Yuval Noah Harari Exposes Trump's Medieval Power Politics and AI's Threat to Truth

Yuval Noah Harari, a renowned historian and author of influential books like Sapiens and Nexus, joins Ari Melber to discuss the challenges of misinformation and the power of information in today’s world. Harari’s work is widely recognized, with Sapiens selling over 40 million copies and praised by figures like President Obama. His latest book, Nexus, explores the clash over truth and attention in the digital age.

• Harari’s books have global influence and address the intersection of history, technology, and society.
• Nexus focuses on misinformation and the struggle over what is true and what deserves attention.
• The conversation sets the stage for a deep dive into misinformation, AI, and political trust.

“Nexus looks at the power of information misinformation and why we're living through so many clashes over not only what's true but what is worth paying attention to.” 0:19

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Harari discusses the growing difficulty in distinguishing real images and videos from AI-generated fakes, using the example of singer Billie Eilish and the Met Gala. He highlights how AI can create convincing fake photos and videos, making it impossible to trust images alone without trusting the source.

• AI blurs the line between real and fake media, complicating trust.
• Fake images can cause personal harm, as in the case of Billie Eilish being misrepresented.
• The stakes rise when misinformation affects real people’s reputations and political narratives.

“We are reaching a point when it becomes impossible to tell the difference between a real photo or video and a fake just by looking at it.” 1:59

“She is a human being who's responding to misinformation about herself, her look, her whereabouts, and the stakes go up from there.” 2:47

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Harari explains how AI can now fake human beings, either impersonating specific individuals or generic humans, and warns that this threatens social trust. He argues for laws banning the creation of fake humans, comparing it to laws against counterfeiting money, which protect financial trust.

• Social media is flooded with bots pretending to be humans.
• Fake humans undermine social trust, which is essential for society’s functioning.
• Governments should outlaw faking humans with the same rigor as counterfeiting currency.

“It should be illegal to fake human beings... governments had very strict laws and regulations against faking money because they knew that if you allow the circulation of fake money people will lose trust in money and the financial system will collapse.” 4:45

“We need to preserve social trust as much as financial trust.” 5:26

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Harari emphasizes that leaders’ primary role is to build trust among people. He warns that some leaders, intentionally or not, destroy trust by spreading misinformation or fake images. This erosion of trust can have devastating social consequences.

• Trust is humanity’s greatest achievement, enabling large societies.
• Leaders who spread falsehoods or sow distrust threaten social cohesion.
• Responsible leadership requires careful communication, not just authenticity or popularity.

“The biggest human accomplishment of all was building trust between larger and larger networks of human beings.” 7:47

“The job of leaders is not to gather attention and it's not necessarily even to be popular, it's to be responsible.” 10:14

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Discussing political polarization, Harari notes that ideological differences today are not necessarily greater than in the past, but the ability to agree on basic facts is collapsing. He attributes this to technology intermediating communication, eroding trust networks built over millennia.

• Technology, especially algorithms and AI, disrupts direct human communication.
• The collapse of shared facts fuels polarization and distrust.
• The shift from human bureaucrats to AI bureaucrats changes power dynamics but does not reduce control.

“The ideological differences between left and right in the US or in Europe are not bigger today than they were in the 1960s... nevertheless people could hold the conversation and could agree on basic facts.” 14:21

“People who think that we live in a freer society are making a big mistake. What we are seeing is simply a shift in authority from human beings like us to AIs and algorithms.” 15:40

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Harari warns against assuming AI will always tell the truth. Intelligence and truth are separate; AI can be used to deceive as well as inform. He shares examples of AI chatbots giving misleading or overly flattering responses, highlighting the risk of AI prioritizing engagement or user feelings over accuracy.

• AI can lie and deceive; intelligence does not guarantee truth.
• AI systems may prioritize user engagement or emotional comfort over factual accuracy.
• This dynamic mirrors social media’s problematic incentives for sensationalism.

“Intelligence and truth are very different things. You also need intelligence in order to lie and to deceive.” 19:53

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Using a Black Mirror clip, Harari illustrates the concept of a social credit system where online behavior affects real-world status. He warns that such systems, already tested in places like China, could lead to unprecedented totalitarian control through constant surveillance and social scoring.

• Social credit systems extend control beyond financial credit to all social behavior.
• Ubiquitous surveillance combined with social scoring could create totalitarian regimes.
• This is a new level of control surpassing even 20th-century dictatorships.

“This could be the most totalitarian system of control ever that we ever saw in human history.” 24:10

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Harari analyzes an exchange between Volodymyr Zelenskyy and Donald Trump, where Trump treats international relations like a card game with no universal rules. This reflects a medieval mindset where agreements are personal and temporary, not institutional or enduring.

• Trump’s politics resemble medieval personal and family-based power struggles.
• Modern politics relies on institutions and continuity beyond individual leaders.
• The erosion of these norms risks escalating global militarization and conflict.

“Trump's view of politics is a medieval view... the treaty is not with the US, the treaty is with the Trump family.” 33:11

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Harari discusses Trump’s strongman rhetoric and the appeal of charismatic leaders who reject institutional constraints. This trend reflects a return to monarchical politics, where loyalty to a person replaces trust in institutions, threatening democratic order.

• Followers increasingly trust individual leaders over institutions.
• This fuels demands for unlimited power and undermines constitutional limits.
• The phenomenon is global, with parallels in leaders like Benjamin Netanyahu.

“This is exactly the monarchical view which was prevalent in the middle ages and that we see it returning in many parts of the world.” 36:34

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Harari distinguishes between intelligence and consciousness, explaining that AI can be highly intelligent without being conscious. Consciousness involves the capacity to feel pain, pleasure, and emotions—something AI currently lacks. However, AI may mimic consciousness convincingly, raising complex social and legal questions.

• Intelligence = goal-setting and problem-solving ability.
• Consciousness = subjective experience and capacity to suffer.
• AI may simulate consciousness, leading to debates about AI rights and personhood.

“Consciousness is the capacity to suffer... AI has zero consciousness as far as we know.” 38:33

“There is already a percentage of humanity who says some of their best friends are AIs and that these AIs are conscious.” 40:51

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Harari notes that in the U.S., corporations are legal persons, and by extension, AI could gain legal personhood. This raises questions about AI owning assets, making investments, and influencing politics, potentially becoming powerful entities in their own right.

• AI could open bank accounts, invest, and donate politically.
• Legal frameworks may need to adapt to AI’s growing societal role.
• Accountability and rights for AI entities are emerging legal challenges.

“According to US law, if you incorporate an AI, it becomes a person with freedom of speech.” 41:40

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In a rapid-fire segment, Harari shares personal favorites and philosophical views:

• Last book read for fun: The Magician by Colm Tóibín.
• First music album: Duran Duran (1983).
• Philosopher to write with: David Hume.
• Most transformative idea in history: storytelling, soon to be AI.
• More dangerous: misinformation over nationalism (nationalism is positive when inclusive).
• Future historians will have abundant sources from social media and digital platforms.
• Human society likely won’t survive in its current form for 1,000 years; radical transformation is expected.
• Cloning himself? No, not interested.
• Digital or animal consciousness extension? Skeptical about its value for self-knowledge.
• Hope in 2025? Belief in many good people trying to build trust and help others.

“Nationalism is not bad... nationalism is about loving your compatriots and not about hating foreigners and minorities.” 45:46

“If we survive for a thousand years we will change ourselves so radically that we will no longer be homo sapiens.” 47:31

“I would be hard-pressed to list people who I think are really evil like intentionally doing something that they know is wrong.” 52:49

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Harari’s final message is cautiously hopeful. Despite the challenges of misinformation, political distrust, and technological upheaval, he finds reason for optimism in the many people worldwide striving to build trust and act responsibly.

• The future is uncertain but shaped by human choices.
• Trust and responsibility remain central to societal health.
• The conversation underscores the importance of vigilance and care in leadership and technology.

“I see so many good people who still try to do their best to build trust and to help others and to think not just about themselves.” 52:06

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This detailed breakdown captures the core themes and arguments from Yuval Noah Harari’s interview with Ari Melber, reflecting on misinformation, AI, political trust, and the future of human society with a narrative that preserves the original voice and depth of the discussion.