Yuvan Noah Harari speculates that both AI and biotech may become inseparable from humans in the future. (Photo : Getty Images)
The future of humans is hinged on the use of data. That's what Yuval Noah Harari, author of the bestselling book "Homo Deus: A Brief History of Tomorrow," said about his speculative views on the domination of artificial intelligence (AI) and the rise of biotechnology.
Harari's conception of an upgrade to humanity, a sequel to his equally compelling "Sapiens: A Brief History of Humankind," now intrigues readers in China with its Chinese translation. Scientific advancements, the historian noted, provides the pivot to shaping human progress, Xinhua reported.
For Harari, the present times have already demonstrated how humans can integrate with the smart systems they themselves have created. Devices such as smartphones and apps have become instrumental tools both for reflecting and transforming human preferences.
Taking that viewpoint further, Harari emphasized that humans will soon find themselves incapable of functioning properly without their smartphones. In that regard, he speculates that biotechnological features, specifically those ingrained from within the brain, will feature in future waves of innovation.
Artificial intelligence (AI), Harari emphasizes, will prove complementary to human evolution, surmising that it will become difficult to separate the two from one another come 2100. Moreover, the author predicts that AI will prove instrumental in predicting human behavior and fulfilling preferences.
Even more compelling is the fact that AI can eventually grow to know more about humans more than they know themselves. Although much has yet to be said about such a possibility at this point, Harari insists that such can reveal unlimited potential to harness humankind, to the point of becoming godlike.
Nonetheless, Harari reminds that the future remains unpredictable as it has always been. Speculations coming from his end only serves to provide estimates on the exciting possibilities both AI and biotech can bring, as the world remains driven by the ready availability of information.
