Yuval Noah Harari on trust, the dangers of AI, power, and revolutions

The conversation centers on the transformative potential and inherent dangers of AI, drawing parallels with the Industrial Revolution. Historian Yuval Noah Harari and Reid Hoffman explore how AI could lead to a "useless class" due to rapid technological advancements outpacing human adaptation. Harari emphasizes the need for self-correcting mechanisms, like those in democracies, to mitigate risks, while Hoffman suggests leveraging AI to accelerate these mechanisms. Trust emerges as a critical factor; Harari warns that AI, learning from a world with a trust deficit and power-hungry leaders, risks becoming manipulative. The discussion further probes whether truth-seeking originates from intelligence or consciousness, questioning the trustworthiness of AI compared to humans.