Monthly Yale CLAY × CompCog (and friends) book club and reading group focused on AI + language technology and broader social, ethical, and political questions.

Next meetup

  • Date: Thursday, March 26, 2026
  • Time: 1:30pm
  • Location: Location TBD

Based on the replies so far, a lunch / early-afternoon slot seems to work for the most people.

If this time doesn’t work for you, email me. I’m trying to pick a slot that fits as many people as possible.

Next book

Empire of AI: Dreams and Nightmares in Sam Altman’s OpenAI
Karen Hao

Read what you can (even if it’s just a few chapters). We’ll make the discussion welcoming at any prep level.

Why this book

A reported account of OpenAI’s rise, used as a lens on the political economy of AI: power, governance, labor, data, energy/water, and the stories institutions tell about "progress."

About the author

Karen Hao is an award-winning journalist who has covered AI and the tech industry for years, including OpenAI.

Note on a correction

The author later posted an update clarifying/correcting one water-related comparison (a units issue) and tightening language around "use" vs "consumption." (Bob flagged this to me--thank you!) We’ll treat this as a feature, not a distraction: part of our discussion will be how to evaluate quantitative claims in public AI debates.
Author’s correction note

Cover for Empire of AI: Dreams and Nightmares in Sam Altman’s OpenAI

How to get the book (Yale access)

If you’re at Yale, you can often get e-books and audiobooks free via Quicksearch and OverDrive/Libby. If the exact format you want isn’t available, consider a hold, BorrowDirect, or Interlibrary Loan.

How to prepare (lightweight)

Bring whatever level of prep you have. If you want structure, here’s a simple recipe.

  • 1 passage you found especially strong or provocative
  • 1 claim you’re unsure about / want to fact-check / think is overstated
  • 1 connection to your own work (CL / CS / CompCog / ethics / policy)
  • 1 question you’d like the group to tackle

Optional adjacent resources

Discord (optional)

Optional space to share passages, questions, and links as we read. Join anytime, or ignore Discord and just come to the meeting.

Discord invite: (email me)

What this is

  • Monthly, discussion-based
  • 60 minutes per meeting
  • Discussion-based (not a lecture). Low-pressure: come even if you only skimmed or are just curious.

Want to join?

Email me or just show up.
Email: lena.strobl@yale.edu

Future reads

Suggestions for future reads are very welcome. Send them my way!