The Hour of the Predator

By: Giuliano da Empoli, Sam Taylor - translator

Narrated by: Sam Pamphilon

How do you defend democracy when the rules have changed?

Presidents turning into monarchs. Tech tycoons and autocrats intent on global regime change. Armies of cyber trolls.
The old order is at an end. The Hour of the Predator has come.

Former political advisor Giuliano da Empoli takes us on an insider's journey through this new geopolitical reality, from the Glass Palace of the UN to the Riyadh Ritz-Carlton, from top secret meetings to violent power struggles. We encounter dictators and tyrants, strongmen and AI billionaires - geopolitical predators, and the flailing leaders who desperately try to appease them.

Just as in the age of the Borgias or the conquistadors, cynical scheming and brute force increasingly determine the course of international affairs. This is an urgent guide to our new world, and our uncertain future.

©2025 Pushkin Press (P)2025 Pushkin Press

Monteczuma’s revenge

Great analogy, we are dazzled by the amazing technology, and so we should be, wouldn’t we rather live in the future with all this amazing technology? Then again it didn’t work out to well for Monteczuma…

Frightening prospect

Honest and believable description of how democracy as we know it is taking a hit from Big Tech moguls and their opportunistic politician allies.

Scary as the best of Steven King

Just explains what is going on and why it’s unstoppable. Oh my! Hold on tight.

An original synthesis of consequences of AI

Starting by quoting Curzio Malaparte's book on the technique of taking power, Da Empoli invites us to think about the impact that AI already has on the world.
He rightfully states that AI does not care about established rules and procedures or fundamental basic legislation. Only cares about efficiency; ends justify the means.
Nobody, not even their creators know how it reaches its conclusions.
There is nothing transparent or democratic about it.
It is a form of Authoritarian Intelligence by centralizing data and transforming it to power. Power in the hands of a few technocapitalists.

Totally negative to change, nothing positive.

Liked nothing! Thinks politicians are the answer to everything. The opposite is true. Hates all aspects of A-I including the developers. Hates every aspect of Trump ignorant of all the efforts to curb all the corruption and waste in Government. Ignorant of all his peace initiatives around the world. Ignores all of the positives of A-I such as medical advances, ways to cure world famine and diseases.