The speaker discusses the future of human evolution with historian and author Yuval Noah Harari. Harari is known for his book "Sapiens," which became a global bestseller and made him a prominent thinker on the planet. However, his focus is not on our past, but our future. He believes we are on the brink of creating a new kind of being, one that is far more intelligent than we are. Harari is concerned about the potential dangers of this development.
He argues that technologies such as genetic engineering, brain-computer interfaces, and artificial intelligence are developing at a breakneck pace, potentially creating a new species. This could lead to greater inequality, as the new technologies might only be accessible to the rich or people from certain countries. Harari warns that this could lead to a split in Homo sapiens into different biological castes, with different bodies and abilities.
Harari has written two more books, "Homo Deus" and "21 Lessons for the 21st Century," which discuss these challenges. He emphasizes the importance of global cooperation to regulate the power of artificial intelligence, as it cannot be regulated on a national level alone. He concludes by warning about the most dangerous possibilities and urging action to prevent them.
Here are the key facts extracted from the text:
1. Yuval Noah Harari's first book, "Sapiens," was published in 2014 and became a global bestseller.
2. Harari believes that humans may be on the brink of creating a new, enhanced species of human or an entirely new kind of being.
3. Harari thinks that artificial intelligence could be more intelligent than humans but lack consciousness.
4. Harari has written two books about the challenges humans face in the future: "Homo Deus" and "21 Lessons for the 21st Century."
5. Harari's books have sold more than 35 million copies and been translated into 65 languages.
6. Harari's writings have been recommended by President Barack Obama, Bill Gates, and Mark Zuckerberg.
7. Harari is concerned about the misuse of data and the potential for greater inequality in the future.
8. Harari believes that data is more valuable than money in today's world.
9. Harari thinks that the countries and companies that control the most data will be the ones that control the world in the future.
10. Harari is concerned about the potential for biometric data to be used to manipulate individuals.
11. Harari proposes three principles to limit the misuse of data: data should be used to help individuals, not manipulate them; surveillance of individuals should be balanced by surveillance of corporations and governments; and data should not be concentrated in one place.
12. Harari is working on an interactive exhibit that will take visitors through the history of human evolution and challenge them to think about the future of mankind.
13. Harari is teaching courses at Israel's Hebrew University in ethics and philosophy for computer scientists and bioengineers.
14. The United Nations has suggested a moratorium on artificial intelligence systems that seriously threaten human rights until safeguards are agreed upon.
15. Advisors to President Biden are proposing a "Bill of Rights" to guard against some of the new technologies.