Please wait... This may take a moment.
Hype Immunity
Timeless Lessons for Navigating the AI Revolution
Pub Date
Dec 15 2026
| Archive Date
Dec 24 2026
Description
AI isn’t the first technology to promise everything—and threaten everything.
In a world full of AI hype, senior AI executive Dr. Mike Horton knows that in practice, implementation is easier said than done. While technical checklists and training classes may package AI as easy-to-use, business leaders know the truth—shepherding organizations through the emerging AI revolution requires more than abstract promises.
Grounded in timeless lessons from over 250 years of industrial history, Hype Immunity offers leaders a pragmatic guide for implementing AI development in the modern age. From Bell’s telephone to Intel’s microprocessors, history’s innovation narratives have already provided strategies for seizing revolutionary technology and cautioned against the complacency that breeds failure. Horton identifies core principles from these narratives, helping leaders develop a clear mission—the company’s North Star—and a guiding strategic mindset to navigate their business through the before, middle, and after of a technological revolution that’s moving at breakneck speed. Key concepts include:
- recognizing how competency blindness can drown organizations through overconfidence in outdated solutions and processes;
- developing immunity to AI hype, instead choosing solutions based on guaranteed mission impact;
- building a collaborative ecosystem that enables the efficient development of scalable AI solutions;
- embracing the responsible acceleration of AI capabilities that support transparency, trust, veracity, and human expert oversight;
- incorporating in-depth defense systems that prevent potential AI-induced failures;
- crafting a human-centered revolutionary strategy that builds trust beyond technology.
AI isn’t the first technology to promise everything—and threaten everything.
In a world full of AI hype, senior AI executive Dr. Mike Horton knows that in practice, implementation is easier said than...
Description
AI isn’t the first technology to promise everything—and threaten everything.
In a world full of AI hype, senior AI executive Dr. Mike Horton knows that in practice, implementation is easier said than done. While technical checklists and training classes may package AI as easy-to-use, business leaders know the truth—shepherding organizations through the emerging AI revolution requires more than abstract promises.
Grounded in timeless lessons from over 250 years of industrial history, Hype Immunity offers leaders a pragmatic guide for implementing AI development in the modern age. From Bell’s telephone to Intel’s microprocessors, history’s innovation narratives have already provided strategies for seizing revolutionary technology and cautioned against the complacency that breeds failure. Horton identifies core principles from these narratives, helping leaders develop a clear mission—the company’s North Star—and a guiding strategic mindset to navigate their business through the before, middle, and after of a technological revolution that’s moving at breakneck speed. Key concepts include:
- recognizing how competency blindness can drown organizations through overconfidence in outdated solutions and processes;
- developing immunity to AI hype, instead choosing solutions based on guaranteed mission impact;
- building a collaborative ecosystem that enables the efficient development of scalable AI solutions;
- embracing the responsible acceleration of AI capabilities that support transparency, trust, veracity, and human expert oversight;
- incorporating in-depth defense systems that prevent potential AI-induced failures;
- crafting a human-centered revolutionary strategy that builds trust beyond technology.
A Note From the Publisher
Dr. Mike Horton is an award-winning former Federal Chief AI Officer for the Department of Transportation with two decades of experience advising governments and businesses worldwide in the strategic development, deployment, and governance of human-centered, ethical, and scalable AI, data, and machine learning ecosystems. He currently serves on the Africa Economic Forum’s Executive Board, where he chairs the Africa Tech Forum, and as an Assistant Professor of AI and data analytics at Northeastern University. Dr. Horton is a West Point graduate and holds a Doctorate in Business Administration from Drexel University. Hype Immunity is his first book.
Dr. Mike Horton is an award-winning former Federal Chief AI Officer for the Department of Transportation with two decades of experience advising governments and businesses worldwide in the strategic...
A Note From the Publisher
Dr. Mike Horton is an award-winning former Federal Chief AI Officer for the Department of Transportation with two decades of experience advising governments and businesses worldwide in the strategic development, deployment, and governance of human-centered, ethical, and scalable AI, data, and machine learning ecosystems. He currently serves on the Africa Economic Forum’s Executive Board, where he chairs the Africa Tech Forum, and as an Assistant Professor of AI and data analytics at Northeastern University. Dr. Horton is a West Point graduate and holds a Doctorate in Business Administration from Drexel University. Hype Immunity is his first book.
Advance Praise
“A 'must' for business, science, and social issues libraries and readers interested in not just AI’s possibilities, but its integrative challenges." —Midwest Book Review
"Refuses the idea that AI adoption is unprecedented. History has plenty of practice absorbing revolutionary tech badly, then well. Horton's contribution is reminding leaders that the discipline required now isn't new, it's been forgotten since the last time." —Chicago Book Review
“A 'must' for business, science, and social issues libraries and readers interested in not just AI’s possibilities, but its integrative challenges." —Midwest Book Review
"Refuses the idea that AI...
Advance Praise
“A 'must' for business, science, and social issues libraries and readers interested in not just AI’s possibilities, but its integrative challenges." —Midwest Book Review
"Refuses the idea that AI adoption is unprecedented. History has plenty of practice absorbing revolutionary tech badly, then well. Horton's contribution is reminding leaders that the discipline required now isn't new, it's been forgotten since the last time." —Chicago Book Review
Marketing Plan
- NetGalley campaign and email blast
- Goodreads author program
- Editorial reviews
- Book award submission
- National press release
- Social media ad campaign
- Podcast appearances
- Media interviews
- Amazon advertising
- A+ content
- Book listing on Edelweiss
- Author website
- NetGalley campaign and email blast
- Goodreads author program
- Editorial reviews
- Book award submission
- National press release
- Social media ad campaign
- Podcast appearances
- Media interviews
- Amazon...
Marketing Plan
- NetGalley campaign and email blast
- Goodreads author program
- Editorial reviews
- Book award submission
- National press release
- Social media ad campaign
- Podcast appearances
- Media interviews
- Amazon advertising
- A+ content
- Book listing on Edelweiss
- Author website
Available Editions
| EDITION |
Paperback |
| ISBN |
9781967510993 |
| PRICE |
$19.95 (USD)
|
| PAGES |
326
|
Available on NetGalley
NetGalley Reader
(PDF)
NetGalley Shelf App
(PDF)
Send to Kindle (PDF)
Download (PDF)
Available to Buy
Buy on BN.com
Buy on Bookshop.org
*This page contains affiliate links, so we may earn a small commission when you make a purchase through links on our site at no additional cost to you.
BISAC Codes
COM004000 COMPUTERS / Artificial Intelligence / General
BUS098000 BUSINESS & ECONOMICS / Knowledge Capital
TEC056000 TECHNOLOGY & ENGINEERING / History
Additional Information
Available Editions
| EDITION |
Paperback |
| ISBN |
9781967510993 |
| PRICE |
$19.95 (USD)
|
| PAGES |
326
|
Available on NetGalley
NetGalley Reader
(PDF)
NetGalley Shelf App
(PDF)
Send to Kindle (PDF)
Download (PDF)
Available to Buy
Buy on BN.com
Buy on Bookshop.org
*This page contains affiliate links, so we may earn a small commission when you make a purchase through links on our site at no additional cost to you.
BISAC Codes
COM004000 COMPUTERS / Artificial Intelligence / General
BUS098000 BUSINESS & ECONOMICS / Knowledge Capital
TEC056000 TECHNOLOGY & ENGINEERING / History
Average rating from 2 members
Featured Reviews
Reviewer 1649313
5 stars
5 stars
5 stars
5 stars
5 stars
Dr. Mike Horton’s Hype Immunity cuts straight through the noise to deliver an essential guide to the heart of the Fourth Industrial Revolution - Artificial Intelligence. As someone without a technical background, I found his approach to storytelling brilliantly accessible. He takes complex, intimidating AI concepts and grounds them in real-world terms, balancing our modern fears and expectations against stories from past industrial leaps both the triumphs and the warnings. It's the first book I have read that draws parallels so clearly between historic events and the challenges we face now, bringing the unknown what-ifs into tangible actions we can all consider as we navigate the world of AI.
His conclusions are as profound as they are urgent. Dr. Horton doesn't offer vague theories. Instead, he makes a case for safe, responsible, and deliberate progress. I was so transfixed that I finished the book in a single sitting. More than just an engaging, gripping read, it left me with a concrete, personal action plan for navigating the AI-driven future.
5 stars
5 stars
5 stars
5 stars
5 stars
Reviewer 1996728
5 stars
5 stars
5 stars
5 stars
5 stars
It is the first book I have read that actually connects past historical events to what is happening with AI today. It does a great job breaking down the current buzz and separating reality from fiction. Clear, straightforward, and well worth the read.
5 stars
5 stars
5 stars
5 stars
5 stars
Featured Reviews
Reviewer 1649313
5 stars
5 stars
5 stars
5 stars
5 stars
Dr. Mike Horton’s Hype Immunity cuts straight through the noise to deliver an essential guide to the heart of the Fourth Industrial Revolution - Artificial Intelligence. As someone without a technical background, I found his approach to storytelling brilliantly accessible. He takes complex, intimidating AI concepts and grounds them in real-world terms, balancing our modern fears and expectations against stories from past industrial leaps both the triumphs and the warnings. It's the first book I have read that draws parallels so clearly between historic events and the challenges we face now, bringing the unknown what-ifs into tangible actions we can all consider as we navigate the world of AI.
His conclusions are as profound as they are urgent. Dr. Horton doesn't offer vague theories. Instead, he makes a case for safe, responsible, and deliberate progress. I was so transfixed that I finished the book in a single sitting. More than just an engaging, gripping read, it left me with a concrete, personal action plan for navigating the AI-driven future.
5 stars
5 stars
5 stars
5 stars
5 stars
Reviewer 1996728
5 stars
5 stars
5 stars
5 stars
5 stars
It is the first book I have read that actually connects past historical events to what is happening with AI today. It does a great job breaking down the current buzz and separating reality from fiction. Clear, straightforward, and well worth the read.
5 stars
5 stars
5 stars
5 stars
5 stars