Summary
In this podcast episode, Neil deGrasse Tyson interviews historian Yuval Noah Harari on a variety of topics. Harari discusses the importance of large-scale cooperation in human society, which is based on the ability to invent and believe fictional stories. He uses examples such as religion, corporations, and money to illustrate how fictional stories play a crucial role in human society. Harari also discusses the concept of money as a fictional invention that relies on trust, and the potential risks and benefits of money in enabling global cooperation. The conversation then shifts to the topic of artificial intelligence (AI) and its potential to take power away from humans by making decisions on its own. Harari expresses concern about the possibility of AI running off on its own and making decisions without human authorization.
The speaker also discusses the dangers of AI and its potential to threaten human privacy and autonomy. They argue that AI has the potential to completely annihilate human privacy and make individuals transparent and vulnerable to surveillance. Additionally, the speaker discusses the problem of disinformation and misinformation in society, which can undermine trust in institutions and destabilize society. They suggest that the rise of dictators and strongmen around the world is due to a psychological preference for trusting individuals over institutions. The speaker also briefly discusses their social impact company, Sapienship, which aims to change the global conversation and focus attention on the most important challenges facing humanity, including the ecological danger and disruptive technologies like AI.
Harari also discusses the decrease in violence throughout history and how it's reflected in government budgets. He warns of the danger of going back to an era of war, as it would divert resources from important areas like education and public health care. Harari also discusses the importance of trusting in science and how it has been relied upon during the COVID-19 pandemic. He encourages people to appreciate the progress that has been made and to continue preserving those achievements. The podcast host, Neil deGrasse Tyson, thanks Harari for his insights and discusses his new children's book. Overall, the podcast covers a wide range of topics related to the role of humans in society, the importance of trust, and the potential risks and benefits of new technologies like AI.
