Homo Deus: A BRIEF HISTORY OF TOMORROW with Yuval Noah Harari

University of California Television (UCTV)・2 minutes read

Professor Yuval Harari explores the distinction between human beliefs in fictions like religion and objective reality, highlighting the power of storytelling and cooperation in human evolution. He discusses the shift of authority from humans to algorithms in decision-making, emphasizing the influence of advancements in biotechnology and information technology on various aspects of life.

Insights

  • Humans' unique ability to believe in fictions like religion and nations, as highlighted by Yuval Harari, is a key factor that sets them apart from other species and gives them remarkable power.
  • The rise of dataism signifies a significant shift in authority from human feelings to algorithms, impacting various aspects of life beyond medicine, with entities like Google and Amazon gaining power through data-driven decision-making.

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Recent questions

  • What is Yuval Harari known for?

    Asking significant questions about humanity's evolution.

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Summary

00:00

Harari: Humanity's Evolution and Future Dominance

  • Professor Yuval Harari is a lecturer at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem and a best-selling author of "Sapiens: A Brief History of Humankind" and "Homo Deus: A Brief History of Tomorrow".
  • Harari is known for asking significant questions about humanity's evolution, happiness, and uniqueness compared to other species.
  • He argues that humans' ability to cooperate flexibly in large numbers sets them apart from other animals.
  • Harari suggests that humans' capacity to believe in fictions, like religion and nations, is what gives them their remarkable power.
  • He distinguishes between objective reality shared with animals and fictional reality, which includes concepts like religion and money.
  • Harari believes that humanity's strength lies in its ability to tell and believe in great stories.
  • Harari predicts that Homo sapiens may not have a future and that new beings or entities will dominate the Earth in the future.
  • He discusses the shift of authority from humans to algorithms, highlighting the impact of this change.
  • Harari explores the humanist revolution that brought authority from the heavens to humans, emphasizing the importance of human feelings and choices.
  • He explains how humanist principles influence politics, economics, art, and ethics, emphasizing the supremacy of human feelings in decision-making.

18:40

"Algorithms Challenge Human Authority in Decision-Making"

  • Religious fundamentalists have shifted their arguments against events like gay pride parades to focus on human feelings rather than divine commandments.
  • Humanist education aims to teach individuals to think for themselves, contrasting with past education systems that emphasized external sources of authority.
  • The humanist worldview is facing a significant threat from advancements in science and technology, particularly in understanding human biology and emotions.
  • Scientists argue that free will is a myth, and human feelings are biochemical algorithms shaped by evolution for decision-making.
  • Organisms, including humans, are viewed as algorithms calculating probabilities to make decisions based on survival and reproduction.
  • The merging of advancements in biology and computer science is leading to a shift in authority from humans to algorithms in fields like medicine.
  • Algorithms are increasingly making important decisions about individuals' health based on data and biological knowledge, surpassing human decision-making based on feelings.
  • Angelina Jolie's decision to undergo a preventive mastectomy based on genetic testing is an example of algorithms influencing significant health decisions.
  • Corporations like Apple, Amazon, Google, and Facebook are transitioning from purely information technology to biotechnology, indicating the merging of biotech and infotech.
  • The ability of algorithms to understand individuals better than themselves is becoming a reality, with implications for various aspects of life, including health decisions.

38:24

"Dataism: Authority Shift from Feelings to Algorithms"

  • Angelina Jolie underwent a double mastectomy after big data algorithms warned her of a genetic time bomb, despite feeling healthy.
  • The rise of dataism suggests a shift in authority from human feelings to algorithms, impacting various fields beyond medicine.
  • In the past, monotheistic and polytheistic religions dictated authority from gods, while humanism emphasized following personal feelings.
  • Dataism, a new ideology, believes authority stems from data, shifting power to entities like Google and Amazon.
  • Amazon's algorithm recommends books based on user data, with plans to incorporate biometric data for personalized suggestions.
  • Kindle can track readers' reactions to books, with potential future integration of biometric sensors for deeper emotional analysis.
  • Google could use extensive personal data to advise on major life decisions, potentially surpassing human decision-making capabilities.
  • Google aims to provide recommendations better than those individuals make for themselves, gradually gaining trust and authority in decision-making.
  • People increasingly rely on technology like Google Maps for navigation, gradually losing spatial awareness and blindly following digital guidance.
  • The advancement of technology in decision-making hinges on understanding the human brain and mind, with uncertainties about the true nature of organisms and algorithms.

55:27

Technology shapes societies, not predetermined outcomes.

  • The 20th century demonstrated that technology, like trains, electricity, and cars, can be used to shape societies into various forms such as communist dictatorships, fascist regimes, or liberal democracies. An image of East Asia from space shows South Korea brightly lit, China also illuminated, and North Korea in darkness, highlighting that different choices in utilizing technology lead to contrasting outcomes. This visual example emphasizes that technology is not inherently deterministic, allowing for the possibility of influencing societal development based on decisions made.
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