Take a photo of a barcode or cover
1.03k reviews for:
Nexus: A Brief History of Information Networks from the Stone Age to AI
Yuval Noah Harari
4.06 AVERAGE
1.03k reviews for:
Nexus: A Brief History of Information Networks from the Stone Age to AI
Yuval Noah Harari
4.06 AVERAGE
challenging
emotional
hopeful
informative
medium-paced
funny
informative
reflective
medium-paced
Audiobook-
Didn’t love it as much as his first two books- felt like we were retreading old ground in the first half to some degree, felt like I’d come across more of the ideas in this one elsewhere already.
Format probably has somethin to do with it though, missing nuance in what are some dense and large ideas.
Would like to reread in physical form some time.
Didn’t love it as much as his first two books- felt like we were retreading old ground in the first half to some degree, felt like I’d come across more of the ideas in this one elsewhere already.
Format probably has somethin to do with it though, missing nuance in what are some dense and large ideas.
Would like to reread in physical form some time.
dark
hopeful
informative
medium-paced
informative
reflective
medium-paced
informative
reflective
medium-paced
hopeful
informative
inspiring
reflective
medium-paced
This book provides a very interesting take on how we as a society will be challenged by AI and what we might do to harness its power for good and not end up in a dystopian world war or algorithm-based society.
In his recognizable style Harari does not look at AI from the perspective of the next step in computing but (as the title says) as the next step in human and digital networks. As such this is the first and perhaps the only book that starts in the prehistory to search for valid statements on the nature, opportunities and risks of AI.
So reading this book you'll learn a lot about human history, human nature, how one can look at the digital revolution and other revolutions. And you will be invited to go places in your mind that you seldomly see.
What I particularly appreciated is how this book seemed thematically more personal than previous books I've read from Harari. And personally, I really enjoyed how we learn a lot about institutionalized religion and tyranny and their dark histories. Harari as a by product of thinking about AI really destroys any form of dogmatic thinking and its adverse effects on the world.
So in a nutshell, I really enjoyed and would really recommend this book!
In his recognizable style Harari does not look at AI from the perspective of the next step in computing but (as the title says) as the next step in human and digital networks. As such this is the first and perhaps the only book that starts in the prehistory to search for valid statements on the nature, opportunities and risks of AI.
So reading this book you'll learn a lot about human history, human nature, how one can look at the digital revolution and other revolutions. And you will be invited to go places in your mind that you seldomly see.
What I particularly appreciated is how this book seemed thematically more personal than previous books I've read from Harari. And personally, I really enjoyed how we learn a lot about institutionalized religion and tyranny and their dark histories. Harari as a by product of thinking about AI really destroys any form of dogmatic thinking and its adverse effects on the world.
So in a nutshell, I really enjoyed and would really recommend this book!
challenging
informative
reflective
medium-paced
The companion to Homo Deus where now shit is real. Definitely the AI book we need right now as the Silicon Valley overlords crack their knuckles and cozy up to the inept authoritarian populist.
I fear they won’t get the bejeesus regulated out of their nefarious asses, as they should; Mark Zuckerberg will continue to metaphorically (though probably literally, too?) cannibalize our faces et al for profit. Harari did a good job of reminding me about the blood on his hands for Rohingya. What a sociopath. We might never recover from those Facebook (“Meta” whatever the fuck) algorithms designed to drive engagement as the paramount goal and the subsequent outrage culture that followed with no regard for truth and moderation.
Once Harari turns to the second part of this book, he really gets cooking!
“No matter where we live, we might find ourselves cocooned by a web of unfathomable algorithms that manage our lives, reshape our politics and culture, and even reengineer our bodies and minds — while we can no longer comprehend the forces that control us, let alone stop them. If a twenty-first century totalitarian network succeeds in conquering the world, it may be run by nonhuman intelligence, rather than a human dictator. People who single out China, Russia, or a post-democratic United States as their main source for totalitarian nightmares misunderstand the danger.”
“As far as we know today, apes, rats, and the other organic animals of planet Earth may be the only conscious entities in the entire universe. We have now created a nonconscious but very powerful alien intelligence. If we mishandle it, AI might extinguish not only the human dominion on Earth but the light of consciousness itself, turning the universe into a realm of utter darkness.”
“The tendency to create powerful things with unintended consequences started not with the invention of the steam engine or AI but with the invention of religion. Prophets and theologians have summoned powerful spirits that were supposed to bring love and joy but occasionally ended up flooding the world with blood.”
“The Bible had a profound effect on billions of people, even though it was a mute document. Now try to imagine the effect of a holy book that not only can talk and listen but can get to know your deepest fears and hopes and constantly mold them.”
“Democratic regimes choose to use modern information technology to distribute the flow of information between more institutions and more individuals and encourage the free pursuit of truth. They consequently have to struggle with the danger of fracturing. Like a solar system with more and more planets circling faster and faster, can the center still hold, or will things fall apart and anarchy prevail?”
I fear they won’t get the bejeesus regulated out of their nefarious asses, as they should; Mark Zuckerberg will continue to metaphorically (though probably literally, too?) cannibalize our faces et al for profit. Harari did a good job of reminding me about the blood on his hands for Rohingya. What a sociopath. We might never recover from those Facebook (“Meta” whatever the fuck) algorithms designed to drive engagement as the paramount goal and the subsequent outrage culture that followed with no regard for truth and moderation.
Once Harari turns to the second part of this book, he really gets cooking!
“No matter where we live, we might find ourselves cocooned by a web of unfathomable algorithms that manage our lives, reshape our politics and culture, and even reengineer our bodies and minds — while we can no longer comprehend the forces that control us, let alone stop them. If a twenty-first century totalitarian network succeeds in conquering the world, it may be run by nonhuman intelligence, rather than a human dictator. People who single out China, Russia, or a post-democratic United States as their main source for totalitarian nightmares misunderstand the danger.”
“As far as we know today, apes, rats, and the other organic animals of planet Earth may be the only conscious entities in the entire universe. We have now created a nonconscious but very powerful alien intelligence. If we mishandle it, AI might extinguish not only the human dominion on Earth but the light of consciousness itself, turning the universe into a realm of utter darkness.”
“The tendency to create powerful things with unintended consequences started not with the invention of the steam engine or AI but with the invention of religion. Prophets and theologians have summoned powerful spirits that were supposed to bring love and joy but occasionally ended up flooding the world with blood.”
“The Bible had a profound effect on billions of people, even though it was a mute document. Now try to imagine the effect of a holy book that not only can talk and listen but can get to know your deepest fears and hopes and constantly mold them.”
“Democratic regimes choose to use modern information technology to distribute the flow of information between more institutions and more individuals and encourage the free pursuit of truth. They consequently have to struggle with the danger of fracturing. Like a solar system with more and more planets circling faster and faster, can the center still hold, or will things fall apart and anarchy prevail?”
adventurous
challenging
informative
reflective
tense
medium-paced
Wonderful book, could be more concise in some parts but I personally enjoy his commentary because I find it quite entertaining as a history buff so no complaints! As someone entering engineering I think this should be an essential read in all engineering ethics courses, or at least some excerpts. Would also love to see some politicians read this material, or hear similar warnings. I found the material quite entertaining overall, very happy!!!