Why fascism is so tempting -- and how your data could power it | Yuval Noah Harari

TED

8 Jun 201818:23

EducationalLearning

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TLDRIn a digital address, Yuval Noah Harari discusses the resurgence of fascism, emphasizing the dangers of centralizing data and the potential for dictatorships to exploit technological advances in AI and biotechnology. He contrasts nationalism with fascism and warns about the seductive appeal of fascism, which distorts self-perception. Harari highlights the risks posed by both governments and corporations controlling data and stresses the importance of preventing data monopolies to safeguard democracy. He also reflects on humanity's historical resilience and the unpredictable impact of human folly on future crises.

Takeaways

😀 Yuval Noah Harari humorously introduces himself as a digital avatar and starts the discussion with a provocative question about fascism in the audience.
🏛 Harari clarifies the difference between nationalism and fascism, explaining that while nationalism fosters community and cooperation, fascism promotes supreme loyalty to the nation above all else.
🌍 He highlights that prosperous and peaceful countries often have a strong sense of nationalism, contrasting with nations lacking it, which tend to be violent and poor.
🔍 Fascism is characterized by an exclusive focus on national identity, disregarding other loyalties and identities, which can lead to extreme actions in the name of the nation.
🎨 Fascism evaluates culture, including art and education, solely based on whether it serves the nation's interests, disregarding truth and individual expression.
👻 Harari warns of the seductive nature of fascism, which can make people see themselves as part of something beautiful and supreme, a dangerous self-deception.
📊 The speaker discusses the shift from land to machines and now to data as the most important asset, with control over data becoming the new form of political power.
🤖 The rise of AI and machine learning could potentially make centralized data processing more efficient, challenging the traditional advantage of democratic distributed decision-making.
🧬 The convergence of information technology and biotechnology poses a threat to democracy, as algorithms could manipulate individuals' emotions and beliefs more effectively than ever before.
🛡 To safeguard democracy, Harari emphasizes the importance of controlling data distribution and preventing its concentration in too few hands, as well as ensuring distributed data processing remains efficient.
🧐 He calls for personal self-awareness to resist manipulation and to recognize and reject the false allure of fascism, urging individuals to understand their weaknesses and not let them be exploited.

Q & A

What does Yuval Noah Harari find funny about his situation at the beginning of the speech?
-Yuval Noah Harari finds it funny that he wrote about humans becoming digital, but he didn't expect it to happen so fast and to himself.
How does Harari distinguish between fascism and nationalism?
-Harari explains that nationalism believes in the uniqueness of a nation and special obligations towards it, while fascism asserts the supremacy of a nation and exclusive obligations to it, disregarding other identities and loyalties.
What examples does Harari give to show the positive impact of nationalism?
-Harari mentions prosperous and peaceful countries like Sweden, Switzerland, and Japan, which have a strong sense of nationalism, contrasting them with countries like Congo, Somalia, and Afghanistan, which lack strong nationalism and are violent and poor.
How does Harari describe the way fascists view art?
-Harari states that fascists evaluate art based on whether it serves the interests of the nation. If a movie serves national interests, it's considered good; if not, it's considered bad.
What is the main problem with fascism, according to Harari?
-The main problem with fascism, according to Harari, is that it makes people see themselves as far more beautiful and important than they really are, exploiting their vanity.
What new technological realities does Harari believe will change the nature of fascism and dictatorship?
-Harari believes that the merger of information technology and biotechnology, leading to algorithms that know individuals better than they know themselves, will change the nature of fascism and dictatorship by enabling more efficient centralized control.
What does Harari identify as the greatest danger to liberal democracy?
-Harari identifies the concentration of data in the hands of governments or small elites, making dictatorships more efficient than democracies due to advances in artificial intelligence and machine learning, as the greatest danger to liberal democracy.
What responsibility does Harari suggest for engineers and the general public to protect democracy?
-Harari suggests that engineers should find ways to prevent data concentration and ensure efficient distributed data processing, while the general public should be aware of their weaknesses to avoid being manipulated by those controlling the data.
How does Harari relate the manipulation of emotions to the challenges faced by democracy?
-Harari explains that democracy is based on human feelings, not rationality. If emotions can be manipulated effectively by external systems, democracy could become an emotional puppet show.
What historical perspective does Harari provide about humanity overcoming previous crises?
-Harari notes that despite current challenges, humanity has overcome worse crises before, such as those in 1938 and 1968. However, he warns against underestimating human stupidity, which has historically shaped significant events.

Outlines

00:00

😀 Understanding Fascism and Nationalism

The speaker humorously introduces the concept of humans becoming digital, reflecting on the rapid pace of this change. They then pose a provocative question about the presence of 'fascists' in the audience to highlight the confusion between the terms 'fascism' and 'nationalism'. The speaker clarifies that mild nationalism has been beneficial, creating communities among strangers, and contrasts this with the supremacy and exclusivity inherent in fascism. Fascism denies other identities and loyalties, demanding absolute allegiance to the nation, even at the expense of truth and beauty. The speaker uses the evaluation of art and education as examples to illustrate the fascist perspective, which prioritizes national interests over truth.

05:00

😱 The Seductive Dangers of Fascism

This paragraph delves into the allure of fascism, which is often misunderstood as simply monstrous. The speaker argues that real-life evil can be attractive, drawing parallels with Christian art that depicts Satan as alluring. Fascism seduces by making individuals feel part of the most important entity—the nation. The speaker warns that this self-perception can distort reality, as different nations in the 1930s saw themselves as supreme. The paragraph concludes by suggesting that while fascism and dictatorships may return, they will be shaped by 21st-century technology, with data becoming the new battleground for control.

10:00

🤖 The Technological Threat to Democracy

The speaker discusses the shift from land to machines and now to data as the most valuable asset, highlighting how this transition impacts politics and the concept of dictatorship. They express concern that advancements in AI and machine learning could make centralized data processing more efficient, potentially strengthening authoritarian regimes. The paragraph also raises the issue of biotechnology merging with information technology, creating algorithms that could manipulate human emotions and preferences. This development could undermine democracy, as it relies on human feelings, which could be easily swayed by those controlling the data.

15:02

🛡 Strategies for Protecting Democracy

In the final paragraph, the speaker outlines strategies to combat the resurgence of fascism and the rise of new dictatorships. They emphasize the importance of controlling data and preventing its concentration in too few hands. For engineers, the challenge is to ensure distributed data processing remains efficient. For others, the task is to avoid manipulation by understanding and acknowledging personal weaknesses. The speaker warns of the tactics used by enemies of democracy to exploit emotions like fear and hate. They conclude by advising the audience to recognize their own vulnerabilities to resist the seductive appeal of fascism and to maintain a clear self-perception, urging them to 'break the mirror' of distorted self-image.

🌐 Reflections on the Future of Humanity

In a conversational exchange following the speech, the speaker reflects on the potential for humanity to become 'gods' through AI and genetic engineering, suggesting that crises might accelerate such advancements. Despite historical optimism, the speaker acknowledges the unpredictable nature of human stupidity as a powerful historical force. They end on a cautiously hopeful note, drawing parallels with past crises and emphasizing the resilience of liberal democracy.

Mindmap

Keywords

💡Digital Avatar

A digital avatar refers to a digital representation of a person, often used in virtual reality or online platforms. In the context of the video, the speaker humorously introduces himself as a digital avatar, which is a metaphor for his presence in the digital space, despite being physically elsewhere. This concept ties into the broader theme of digital transformation and the merging of the physical and digital worlds.

💡Fascism

Fascism is a political ideology characterized by dictatorial power, forcible suppression of opposition, and strong regimentation of society and the economy. The speaker clarifies the difference between nationalism and fascism, emphasizing that while nationalism can be positive, fascism is inherently negative and exclusive. The term is used to discuss the dangers of simplifying complex ideas and the potential for authoritarian ideologies to resurface in new forms.

💡Nationalism

Nationalism is the belief in the importance and value of one's own nation, often accompanied by a sense of pride and loyalty. The video explains that mild forms of nationalism can be benevolent, fostering a sense of community and cooperation among strangers. However, it contrasts this with fascism, which takes this to an extreme by promoting the supremacy of one's nation over all else.

💡Tribal Chaos

Tribal chaos refers to a state of disorder and conflict that can arise when people are divided into smaller, competing groups rather than unified under a broader national identity. The speaker uses this term to argue against the idea that the absence of nationalism would lead to a peaceful world, suggesting instead that it could result in a more chaotic and violent society.

💡Supremacy

Supremacy, in the context of the video, refers to the belief that one's nation is superior to all others and should be given exclusive loyalty and obedience. This concept is central to fascism, as it drives the ideology that the nation's interests are paramount, and all other identities and loyalties should be subordinate to it.

💡Artificial Intelligence (AI)

Artificial Intelligence (AI) is the development of computer systems that can perform tasks that would normally require human intelligence, such as visual perception, speech recognition, and decision-making. The speaker discusses the potential for AI to make centralized data processing more efficient than distributed data processing, which could pose a threat to liberal democracies by enabling more effective authoritarian regimes.

💡Machine Learning

Machine learning is a subset of AI that enables computers to learn and improve from experience without being explicitly programmed. The video mentions machine learning in the context of AI's potential to process vast amounts of data efficiently, which could shift the balance of power towards centralized control and away from democratic processes.

💡Biotechnology

Biotechnology is the application of biological processes, organisms, or systems to create products and technologies. The speaker warns of the merger between information technology and biotechnology, suggesting that it could lead to the creation of algorithms that understand individuals better than they understand themselves, potentially allowing for manipulation of emotions and feelings on a mass scale.

💡Data Control

Data control refers to the power and authority to manage, access, and use data. The video emphasizes the importance of who controls data in the digital age, as it equates to real power and influence over society. The speaker argues that the concentration of data control in the hands of a few, whether corporations or governments, poses a significant threat to democracy.

💡Democratic Manipulation

Democratic manipulation refers to the influence or control exerted over democratic processes, often in a way that undermines the principles of democracy. The speaker discusses how the manipulation of emotions and feelings through data control can turn democracy into an 'emotional puppet show,' where the genuine will of the people is overridden by external influences.

💡Human Stupidity

Human stupidity, as mentioned by the speaker, is a self-deprecating acknowledgment of the unpredictable and sometimes irrational behavior of humans that can shape history. It serves as a cautionary note, reminding the audience that despite our technological advancements and understanding of complex concepts, the future is uncertain and can be influenced by the most basic of human traits.

Highlights

The speaker humorously introduces the concept of humans becoming digital, reflecting on the rapid pace of this transformation.

A question posed to the audience about the presence of 'fascists' serves as a springboard to discuss the misuse of the term and the need for clarity on what fascism truly is.

Nationalism is contrasted with fascism, with the former being described as a benevolent force that fosters community among strangers.

The prosperity and peace of countries with strong nationalism, such as Sweden, Switzerland, and Japan, are highlighted as opposed to those lacking it.

Fascism is defined as an ideology that denies all other identities and obligations except those to the nation, promoting exclusive loyalty.

The speaker critiques the oversimplification of fascism in popular discourse, arguing for a deeper understanding of its seductive qualities.

A comparison is made between the depiction of evil in Hollywood and the real-life allure of ideologies like fascism, which can appear beautiful and appealing.

The dangers of centralized data processing and the potential for it to become more efficient than distributed processing with advancements in AI and machine learning are discussed.

The potential merger of information technology with biotechnology poses a threat to democracy by enabling the manipulation of individual emotions and preferences.

The importance of controlling data to safeguard democracy is emphasized, with a call to action for engineers to prevent data concentration.

A warning is issued against allowing external systems to manipulate our feelings, which could undermine the foundations of democracy.

The speaker advocates for self-awareness as a means to resist manipulation and to avoid the trap of the 'fascist mirror' that distorts self-perception.

The role of Silicon Valley in pioneering methods to exploit human emotions for commercial gain, which are now being used to undermine democracy, is critiqued.

A historical perspective is provided, noting that humanity has overcome past crises, yet the potential for 'human stupidity' to shape history should not be underestimated.

The interview concludes with a reflection on the potential for humanity to either navigate through the current challenges successfully or face an uncertain future.

Transcripts

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