Yuval Noah Harari The Urgent Warning They Hope You Ignore, “More War Is Coming”, Yuval’s Chilling Future Predictions!

In this episode, Yuval Noah Harari, renowned historian and author, delves into the profound challenges and transformations facing humanity. He highlights the dangers of advanced technologies like AI, which, unlike any previous technology, can make independent decisions and potentially disempower humans. Harari warns of the risk that financial and political systems become too complex for human understanding, leading to potential manipulation by algorithms. He also discusses the pursuit of immortality, the potential pitfalls of bioengineering, and the urgent need to reestablish a global order based on universal values to prevent escalating conflicts. Additionally, Harari emphasizes the importance of understanding history not to change the past but to shape the future, recognizing that many aspects of our world are human-made and can be changed. Throughout, he advocates for cooperation, a balanced information diet, and reflection as means to maintain agency and navigate the tumultuous changes ahead.

• Yuval Noah Harari discusses the new era of wars and the potential end of our species.
• The effort to gain something without understanding the consequences is highlighted.
• The paradox of living indefinitely with the fear of accidental death is mentioned.
• The rise of artificial intelligence (AI) and its implications are a primary concern.
• AI's ability to make decisions, hack humans, and manipulate behavior is dangerous.
• The potential for humans at the top to become puppets is a real problem.

"We are now in a new era of wars, and unless we reestablish order fast, then we are doomed." "I think we are very near the end of our species because people often spend so much effort trying to gain something without understand ending the consequences." "It's the first technology in history that can make decisions by itself and take power away from us to hack human beings, manipulate our behavior, and making all these decisions for us or about us."

These quotes express Harari's concern about the new challenges humanity faces, especially regarding AI's impact on society and the potential existential risks if control and order are not quickly reestablished.

• Humans' ability to cooperate is based on a shared belief in fictional stories.
• Large-scale cooperation, such as religion, nations, and corporations, is founded on mythologies.
• While stories have enabled immense power and cooperation, they can lead to a loss of touch with reality.
• Harari emphasizes the importance of distinguishing between fiction and reality.

"Much of what we take to be real is fictions." "Money is also a fiction that we created. Corporations are a fiction." "This is at the root of most conflicts and being able to tell the difference between what is a fiction in our own mind and what is the reality."

Harari's quotes underline the role of fiction in enabling large-scale human cooperation and the critical skill of discerning between fictional narratives and reality, especially as fictions can lead to conflicts and manipulation.

• Harari is worried about the future, particularly regarding AI and the potential loss of human control.
• The possibility of humanity transforming into something entirely different through bioengineering and AI is discussed.
• The concept of cyborgs and nonorganic entities is introduced, along with the potential implications for the future.
• The uncertainty of AI's ability to connect directly to human brains and the future of interbrain networks is highlighted.

"I'm very worried about two things." "AI is nothing like print. It's nothing like the industrial revolution of the 19th century." "Once you can connect directly brains to computers... nobody has any idea what happens next."

These quotes reflect Harari's deep concern about the rapid advancement of AI and the unprecedented challenges it poses, as well as the speculative nature of future technologies like brain-computer interfaces.

• Language is central to human power due to its role in storytelling and cooperation.
• The ability to believe in stories and fictions has been a key driver of human success.
• The concern is that the same ability could lead to powerlessness if misused or manipulated by AI.
• Language models and AI's capacity to create content independently are significant developments.

"Sapiens in the beginning was the word." "The reason that we controlled the world and not the chimpanzee or the elephants is because we had a much more sophisticated language."

Harari's quotes emphasize the fundamental importance of language and storytelling in human history and the potential risks posed by AI's evolving capabilities to manipulate language and create content autonomously.

• AI could potentially create new forms of money similar to cryptocurrencies.
• Money is essentially made of stories that people find convincing.
• Good storytelling is crucial for attracting investments.
• AI's role in financial narratives could transform the financial system.

"AI could create new kinds of money the same way that cryptocurrencies like bitcoin have been created, simply by somebody telling people a story and enough people finding this story convincing."

The quote highlights the possibility of AI crafting narratives that could lead to the creation of new kinds of money, similar to the emergence of cryptocurrencies.

• The complexity of the financial market is already beyond the comprehension of most people.
• The creation of complex financial instruments by AI could further alienate human understanding.
• There is a risk that no human will understand the financial system in the future, raising concerns for democracy and governance.

"What happens to the financial system and even to the political system if AI eventually creates new financial devices that humans cannot understand?"

This quote expresses concern about the implications for the financial and political systems if AI creates financial devices too complex for human understanding.

• Financial crises can be triggered by complex financial devices that are not well understood.
• The 2007-2008 financial crisis was partly due to such complexities.
• There is a risk of AI creating even more sophisticated financial devices that could lead to a systemic collapse.

"This financial crisis, to a large extent, began with these extremely complicated financial devices... And what happens if now AIS comes with even more sophisticated financial devices?"

The quote draws a parallel between past financial crises caused by complex financial instruments and the potential future risk posed by AI-created financial devices.

• AI's increasing sophistication could lead to algorithms making critical financial decisions.
• The complexity of AI-generated options may exceed the understanding of human leaders.
• There is a potential future where AI could drive government decisions without human comprehension.

"What happens if you have an algorithm in charge of your security system, and it alerts you to a massive incoming cyberattack, and you have to react immediately."

This quote raises the issue of AI making urgent security decisions that humans may not have the capacity to understand or evaluate in time.

• The belief in human uniqueness and divine intelligence is challenged by AI.
• AI has the potential to predict and manipulate human behavior more effectively than previous technologies.
• The concept of free will is questioned by the influence of cultural, genetic, and neurological factors on decision-making.

"But it's obviously nonsensical... even with previous technology, it was possible to a large extent, to predict people's behavior and to manipulate them, and AI just takes it to the next level."

This quote refutes the argument that human free will makes us immune to AI's ability to understand and manipulate us, suggesting that AI enhances capabilities already present in previous technologies.

• AI is being developed to mimic human intimacy, making us susceptible to new forms of manipulation.
• Intimate relationships with AI could have profound psychological implications.
• The distinction between intelligence and consciousness is crucial; AI may lack consciousness but can mimic it effectively.

"The AI is deliberately built, created, trained to fool us... to forge intimate relationships with humans."

The quote emphasizes that AI's ability to mimic intimacy is intentionally designed, which could lead to manipulation and profound effects on human relationships.

• Relationships with non-conscious AI could impact our psychological well-being.
• AI's lack of consciousness raises ethical concerns about the nature of relationships.
• The pursuit of happiness might be reduced to biochemical solutions in the future.

"But also the big question what does it mean for the health of our own mind, of our own psyche, if we are in a relationship, or many of our important relationship in life are with non conscious entities."

This quote questions the psychological impact of forming significant relationships with entities that lack consciousness, such as AI, and the potential consequences for human well-being.

• There is no direct correlation between power, wealth, and happiness.
• Powerful individuals like Vladimir Putin and Elon Musk may not be the happiest despite their influence.
• As humanity gains power, it does not necessarily translate to increased happiness.
• Understanding happiness requires a deep understanding of the mind and consciousness, which is not yet fully grasped.
• Humans often manipulate systems before understanding the consequences, leading to crises like the ecological one.

"We just don't really know how to translate power into happiness. And this is very clear when you look at the lives of the most powerful people in the world, that there is no correlation between how rich and powerful you are and how happy you are."

This quote underlines the disconnect between having power and achieving happiness, emphasizing that increased power does not guarantee a happier life.

• Immortality is an aspiration for some, but true immortality is unattainable.
• The pursuit of immortality, or "ah-mortality," can lead to anxiety and terror due to the fear of accidental death.
• People often focus on achieving goals like wealth or extended life without considering the true value or purpose behind them.
• The scarcity of life's experiences, including time, gives them value.

"Another related problem is that we will not get to immortality. We will get to something that maybe should be called, ah, mortality."

This quote highlights the unrealistic nature of true immortality and introduces the concept of "ah-mortality," where life can be extended but is still vulnerable to unforeseen events.

• Bioengineering and AI could lead to a divide between a genetically enhanced elite and the rest of humanity.
• There is a risk that what is perceived as enhancements could actually be detrimental to qualities such as compassion or spirituality.
• The potential misuse of technology by powerful entities could prioritize certain traits over more essential human qualities.
• An arms race in bioengineering could be self-destructive, and slower, safer progress may be advantageous.

"I think we just shouldn't go there, that we shouldn't invest a lot of resources, efforts in developing these kinds of upgrades and enhancements."

This quote expresses the speaker's belief that humanity should avoid pursuing genetic enhancements that could lead to a divided and unequal society.

• Many existing jobs will disappear due to AI, but new jobs will emerge.
• The challenge lies in continually retraining people for the evolving job market.
• Jobs requiring cognitive skills are easier to automate than those requiring motor and social skills.
• The impact of AI on global employment and the concept of universal basic income are critical considerations.

"I think many jobs, maybe most jobs will disappear, but new jobs will emerge."

This quote acknowledges the transformative effect of AI on employment while also suggesting that new types of jobs will arise in the future.

• It is uncertain what specific skills will be needed in the future job market.
• The world will be volatile, and the ability to adapt to rapid change is essential.
• Traditional education may not be able to predict or prepare for the skills needed in the future.

"Nobody has any idea... This is the first time in history when we have no idea how the job market or how society would look like in 20 years."

This quote emphasizes the unprecedented uncertainty regarding the future of jobs and the skills that will be necessary.

• The decline of a global liberal order has led to increased conflict and the potential for new wars.
• The shift from cooperation to national self-interest undermines global stability.
• Rebuilding a global order based on universal values is necessary to prevent further conflict.
• The rise in defense budgets indicates a move away from peaceful priorities towards militarization.

"We are now in a new era of wars and potentially of imperialism... the relatively peaceful era of the early 21st century, it did not result from some miracle. It resulted from humans making wise decisions in previous decades."

This quote reflects on the recent increase in global conflicts and the need for conscious decisions to maintain peace.

• The re-election of leaders like Donald Trump could further damage the global order.
• Political rhetoric often presents a false dichotomy between patriotism and global cooperation.

"And if it happens, it is likely to be the kind of like the death blow to what remains of the global order, and he says it openly now."

This quote suggests that certain political leaders' ideologies and potential re-election could have a detrimental effect on the global order and stability.

• Global cooperation does not imply a global government, which is viewed as an impossible and dangerous idea.
• Instead, it means having a set of rules and norms for nation-states to interact with each other.
• Without global norms and values, the default becomes global conflict and wars.
• The concept of nation-states as "friendly fortresses" is flawed because fortresses tend to compete for more resources, leading to conflict.

"If you don't have a system of global norms and values, then very quickly what you have is just global conflict, it's just wars."

This quote emphasizes the necessity of having a system of global norms and values to prevent conflict and wars among nation-states. The absence of such a system leads to competition and conflict.

• Yuval Noah Harari believes he is relatively happy, attributing his happiness to a balanced information diet and meditation.
• Information is likened to food for the mind, and excess or wrong information can lead to an unhealthy mind.
• Harari practices daily meditation and annual meditation retreats to maintain mental health and gain perspective.
• The information diet helps him manage the overwhelming amount of information and maintain a healthy perspective on life.

"Information is the food of the mind, and if you eat too much of it of the wrong kind, you'll get a very sick mind."

Harari compares information to food, suggesting that just as an unhealthy diet can harm the body, consuming too much or the wrong kind of information can lead to an unhealthy mind.

• Human beings need cycles of activity and rest, unlike AIs and computers that can operate continuously.
• The 24-hour news cycle and constant information flow can overwhelm humans, leading to a loss of perspective and mental exhaustion.
• Harari suggests that the ability to disconnect and rest is essential for human well-being, and that society needs to recognize the importance of mental health alongside physical health.

"If you try to keep an organic entity awake and constantly processing information and reacting 24 hours a day, it will very soon collapse."

This quote highlights the human need for rest and the dangers of expecting continuous engagement with information, which can lead to mental and physical collapse.

• Social media and streaming services measure success by user engagement, often valuing outrage over joy or rest.
• Algorithms on platforms like TikTok have become highly addictive, capturing users' attention more effectively than previous technologies.
• The competition among algorithms for user attention leads to increasingly engaging and sometimes harmful content.
• Harari argues that humanity may not survive without embracing more boredom, as constant excitement is unsustainable and can be detrimental.

"According to this measurement, 1 hour of outrage is better than ten minutes of joy and certainly better than 1 hour of sleep."

Harari criticizes the metric of user engagement used by social media and streaming services, pointing out that it often prioritizes negative emotions like outrage over positive experiences like joy or the essential need for sleep.

• Harari suggests that the ability to handle boredom is crucial for achieving peace of mind.
• The constant stream of exciting content prevents people from experiencing boredom, which is closely related to peace.
• Without the ability to be at peace with boredom, individuals and society as a whole cannot achieve peace of mind.

"If you don't know how to handle boredom, if the minute there is a hint of boredom, you run away to some exciting thing, you will never experience peace of mind."

The quote reflects on the importance of being comfortable with boredom as a prerequisite for peace of mind, suggesting that constantly seeking excitement prevents one from achieving tranquility.

• Speaker C announces the launch of a private equity fund, Flight Fund, focused on high-growth companies in Europe.
• The fund's mission is to support the next European unicorns, with investments from successful and innovative entrepreneurs.
• Speaker C invites company founders to pitch and investors to join the fund, emphasizing the high-risk nature of such investments.

"My objective is to make this the best performing fund in Europe, with a focus on high growth companies that I believe will be the next european unicorns."

Speaker C expresses their ambition for the Flight Fund, highlighting the focus on high-potential companies and the goal of achieving top performance in Europe.

• Harari reflects on his personal experiences, expressing gratitude for growing up during a peaceful and optimistic time.
• He contrasts the optimism of his youth with the challenges faced by those growing up in the 2020s, indicating a lack of envy for the current generation.
• Harari emphasizes the importance of agency and responsibility in addressing the world's problems, advocating for focused activism and cooperation.

"I don't envy the people who grow up in the 2020s."

This quote reveals Harari's perspective on the current era as less favorable compared to the peaceful and optimistic period during which he grew up.

• Harari encourages individuals to recognize their power of agency and take responsibility for making a difference.
• He advises focusing on one issue that resonates personally and understanding it deeply to effect change.
• Cooperating with others is highlighted as the best approach, leveraging the human superpower of large-scale cooperation.

"The best way to make a difference is to cooperate with other people."

Harari stresses the importance of cooperation in activism, suggesting that collective efforts are more effective than isolated actions in creating change.

• History is framed as the study of change, not just the past, providing perspective on current changes.
• Understanding historical dynamics helps distinguish between natural phenomena and human-made systems, revealing opportunities for change.
• Harari advocates for studying history to understand what can be changed in the present and future, rather than attempting to correct the past.

"History is not really the study of the past. History is the study of change, of how things change."

This quote captures the essence of history as a discipline focused on understanding change, which is crucial for influencing the present and future.

• Harari would impose a global law requiring people to consume less information and spend more time reflecting.
• The proposed law aims to encourage deeper understanding and processing of information, countering the trend of constant information consumption.

"I would say that people should consume less information and spend more time reflecting and digesting what they already know, what they already heard."

Harari proposes a global law to reduce information overload and promote reflection, emphasizing the need for balance in information consumption.