In a profound conversation between Yuval Noah Harari and Nathan Gardels, the editor of *Noema*, Harari offers unique insights into the realm of Artificial Intelligence (AI). Harari posits that humans are essentially “master storytellers,” with the flow of narrative information networks being paramount in the course of history. From prehistoric cave paintings to the modern-day social media, stories have consistently shaped our cognitive world. However, the advent of AI in the era of information overload has altered the production of narratives, challenging human understanding of cognition, truth, and reality.
Harari cautions against “information naivety” — the notion that more information equates to more truth and wisdom. In his view, truth is a costly and scarce form of information, with the majority being fiction, illusion, or lies. Gleaning the truth requires immense effort, and the autonomous content generation by AI may exacerbate the flood of information and the scarcity of truth.
Discussing the “war of narratives,” Harari highlights that narratives have the power to unite or divide societies, making this form of warfare among the most destructive. Often, social order and cohesion are valued over truth itself.
Regarding the impact of AI, Harari suggests that AI might aptly be termed “alien intelligence,” given its entirely distinct mode of thinking and decision-making from humans. AI is not a passive tool but an intelligent agent with the capability to learn and evolve autonomously. While current AI is still in its “amoeba stage,” its rapid rate of evolution is concerning.
Harari emphasizes that the true threat posed by AI is not a Skynet-style robotic rebellion, but rather the “AI bureaucracy” — the embedding of AI within existing social systems, taking them over from the inside. This calls for a reevaluation of how we guard against the proliferation of AI within various systems.
In concluding the conversation, Harari shares his personal strategies for managing information overload, including “information dieting” and “information fasting,” as well as his approach to digesting and consolidating information through in-depth research.
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In a dialogue with Nathan Gardels, Yuval Noah Harari illuminates how humans construct their cognition through storytelling, and how AI is altering this fundamental aspect. He laments that truth is scarce and precious, warning that AI may exacerbate the chaos of information. Narratives have the power to either bond or fracture societies, and AI, as a form of “alien intelligence,” poses a challenge with its autonomy. Harari cautions that the real threat is not a robotic uprising but the insidious takeover of social systems by AI. Personally, Harari copes with the deluge of information through “information dieting” and rigorous study.
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