Yuval Noah Harari on AI and the reinvention of power
Yuval Noah Harari is not your typical technology commentator. A historian by training and the author of bestsellers such as Sapiens and Homo Deus, he has spent years exploring how human societies have evolved and the narratives that shape our collective future. So when Harari turns his attention to artificial intelligence, the discussion is inevitably broader and more profound than the latest product launch or algorithmic breakthrough.
In a recent conversation with the WSJ Leadership Institute, Harari unpacked how AI is not just transforming technology but is quietly reshaping global institutions, executive decision-making, and even the very notion of what it means to be intelligent. His insights offer a rare perspective that marries historical context with pressing contemporary concerns, reminding us that technology’s biggest impact is often political and social.
AI as a Political Force
Harari’s central argument is that AI is less about gadgets and more about power. He points out that while many view AI through the lens of convenience or efficiency, its most significant effects will be on who controls information and, by extension, influence. Governments and corporations that master AI systems will gain unprecedented abilities to shape societies, economies, and public opinion.
“Data is the new oil, but AI is the refinery,” he says. This analogy is instructive because it suggests that control over raw information is only part of the story; the real power lies in the capacity to process and interpret it. As AI tools grow more sophisticated, they will increasingly centralise decision-making authority in the hands of those who wield them best.
The New Executive Toolbox
When asked about the future of leadership, Harari offers a compelling view of how AI is changing the role of executives and policymakers. Decision-making in complex organisations has always been a mix of intuition, experience, and analysis. AI introduces a new player into that mix: a powerful adviser capable of digesting vast amounts of data and revealing patterns invisible to humans.
Yet, Harari cautions against overreliance. “AI does not replace human judgment,” he says. “It reshapes it.” Leaders must learn to navigate the tension between trusting AI-generated insights and maintaining ethical oversight. This balancing act will become a defining challenge for executives in the coming decades.
Rethinking Intelligence
Perhaps the most thought-provoking part of Harari’s discussion is his take on intelligence itself. He draws a distinction between what he calls “narrow intelligence”, the kind AI excels at today, and the broader, more flexible intelligence humans possess.
“AI systems are very good at specific tasks, but they lack understanding,” Harari explains. This raises fundamental questions about the assumptions underpinning much of AI development. If intelligence is more than data processing and pattern recognition, then what happens when machines start outperforming humans in so many specialised domains?
Harari suggests that this shift forces us to rethink our place in the world. Humans have long defined themselves by their cognitive abilities. As machines encroach on those abilities, society may need new narratives to anchor identity and purpose.
The Ethical Frontier
Ethics inevitably surfaces when discussing AI, and Harari is candid about the dilemmas ahead. The deployment of AI systems can entrench biases, amplify inequalities, and erode privacy. More than that, it risks concentrating power in ways that may undermine democratic governance.
“There is a real danger that AI will create a new class of ‘useless’ people—those whose skills no longer matter in the economy,” Harari warns. Addressing this requires not just technical fixes but political will and social innovation.
Harari advocates for a global conversation that transcends national interests. The challenges posed by AI, he argues, are inherently transnational, demanding cooperation and regulation at a scale rarely seen before.
Lessons from History
What sets Harari apart is his ability to place today’s technological upheaval within the arc of human history. He reminds us that every major technological advance has disrupted existing power structures and social orders. The printing press, the steam engine, and electricity each redefined politics, economics, and culture in ways unimaginable to their contemporaries.
AI is no different, but its speed and scope may be unprecedented. “History shows us that societies that fail to adapt to new technologies risk collapse,” Harari notes. The question now is whether global institutions are prepared for AI’s transformative impact or whether they will falter under its pressure.
The Human Dimension
Despite the sweeping scale of his analysis, Harari’s reflections are deeply human. He returns repeatedly to the idea that technology, at its core, should serve human flourishing rather than undermine it. This requires not only technical innovation but also philosophical clarity about values and goals.
As AI advances, society faces a choice: to shape the technology in line with democratic ideals or to let it reinforce existing inequalities and authoritarian impulses. Harari’s call is clear: humans must remain at the centre of the story, steering AI’s development with wisdom and humility.
