Has AI hacked the operating system of human civilisation? Yuval Noah Harari sounds a warning
- Written by: Darius von Guttner Sporzynski, Professor of History, Australian Catholic University
Just as artificial intelligence (AI) models are trained on vast data sets to learn and predict, Sapiens: A Brief History of Humankind and Homo Deus: A Brief History of Tomorrow have trained us to expect disruptive ideas from bestselling historian Yuval Noah Harari.
His latest book, Nexus: A Brief History of Information Networks from the Stone Age to AI, is a sweeping exploration of the history and future of human networks. Harari draws on a wide range of historical and contemporary examples to illustrate how information has shaped, and continues to shape, human societies.
Review: Nexus: A Brief History of Information Networks from the Stone Age to AI – Yuval Noah Harari (Fern Press)
Building on the foundation laid in Sapiens, where Harari explored the cognitive revolution that gave humans the unique ability to create shared myths and narratives, Nexus shifts the focus to how these narratives are transmitted, maintained and transformed through networks of information.
Harari considers the future of these networks. He envisions a world where AI-driven systems could reshape not only human societies, but the entire biosphere, potentially creating new forms of life and intelligence. He warns that the rise of AI could mark a turning point in human history, one where humans lose control over the networks that have been their greatest source of power.
This futuristic perspective aligns Nexus with Harari’s other speculative work, Homo Deus, which similarly examines the potential consequences of technological advances for the future of humanity.
Homo Deus often ventured into gloomy territory, but Nexus remains grounded in historical analysis. Harari’s use of concrete historical examples, from the invention of the printing press to the rise of global empires, anchors his arguments, making Nexus feel more balanced and less alarmist than some of his previous works – though its warnings are no less urgent.
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A call to action
One of the few criticisms that can be made of Nexus is its tendency to oversimplify complex historical processes in the service of its central thesis. Harari’s attempt to fit all of human history into a framework of information networks, while intellectually stimulating, can sometimes feel reductive.
For example, his analysis of religious texts as mere tools of social control overlooks the rich diversity of interpretations and the deeply personal spiritual experiences that have shaped religious traditions. Similarly, his portrayal of bureaucratic systems as purely instrumental in maintaining power glosses over the ways in which these systems have enabled social mobility and the protection of individual rights.
Despite these occasional oversimplifications, Nexus remains a thought-provoking call to action. It provides a sweeping overview of the history of information networks, while delivering a powerful warning about the future. Harari’s linking of ancient history with the most pressing technological and political challenges of the 21st century provides a framework for understanding the risks and opportunities posed by rapidly advancing technology.
One unsettling thought arises. Harari, an atheist who argues that religions are collective human fictions, appears to suggest something evident to many: AI created by humans can never possess a soul, in the sense of a uniquely human drive for creativity. The consequence of this argument is that AI, no matter how advanced, would lack the intrinsic human qualities that drive creativity, emotion, ethical and moral reasoning.
Nexus is ambitious, bold and at times, unsettling. It does not offer solutions that are easily within our grasp. But it challenges readers to think critically about what governs our lives and the ways AI could transform them. For anyone interested in the intersection of history, technology and power, Harari once again provokes deep thought.
Authors: Darius von Guttner Sporzynski, Professor of History, Australian Catholic University
Daily Bulletin
