I had been eagerly waiting to get my hands on 'Nexus', the latest book by Yuval Noah Harari. Like his previous books, Nexus is equally impressive—not just for its depth of knowledge and wisdom but for Harari's powerful narrative style, which never fails to draw me in. Harari understands that storytelling is the real 'magic' that unites large groups of people—and he excels at it in his books.
What is particularly impressive about Nexus is that to fact-check it, you would almost need to be a historian, sociologist, anthropologist, and biologist all at once. But to understand it? You can be an everyday reader. Harari’s brilliance lies in his ability to present complex issues, draw us in through storytelling, and bring it all to life with vivid narratives that bounce between history and the future with ease. His choice of words is precise and impactful; though he knows a complex word might capture the exact meaning, he deliberately opts for language that everyone can understand
In Nexus, Harari confronts the powerful, double-edged sword of AI and its impact on humanity. Imagine the view of someone who understands the past, has great insights into the future, and is also a phenomenal storyteller. That is Harari. With Nexus, he compels us to consider what happens when AI isn’t just a supporting tool but an autonomous force capable of making decisions and reshaping our world.
A few of his punchlines are worth mentioning:
“Information glues networks together.”
“More information means greater accuracy”
“AI is the first technology in history that can make decisions and create new ideas by itself.”
“AI isn’t a tool but an agent.”
“Information isn’t truth.”
And finally, "The decisions we all make in the coming years will determine whether summoning this (AI) proves to be a terminal error or the beginning of a hopeful new chapter in the evolution of life."
Comments