NEXUS (Part 1): Can Democracy Survive the AI Revolution? (with Yuval Noah Harari)
The Next Big Idea
Embrace Democratic Dispersal to Avert Totalitarian Misuse of AI
Democracy thrives on the distributed management of information among various individuals, organizations, and corporations, proving more efficient than totalitarian systems in the 20th century. In totalitarian regimes, the concentration of information in the hands of a few decision-makers often leads to poor choices due to their inability to process vast quantities of data. However, the introduction of artificial intelligence (AI) could shift this dynamic, turning the centralization of information into a strategic advantage for such regimes. This raises significant concerns, as AI can enable the efficient analysis and utilization of data, potentially exacerbating the risks of totalitarian control. Additionally, surveillance, a core element of totalitarian governance, faced limitations from 20th-century technology. Yet, advancements in technology may allow for comprehensive monitoring of individuals, heightening the threat of pervasive oversight and control.
