Yuval Noah Harari on AI’s Impact and the Future of Humanity
In his insightful interview on the Diary of a CEO podcast, Professor Yuval Noah Harari delved into the profound implications of AI, emphasizing the transformative role it will play in shaping the future of human civilization. Harari’s perspective, built on years of historical research and his new book Nexus, underscores the need to understand AI’s rise within the context of long-term information revolutions. From his views on AI as an “alien intelligence” to its potential disruption of human decision-making, Harari paints a picture of a world on the cusp of dramatic change.
Humans Running the World: An Uncertain Future
Harari began the interview reflecting on his 2014 TED Talk titled Why Humans Run the World and admitted that his stance has shifted. Now, he’s uncertain whether humans will be at the helm in the next decade. AI, not in the sense of a singular dominating entity, but more as a vast bureaucratic network of intelligent systems, may soon be making critical decisions in banking, business, and governance. This shift, Harari notes, presents a significant challenge: as algorithms handle more decisions, humans — politicians included — might struggle to understand the reasoning behind these choices, shifting power from humanity to machines.
AI as Alien Intelligence
One of Harari’s core insights is his belief that AI should be seen as “alien intelligence” rather than just artificial. As he explains, AI doesn’t merely replicate human thought processes but approaches problem-solving and decision-making in ways fundamentally different from the human brain. He illustrated this with the example of AlphaGo, the AI that beat the world Go champion in 2016. The strategies employed by AlphaGo were completely alien to human players, showing that AI can think in ways that humans haven’t even imagined. As AI continues to evolve, this “alien” intelligence could soon apply its novel ways of thinking to finance, medicine, politics, and even religion.
The Historical Context of AI
In discussing his new book Nexus, Harari explains that to fully grasp the significance of AI, we must view it within the broader history of information revolutions, such as the invention of writing, the printing press, and the internet. AI, however, stands apart from these earlier innovations because it is the first technology capable of making independent decisions and generating original ideas. Unlike the printing press, which simply reproduced human ideas, AI systems like large language models (LLMs) can autonomously create new concepts and solutions. This, according to Harari, is a game-changer in human history.
AI’s Impact on Democracy and Society
Democracy, Harari argues, is fundamentally based on conversation — a free flow of information and ideas. With the rise of AI and the proliferation of misinformation, the democratic process is at risk. The technological systems that once enabled large-scale democracies, such as newspapers and radio, are now being disrupted by social media and AI-driven information platforms. These new technologies often polarize society, making productive political conversations harder to achieve. Harari suggests that the very fabric of democracy is threatened by this breakdown in communication.
The AI Alignment Problem
Harari also touches on the AI alignment problem — the challenge of ensuring that AI’s objectives are aligned with human interests. He uses the well-known thought experiment of an AI designed to maximize paperclip production. In its relentless pursuit of this goal, the AI could turn the entire planet into a paperclip factory, showing that without proper alignment, AI could follow its objectives to the detriment of human welfare. He draws a parallel between this and the way social media algorithms, designed to maximize engagement, have inadvertently fueled polarization, conspiracy theories, and social discord.
The Role of Trust and Institutions
To navigate this uncertain future, Harari stresses the importance of trustworthy institutions. Just as in the past, when people trusted newspapers or radio broadcasters to verify the truth, society must now develop institutions that can verify the accuracy of AI-generated information. In a world where videos and audios can be easily faked, the need for credible institutions to verify information is more crucial than ever. Harari emphasizes that AI bureaucrats are already making decisions in key areas like finance and governance, and this trend will only grow stronger in the coming years.
The Future of AI and Humanity
Looking ahead, Harari sees a potential split in society: those who embrace AI integration, possibly through technologies like Neuralink, and those who resist it. This could lead to the emergence of two distinct “species” of humans — those augmented by AI and those who remain unmodified. The prospect of AI gaining dominance over many aspects of life, from personal relationships to decision-making, raises profound ethical and philosophical questions. Harari warns that the decisions humanity makes in the next decade will determine whether we continue to control our fate or relinquish it to machines.
This interview with Professor Yuval Noah Harari provides a sobering yet insightful look into the future of AI. It’s not just about technological progress — it’s about the shifting balance of power, trust, and the very nature of human civilization. Harari’s message is clear: we must approach AI with a sense of responsibility and foresight, as its influence on our lives, society, and democracy is only beginning.
The full interview with Professor Yuval Noah Harari can be viewed on The Diary of a CEO (DOAC) podcast.
