Cosmic Mirror: Invitation to Transformation

Burningham’s vision for AI isn’t dystopian. Instead, he frames AI as a “cosmic mirror,” reflecting back not just our achievements, but our flaws—divisions, greed, and ego. “I think that AI is the mechanism that God or the universe is using to help us level up, to help us transform,” says Burningham. Rather than something to be feared or idolized, AI is a tool challenging us to evolve, both individually and as a collective.

He warns, however, that if humanity continues “the old game” of self-interest and divisiveness, AI could quickly amplify our worst tendencies. Echoing my skepticism and curiosity, Burningham contends that this moment demands a radical upgrade in human wisdom: “As our machines become more intelligent, we must become more wise.”

Everyday Wisdom: Empowerment in an Automated Age

What can ordinary people do in the face of such sweeping transformation? Burningham’s answer is refreshingly simple yet profound: “I can change myself internally. And if enough of us do that, we will change the collective.” Rather than waiting for governments or tech giants to set the tone, he encourages individuals to bring their best selves to their interactions—with technology and with each other.

For Burningham, writing his book was both an act of courage and a display of vulnerability. It required excavating his own “tattered life” after years of overachievement, and choosing not to retreat, but to bring greater awareness and presence to his relationships and communities. “We need to do everything we can to bring people together,” he asserts, reminding listeners that every positive internal shift reverberates outward.

Rehumanizing Our Institutions: Conscious Capitalism and Beyond

Burningham envisions AI not just disrupting business or education, but prompting deep reform across all social systems—religion, politics, and capitalism. His challenge to religious leaders is pointed: “What special practice or belief should really stand in the way of human connection?” Similarly, he calls for “conscious capitalism,” where collective human flourishing trumps the accumulation of power and resources.

At the core, Burningham’s message is one of hope. If AI can be harnessed as an ally, not an adversary, he believes it has the power to help us “evolve so that AI can act as a positive tool for human flourishing, instead of human destruction.”

Art, Love, and the New Game

Behind The Last Book Written by a Human is not just a business case, but a work of art—a deeply personal invitation for all of us to reconsider what matters in the emerging era of AI. Jeff and I urge us to recognize that the present moment, our capacity for love, and our willingness to embrace our unique creative contributions are ultimately what define us as humans.

In the words of Jeff Burningham: “The world is changed by us being our best selves… It’s less about our head, more in our heart.” The ultimate call? To leave behind the old game, step into the flow of being, and help write humanity’s next, wiser chapter.

Join us again next week for more captivating insights from influential authors and publishing experts. Remember to subscribe to Authors Who Lead and visit our website for more show notes and past interviews.

That’s all for this week. If you have a message inside of you that needs to be written, today is the day to start. Don’t delay—take action.