Book Recommendation: "Nexus"!

I finally finished reading "Nexus," and I am deeply shocked. This is another profoundly impactful #AI book following Fei-Fei Li's "AGENT AI." Please, do not read the domestic translated version "智人之上," which is missing over 200 pages and has cut out a lot of essential content.

Yuval Harari mentioned a viewpoint in his famous work "Sapiens: A Brief History of Humankind": after 70,000 years of evolution and cognitive revolution, Homo sapiens developed the ability to "tell stories," allowing a large group of people to believe in the same myth or religion, further enabling large-scale cooperation. This is also the core reason why humans as a species dominate the Earth. Before humans could tell stories, we only believed in objective reality and subjective reality. After learning to tell stories, we developed a reality that exists intersubjectively (reality exists within the content of the stories we tell). So if you have read "Sapiens," you will understand a key term mentioned in "Nexus": "information network." In the future, using AI to 'tell stories' to dominate the human information network will be an extremely frightening thing because the information network brings two effects: one is truth and reality, and the other is order. Truth and reality are what the common people may need, but order is something that the ruling class must control. So today, let's talk about this book "Nexus."

Yuval Harari's monumental work "Nexus" explores, through profound historical perspectives and interdisciplinary analysis, how information networks connect humanity and the potential impact of artificial intelligence (AI) on human civilization. This book not only continues his consistent depth of thought but is also more complex and challenging in content, making me reflect: Is the #AI world a future we can truly understand and control?

1️⃣ The Impact of Information Networks

Harari proposes in the book that the main driving force behind the development of human society in the past was the establishment and dissemination of information networks, which formed complex systems such as nations, religions, and finance. These systems essentially rely on the circulation and sharing of information, which is crucial because they provide the foundation for human cooperation and social order. Harari uses the concept of "information networks" to explain how human society has prospered under the impetus of these systems from ancient times to modernity and how it relies on the flow of information to maintain social order.

Harari cites three key social systems as examples: nations, religions, and finance, all of which are complex systems that connect billions of humans through information networks. Traditionally, we understand these systems through conventional disciplines such as sociology, political science, or economics. However, Harari argues that the core of these systems is actually the interaction of humans through the flow of information, forming a collective reality, or "intersubjective reality." This information network has been continuously upgraded over the past few hundred years, and with technological advancements, there have been significant changes in human social structures and the ways information flows.

2️⃣ The Conflict and Challenges of AI and Information Networks

However, Harari believes that the evolution of information networks has reached a critical turning point. With the addition of artificial intelligence (AI), we are facing the most drastic transformation in the history of information networks. This transformation is not only about the advancement of technology itself but also about the profound impact it may have on human social structures.

Harari compares the evolution of past information technologies to the transition from Windows 3.1 to Windows 10, pointing out that the rise of AI technology will have a more far-reaching impact on human civilization. More importantly, Harari believes that the speed of this upgrade and the changes it brings far exceed people's expectations. The addition of AI will not appear as abrupt or direct as traditional technological advancements; rather, it is a gradual and profound process that is reshaping our understanding of information, decision-making, and social order.

3️⃣ The Era Transformation from Y2K to AI

Harari uses Y2K (the Year 2000 problem) as a metaphor to remind people to pay attention to potential issues that may arise during the upgrade of information technology. During the Y2K crisis, the world was concerned that errors in programs could lead to catastrophic disasters affecting governments, banks, and even nuclear power plants. Today, the challenges brought by the addition of AI far exceed those of Y2K, with impacts that are multifaceted, and the speed of this transition is catching people off guard. Harari is not worried about a "robot rebellion" like in science fiction movies; rather, he is concerned that AI will change human decision-making and social structures in an "invisible" way, potentially triggering crises that we cannot foresee.

4️⃣ The Potential Dangers of AI

Harari also mentions in the book that the potential of AI is enormous, but it could also have devastating effects on social order. We have already seen experts, including AI "father" Geoffrey Hinton, warning that if humanity continues to advance AI technology in the current manner, ignoring the potential consequences, the future of humanity will become unpredictable and fraught with crises. Harari's views align with Hinton's, as he believes that the development of AI could fundamentally change our understanding of society, economy, and even survival.

Harari does not believe that AI will directly destroy human society; rather, through its dominance in information processing and decision-making, it could lead to the collapse of social order or deeper social inequalities and conflicts. The rise of AI will cause traditional information networks to malfunction, potentially undermining the ways humans have maintained social order. Human society may no longer be able to rely on traditional education, labor, and political systems as it did in the past, but will face a new "information network" dominated by artificial intelligence.

5️⃣ Truth and Misinformation

Harari also delves into the relationship between "truth" and "misinformation" in the book. He criticizes humanity's excessive reliance on information to pursue "truth," while neglecting the misleading nature of information itself. Especially in the age of the internet and social media, the speed of information dissemination is extremely fast, making the spread of misinformation and rumors exceptionally easy. Harari points out that the free flow of information does not necessarily lead to social rationality and progress; rather, it may exacerbate social division and extremism.

Particularly in the fields of religion, politics, and media, the flow of information is often used to manipulate public perception and promote specific political or economic interests. As he mentioned, while the invention of the printing press facilitated the scientific revolution, it also allowed some false information, like "witch hunts," to incite panic and violence. Today's social media, artificial intelligence, and information technology face similar challenges; their influence is changing the landscape of human society and may lead to serious distortions in our understanding of truth and facts.

In summary: Harari's "Nexus" is not just a book about artificial intelligence; it deeply explores how human society connects individuals through information networks and how it can fall into difficulties due to errors in these networks. Through this book, Harari not only shows us the future of technology but also warns us to cautiously respond to the social changes brought about by technology. It prompts us to reflect: In the rapid development of information and technology, are we ready to face the challenges that come with it, and how can we maintain control over human civilization amidst change? The rise of AI undoubtedly brings unprecedented challenges to human society, and Harari leads us to reflect on the information revolutions of the past and the unknown crises we may face in the future. In this era of uncertainty, Harari's insights provide us with a clear framework to understand how AI will impact the development of human civilization, making it a must-read. 🧐

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