This book surveys the history of humankind from the Stone Age to the 21st century, focusing on Homo sapiens. It divides human history into four major parts: the Cognitive Revolution, the Agricultural Revolution, the Unification of Humankind, and the Scientific Revolution. Harari argues that Homo sapiens dominate the world due to their unique ability to cooperate in large numbers through beliefs in imagined realities such as gods, nations, money, and human rights. The book also examines the impact of human activities on the global ecosystem and speculates on the future of humanity, including the potential for genetic engineering and non-organic life.
**Are we losing our humanity to machines?** In a world where AI never sleeps, humans are being forced to keep up with an unforgiving digital cycle. This episode explores the growing tension between organic life—bound by rest, seasons, and natural rhythms—and the relentless, inorganic system of algorithms that now shape our reality. Even the tech leaders building AI admit they’re afraid of what they’re creating. But if we’re at a turning point in the history of the universe, are we in control—or just bystanders in the rise of something bigger? **The next phase of evolution is here, but will we survive it?**
“What's happening now in the world is tension between organic animals and an inorganic digital system which is increasingly controlling and shaping the entire world.”
Part of existing as an “organic entity” such as a human is that we live our lives by cycles: Day, night. Winter, summer, Growth, decay. Sometimes we’re active, other times we need rest. But algorithms and computers never need rest – they are ‘on’ all the time.In a world that is becoming increasingly more digital, humans are being forced to adapt to the “always on” schedule of these systems, says @YuvalNoahHarari, the best-selling author of 'Sapiens' and ‘Nexus,’ while in conversation with journalist Andrew Ross Sorkin @92NY.Adapting to these schedules has made our lives more and more public, creating a life that mirrors “one long job interview,” says Harari, as any of our actions can be chronicled and follow us around for decades. At its crux, this is destructive to how we function. Here’s how we got here, and how we can course-correct, according to the historian.
About Yuval Noah Harari:Prof. Yuval Noah Harari is a historian, philosopher, and the bestselling author of Sapiens: A Brief History of Humankind, Homo Deus: A Brief History of Tomorrow, 21 Lessons for the 21st Century, the series Sapiens: A Graphic History and Unstoppable Us, and Nexus: A Brief History of Information Networks from the Stone Age to AI. His books have sold over 45 Million copies in 65 languages, and he is considered one of the world’s most influential public intellectuals today.
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