Who we are? What should we aspire to? What is a good life, and how should we live it? All these questions define what humans are going to do in the future. Despite not offering direct answers to such questions, Nexus contributes to a deeper understanding of these queries. Nexus: A Brief History of Information Networks from the Stone Age to AI by Yuval Noah Harari is an extensive exploration of humans building networks based on the flow of information.

Harari’s writing takes the reader through time, logically linking past and present. He presented the foundational role of information in cooperation, shaping societies, narratives, and biases via tales, stories, and bureaucratic systems, and through digital networks. He also presented some bold ideas and threats about AI and some urgent questions related to the potential challenges to it. However, being a historian, he made broad and provocative claims instead of providing a thorough in-depth analysis of artificial intelligence. He misses the potential of AI in major fields like healthcare and education.

Harari effectively portrays how man-made myths and religions worked as early information networks in history

Firstly, the strength of Nexus lies in connecting past and present, representing how information played its foundational role in history. Harari effectively portrays how man-made myths and religions worked as early information networks in history. It shaped political narratives, formed religious associations, and built societal structures based on who presented information and how was that information influential. Which enabled large-scale collaboration of humans

Secondly, he stretched this idea to the structure of bureaucracy in building empires highlighting the role of writing in saving records and spreading more information. According to him, the invention of writing helped humans to store large information and spread it to a large number of people thus equipped human civilization to expand. He also discussed the rigidity and oppression of this unnecessarily complicated system which he called “paper tigers.”

Harari excels in historical synthesis, offering a compelling comparison that helps readers see the current digital world within the broader pattern of historical development

In addition to this, the author’s self-correcting mechanism is also a thought-provoking concept. He highlighted the tension between adaptability and tradition in contrast with political and religious dogma as a static authority. While explaining the self-correcting mechanism he gives an example of how the US Constitution is amendable but the religious scriptures are considered infallible. Which he thinks is hindering human progress.  Harari excels in historical synthesis, offering a compelling comparison that helps readers see the current digital world within the broader pattern of historical development.

AI possesses a unique ability to learn and make autonomous decisions

Moreover, the book raises some urgent questions too regarding the excessive use of artificial intelligence in different fields. He argues that AI is replacing humans because it stands apart from all other previous technologies. Unlike, the printing press, which can only replicate human thoughts, written documents, that still need human interpretations, and even early computers, which depend on human commands. AI possesses a unique ability to learn and make autonomous decisions. Due to this, it is replacing humans in laboratories, factories, shopping malls, and even in the military, AI tools have been introduced that will make autonomous decisions.    In this case, humans are being expelled out of the equation.

As its decisions are logical and data-driven, they can sometimes lead to unexpected or even unethical outcomes

Additionally, about AI, he claims that it is an existential threat because it lacks ethical judgments and emotional intelligence. Referring to the Chinese Social Credit System, he argues that, human characters are decided by human-made machines. AI makes decisions without emotional depth. It purely works on data and algorithms. This means that it lacks empathy, remorse, and the ability to navigate moral issues as humans do. As its decisions are logical and data-driven, they can sometimes lead to unexpected or even unethical outcomes.

Harari’s work provides a brief history of information but no work can be without its shortcomings.

It has disproportionally emphasized political and religious frameworks, neglecting important economic and technological contexts

However, the book’s scope is narrower than its promised statement, as its title promises a brief history of information networks. It has disproportionally emphasized political and religious frameworks, neglecting important economic and technological contexts. The authors gloss over the role of the market pricing system and the invention of the Internet, both of which are keys to understanding modern information networks. This omission undermines the book’s claim of being a comprehensive perspective of information networks.

In addition to this, his arguments are based on cherry-picked examples. Like, he argues that sapiens’ dominated Neanderthals (Ex-human species) primarily due to story-telling; ignoring crucial factors like language and coordination skills. Similarly, he presented Oppenheimer’s atoms bomb as a technological paradigm shift but ignored Darwin’s theory of evolution, which had an equally transformative impact on human understanding. These carefully chosen examples show his persuasion rather than proof.

He focused on the information’s flow throughout history, via different modes of transmission but never discussed the language and its importance in the exchange of information

Furthermore, Harari also failed to discuss the language, which is one of the most important mediums for the flow of information and building networks. He focused on the information’s flow throughout history, via different modes of transmission but never discussed the language and its importance in the exchange of information.

AI is challenging for humanity, it needs deeper understanding, ethical guidance, and responsible innovation to truly empower humanity

As mentioned above, Hirari presented the dark side of artificial intelligence ignoring its potential. AI is transforming the healthcare system via its modern diagnostic system, its robot operations, and personalized treatments. He also neglected its role in enhancing education, as it provides personalized and cheap education; similarly, he also ignored its transforming role in agriculture. Although AI is challenging for humanity, it needs deeper understanding, ethical guidance, and responsible innovation to truly empower humanity.

Despite its limited flaws, Nexus remains a valuable book to read. It provides a comprehensive analysis of the past and present, which makes it interesting and engaging. But, it also feels frustrating sometimes due to its excessive religious and political examples. It is recommended for those who take a keen interest in history, technology, and societal changes.  Yuval Noah Harari made a great contribution to this field.

Disclaimer: The opinions expressed in this article are solely those of the author. They do not represent the views, beliefs, or policies of the Stratheia.