Nexus: A Brief History of Information Networks from the Stone Age to AI
By Yuval Noah Harari
Random House
ISBN: 978-0593734223
528pp.

Yuval Noah Harari, a renowned historian and philosopher, has made a significant mark as one of today’s leading public thinkers. Born in 1976 in Israel, with a PhD from the University of Oxford in 2002, he now lectures at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem. Harari holds a distinguished research role at the University of Cambridge’s Centre for the Study of Existential Risk.

Best known for his groundbreaking works such as Sapiens, Homo Deus, and 21 Lessons for the 21st Century, Harari also co-founded the social impact venture Sapienship with his husband, Itzik Yahav. His latest offering, Nexus, delves deeply into a new topic making waves these days — Artificial Intelligence (AI).

This thought-provoking book is divided into three sections, and partly based on facts, and partly on speculation. In it, Harari explores deep questions about identity, consciousness and intelligence, offering clear explanations through vivid stories and analogies. His ability to connect insights from various fields such as history, neuroscience, philosophy and artificial intelligence makes him more than just a historian — he feels like a modern-day guide to understanding our past and future.

The first section, titled ‘Human Networks’, delves into the nature of information and its boundless connections. It highlights the power of documents in shaping authority and challenges the illusion of perfection. In the chapter ‘A Brief History of Democracy and Totalitarianism’, he traces the evolution of governance. He challenges what he calls the “naive view” of information.

Yuval Noah Hariri’s latest book delves into how information systems have shaped human destiny, the role of artificial intelligence in today’s world and the intricate relationship between technology, power and governance

He argues that simply having more information doesn’t always lead to truth — after all, the internet didn’t end totalitarianism, and racism isn’t something that can just be fact-checked away. At the same time, Harari pushes back against the “populist view” that objective truth doesn’t exist and that information is just a tool for manipulation.

Interestingly, he points out that the idea of truth being subjective, now popular with right-wing politicians, originally came from left-wing thinkers such as Karl Marx and Michel Foucault. These themes come together to offer a compelling exploration of how knowledge, errors and decision-making shape societies and nations.

In the second section, ‘The Inorganic Network’, Harari takes a deep dive into the unique power and pitfalls of modern networks, explaining how computers differ from the printing press by being constantly active and interconnected. He emphasises the relentless nature of digital networks that are always on, literally 24/7, yet acknowledges their fallibility, often spreading misinformation.

He argues that information is more about connecting and organising ideas and people, rather than representing reality. He describes it as a “social nexus”, with early forms, such as stories, clay tablets and religious texts helping to maintain social order.

Building on ideas from Sapiens and Homo Deus, he explains that humans thrived because they could cooperate in large groups, using shared stories and myths to create laws, currencies and nations. These stories didn’t need to be completely accurate — they worked because they could be simplified and ignore uncomfortable truths. Through these insights, Harari sheds light on the complexity and influence of today’s technological landscape.

The last section, ‘Computer Politics’, explores the ability of democracies to maintain meaningful conversations in an increasingly divided world, scrutinises the rise of algorithm-driven totalitarian regimes, and analyses the potential divide in our digital landscape, between a unified global empire and a fractured world. Here, Harari addresses the intricate relationship between technology, power and governance.

Harari contrasts myth and lists — myths are engaging but not always accurate, while lists capture reality but lead to bureaucracy. Both are necessary for social order. He compares holy texts and the scientific method as different ways of addressing trust and truth. Harari extends this idea to politics, viewing democracy and totalitarianism as different information systems.

Democracy relies on decentralised information and accepts leaders’ fallibility, while totalitarianism centralises control. He also notes that, starting in the 19th century, mass media enabled democracy but also helped large-scale totalitarian regimes and, today, digital media is reshaping politics.

He combines his usual blend of history, humour and far-reaching ideas, drawing on everything from religion to evolutionary biology. Some readers may enjoy his rapid shifts between topics, while others might find it overwhelming. A key point Harari raises is the parallel between holy books and artificial intelligence, both attempts to create a “superhuman authority.” He warns that decisions made today about AI could have massive consequences for humanity’s future, much like early decisions about the Bible have shaped history.

Harari sees AI not just as technology but as “alien intelligence” capable of becoming powerful actors in society. He worries that AI could worsen existing problems, such as cyber-attacks, surveillance and online radicalisation, even creating new political movements and financial risks.

While some of his scenarios, such as an autocrat trusting AI over humans with nuclear weapons, may seem far-fetched, his overall narrative is engaging and thought-provoking. His outsider perspective on tech offers fresh insights, making his book a unique bridge between history and the AI debate.

The reviewer is a content lead at a communications agency

Published in Dawn, Books & Authors, October 20th, 2024