Nexus: A Brief History of Information Networks from the Stone Age to AI, by Yuval Noah Harari
This book explores the powerful role that information has played throughout human history and its impact on society and politics. Harari takes readers from the earliest human communication systems through significant historical eras—like the canonization of religious texts, political manipulations in Nazi Germany, and modern-day populism—to illustrate how information flow has been used both to create and dismantle power structures. In Nexus, Harari emphasizes the dual nature of information: it can function as a tool for truth but is often weaponized to shape perceptions and control societies. The book also explores the unique challenges posed by artificial intelligence as a new, non-human player in information networks, which raises questions about the future of truth, human agency, and societal structures. As always, Harari’s historical analysis seeks to ground today’s concerns—such as misinformation and automated intelligence—in long-term human trends, offering readers a critical perspective on the choices we face as AI continues to evolve and reshape information landscapes.
Scary Smart: The Future of Artificial Intelligence and How You Can Save Our World, by Mo Gawdat
Former Chief Business Officer at Google X, Gawdat explores the transformative potential of AI and the urgent need to guide its development responsibly. Gawdat envisions AI becoming exponentially smarter than humans by 2049, with the capacity to shape a utopian or dystopian future. He raises concerns about how unchecked AI development could lead to privacy invasions, market manipulation, or even automated weaponization by those with harmful intentions. Gawdat also offers a hopeful framework: he believes that by treating AI like a child we must nurture, humanity can instill positive values in AI to safeguard future generations. He argues for focusing AI’s power on goals that benefit society and address global issues rather than purely economic or imperial pursuits. This perspective encourages everyday individuals to advocate for ethical AI development, stressing that humanity, not just policymakers, holds responsibility for AI’s trajectory. Gawdat’s insights blend technology and ethics, making Scary Smart both a warning and a call to action for conscious, inclusive AI development.
Too busy to read? Here’s a Youtube Discussion by Mo Gawdat on Scary Smart:
Mo Gawdat’s Scary Smart lectures on YouTube provide a fascinating look into his insights on artificial intelligence, addressing both the incredible potential and risks AI presents. He explains that AI, with its rapid advancement, could surpass human intelligence within a few decades, making it essential to guide AI development responsibly. Gawdat highlights how AI reflects human biases since it learns from the data and values we instill in it, suggesting that we need to treat AI as a child who requires ethical guidance.
Solve for Happy, by Mo Gawdat
This book combines personal tragedy and engineering logic to uncover a path to lasting happiness. Following the loss of his son, Ali, Gawdat refined his “happiness equation,” which he had been developing over years to combat his own struggles with depression. This equation posits that happiness depends on aligning expectations with reality, focusing on controlling perceptions over external circumstances. The book introduces a structured approach that includes identifying six major “illusions” (like the illusion of control and time), addressing seven “blind spots” that distort perception, and embracing five “ultimate truths” that root one in present awareness and gratitude. By systematically understanding and countering negative thought loops and expectations, Gawdat believes individuals can reach a state of natural happiness—a state he describes as our human “default.” Ultimately, *Solve for Happy* serves as both a personal reflection on grief and a guide to cultivating internal resilience and joy, encouraging readers to see themselves as the observer of life rather than fully defined by its highs and lows