Yuval Noah Harari on trust, the dangers of AI, power, and revolutions

What will it take to create AI that is as trustworthy, if not more trustworthy than humans?

This week, Reid and Aria sit down with Yuval Noah Harari, historian, philosopher, and best-selling author of several books including Nexus, Sapiens and Homo Deus. When it comes to outlook on AI, Yuval, Reid, and Aria agree on the importance of building both human trust in AI and AI that is genuinely truth-seeking, but they differ on how possible it is to achieve.

Together, they dig into their diverging opinions on the outcomes of the AI revolution, global cooperation, and how AI will learn from humans. They also discuss the differences between intelligence and consciousness, and whether conscious AI is a goal worth pursuing.

Yuval turns to history to ground his warnings about AI. Even though he’s cautious about technology, he is critical of cynicism. Yuval shares his philosophy on human compassion as a guiding principle that can allow us to steer away from collapse and ultimately, build a better AI future.

For more info on the podcast and transcripts of all the episodes, visit possible.fm/podcast

Topics:

3:38 - Hellos and intros

3:58 - Questions for the Buddha

5:48 - Yuval’s relationship with technology

8:57 - Technologies that help humans share stories and myths

10:37 - Is AI the most significant invention after writing

13:02 - How AI will transform society

20:12 - Guidance for a successful AI revolution

24:24 - Using AI to support humanity's self-correcting mechanisms

26:13 - Midroll

26:45 - How to build self-correcting mechanisms for a better future

31:28 - Humans as parents of AI

36:33 - What political leaders need to do to create a positive AI future

39:11 - Artificial intelligence v.s. artificial consciousness

42:35 - AI as a tool for rebuilding trust

44:50 - Rapid-fire Questions

Select mentions:

History of the Franks (goodreads.com/book/show/33327982) by Gregory of Tours

Heartstopper (netflix.com/title/81059939)

Possible is an award-winning podcast that sketches out the brightest version of the future—and what it will take to get there. Most of all, it asks: what if, in the future, everything breaks humanity's way? Tune in for grounded and speculative takes on how technology—and, in particular, AI—is inspiring change and transforming the future. Hosted by Reid Hoffman and Aria Finger, each episode features an interview with an ambitious builder or deep thinker on a topic, from art to geopolitics and from healthcare to education. Each episode seeks to enhance and advance our discussion about what humanity could possibly get right if we leverage technology—and our collective effort—effectively.