In an interview with Sandra Maischberger, Yuval Noah Harari talks about the increasing threat to democracy from populism, information overload and the role of technology. Harari emphasizes the threat posed by populists who would systematically undermine democratic institutions by destroying the trust of the population. Particularly on both extreme political sides, he sees a cynical view that sees power as the sole goal of human interaction. He also criticizes the flood of information through social media. Algorithms that control these platforms only pursue the goal of attracting as many users as possible, without regard to the truth. Harari states: “Telling the truth requires research and research,” while fiction and lies would often be easier to spread. Harari warns of the growing power of artificial intelligence, which is no longer just a tool, but an independent actor that can make decisions. Harari sees a great danger in the destruction of international peace through disregard for international norms – as in the case of the Ukraine war. Harari warns: “If you break the taboo that you are not allowed to invade recognized states, the international order will begin to falter.” Donald Trump views Harari skeptically because he rejects international institutions and instead relies on short-term “deals”. Finally, Harari emphasizes that it is still in the hands of democratic states to change course and overcome the challenges of new technologies and geopolitical crises.
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