Homo Deus: A Brief History of Tomorrow

Chapter 9 examines the potential implications of scientific and technological advancements on the liberal philosophy, particularly focusing on the economic and military usefulness of humans. The chapter discusses three possible future scenarios:

Humans losing economic and military usefulness: The chapter begins by speculating that humans may lose their economic and military value due to technological advancements. Historically, every human had economic and military importance—a concept tied to liberal democracy and individual rights. However, with the rise of AI and robotics, humans might become redundant in many fields. For instance, the evolution from mass conscription in wars to sophisticated technology-dependent armies implies a reduced need for human soldiers. Similarly, in the economic sphere, many jobs currently done by humans are becoming automated.

Value in humans collectively, but not as individuals: The second possibility discussed is that the value of humans may be perceived collectively rather than at the individual level. This could challenge the liberal view of individual rights and significance.

Value in a new elite of superhumans: The third scenario proposes the emergence of a new elite class of enhanced “superhumans” while the majority of the population loses their individual value. This could lead to unprecedented social inequality and challenges to current societal structures.

The chapter also touches upon the idea that intelligence is becoming decoupled from consciousness. Machines are now capable of performing tasks requiring intelligence, traditionally seen as the domain of conscious beings. This decoupling raises questions about the value of human consciousness if machines can outperform humans in tasks requiring cognitive abilities.

Further, the chapter explores the potential impact of AI on various professions, including medicine, law, and the arts. It questions the assumption that certain human abilities, like creativity, will remain beyond the reach of algorithms. For example, AI programs are already composing music and creating art, challenging the belief in the unique creative ability of humans.

The chapter also raises concerns about the future job market, automation, and the potential for vast segments of the population becoming economically redundant. Harari suggests that humans may need to find new ways to occupy and sustain these “useless,” in his mind, masses, possibly through virtual reality and other forms of digital engagement. This shift, Harari writes, could undermine the liberal belief in the individual’s authority and freedom.

The life sciences suggest that humans are not individuals with a single inner voice but rather a collection of algorithms. This challenges the liberal belief in individualism and free will. It implies that external algorithms could potentially understand and manage humans better than they understand themselves.

As technology advances, it’s possible that algorithms will make decisions for humans, based on their superior understanding of biometric data and behavioral patterns. This could result in a shift of authority from humans to algorithms, changing how people perceive autonomy and decision-making.

The chapter shifts to discussing how medical technologies, such as genetic testing and biometric monitoring, can lead to improved health outcomes but at the cost of privacy. People might willingly give up privacy for better healthcare, allowing corporations and governments unprecedented access to personal data.

There is a concern that future technologies might widen the gap between the rich and poor. While the wealthy could afford enhancements that significantly improve their abilities, the poor might be left behind, potentially creating a new form of inequality based on biological capabilities.

With the rise of advanced algorithms, experiences and decisions may increasingly be guided by technology, changing the nature of human existence. This includes everything from health decisions to personal choices like whom to date or marry.

The chapter concludes that if the shift toward algorithm-driven decision-making and biological enhancements continues, it could mark the end of liberalism as humans know it. The ideology’s foundation on individualism and human authority might not hold in a world where humans are guided and governed by algorithms.

Chapter 9 posits a future where human individuality and decision-making are significantly influenced, if not controlled, by technological advancements, challenging the core tenets of liberalism and possibly leading to new forms of social and biological stratification.

Chapter 10 discusses the emergence of new techno-religions, which are likely to arise not from traditional religious centers but from scientific research laboratories. These new belief systems promise salvation through technology rather than divine beings. The chapter focuses on two main types of techno-religions: techno-humanism and data religion.

Techno-humanism: This belief system acknowledges that Homo sapiens, as humans know them, have reached their developmental peak and will no longer be relevant in the future. However, rather than discarding humanity, techno-humanism suggests using technology to create Homo deus—a superior human model with enhanced physical and mental abilities. This aligns with the concept of evolutionary humanism but diverges from earlier, more brutal methods like those of the Nazis. Instead, it advocates genetic engineering, nanotechnology, and brain-computer interfaces for human enhancement.

Data religion: Data religion, which will be explored further in the next chapter, posits that humans have fulfilled their cosmic role and should pass the torch to entirely new entities, presumably advanced technological beings or systems.

Cognitive revolution and human mind: The chapter revisits the cognitive revolution, which drastically transformed Homo sapiens and led to the creation of complex societies, languages, and technologies. It suggests that a second cognitive revolution, fueled by technological advancements, might open up unknown mental realms and experiences.

Challenges of upgrading the mind: Techno-humanism aims to enhance the human mind, but it faces significant challenges due to an incomplete understanding of mental states and consciousness. There’s a risk that in their pursuit of certain enhanced mental states, humans might lose other valuable aspects of their minds, such as the capacity for empathy, creativity, or deep thinking.

Manipulation of desires: A fundamental dilemma for techno-humanism is the ability to manipulate and redesign human desires using technology. This could undermine the humanist belief in the sanctity of human will, as desires could become mere products of technological intervention.

Dataism: The chapter introduces dataism, a new belief system that venerates data and information rather than human experiences or divine entities. Dataism foresees a world where meaning and authority derive from the flow and processing of data, rather than from human-centric values.

This chapter explores the potential future of human beliefs in the face of rapid technological advancements, highlighting the challenges and paradoxes of enhancing human capabilities and potentially transcending human-centric worldviews.

Harari takes a closer look at dataism, a new philosophical and scientific paradigm. Dataism proposes that the universe consists of data flows and that the value of any entity is determined by its contribution to data processing. This concept has roots in both computer science and biology, viewing organisms as biochemical algorithms and suggesting electronic algorithms might eventually replace human intelligence.

Dataism presents a significant shift from humanism, redefining understanding and significance in terms of data processing rather than human experience. This change has implications for numerous fields, suggesting that everything from music to economics can be understood using the same data-centric approach.

The chapter further explores the practical implementation of dataism, which could accelerate human endeavors in health, happiness, and power. However, as authority shifts from humans to algorithms, humanistic values may become obsolete. This raises questions about the future role of humans in a data-dominated world.

One of the key arguments of dataism is that as technology, especially AI, becomes more advanced, it will surpass human capabilities in processing data. This leads to the suggestion that humans should rely more on algorithms for decision-making.

Dataism also challenges traditional human-centric perspectives, suggesting that human experiences and emotions, once considered sacred and unique, are merely data outputs of biochemical algorithms. This viewpoint diminishes the intrinsic value of human experiences and suggests they might be replaceable by more efficient algorithms.

The chapter concludes by acknowledging that these ideas are speculative and that the future is uncertain. It raises three crucial questions: Are organisms just algorithms, and is life just data processing? Is intelligence more valuable than consciousness? What happens to society and individuality when algorithms understand humans better than they understand themselves?