{"id":5482,"date":"2024-11-03T16:43:26","date_gmt":"2024-11-03T16:43:26","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.open.ac.uk\/blogs\/design\/?p=5482"},"modified":"2024-11-03T16:43:26","modified_gmt":"2024-11-03T16:43:26","slug":"reflections-on-yuval-noah-hararis-london-talk-storytelling-technology-and-ai-ethics","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.open.ac.uk\/blogs\/design\/reflections-on-yuval-noah-hararis-london-talk-storytelling-technology-and-ai-ethics\/","title":{"rendered":"Reflections on Yuval Noah Harari’s London Talk: Storytelling, Technology, and AI Ethics"},"content":{"rendered":"

A few weeks ago, I had a ticket to see Yuval Noah Harari, one of my favourite authors, live on stage<\/a> in London. Unfortunately, I couldn\u2019t make it on the day due to feeling unwell. Thankfully, I received\u00a0Nexus: A Brief History of Information Networks from the Stone Age to AI<\/em><\/a>,\u00a0the book that Harari was promoting as part of this talk, included with the ticket, and a few days later, a link to the event recording. Watching the recording wasn\u2019t quite the same as being there, but it allowed me to experience Harari\u2019s fascinating conversation on storytelling, AI, democracy, and the need for adaptability in a fast-changing world.<\/p>\n

I\u2019ve admired Harari\u2019s work for a long time, ever since I read Sapiens: A Brief History of Humankind<\/em><\/a>. That book changed my view on life and priorities. Before reading it, I had a work-centric mindset that, in hindsight, was probably unhealthy. Although I love design and supporting others through my work, Sapiens<\/em> helped me step back and see the bigger picture, reinforcing the importance of family and a balanced life alongside career ambitions.<\/p>\n

Storytelling\u2019s Power and Influence<\/h3>\n

Harari opened with a story about his childhood, where he moved from reading Greek mythology to a broader interest in history. He noted how storytelling has always shaped human behaviour. He pointed out that scientists often struggle with storytelling, which makes it harder for them to convey crucial insights to a wider audience. As he explained, people tend to follow storytellers, and stories often reinforce beliefs rather than challenge them.<\/p>\n

One example Harari used was the very different impact of two 16th-century books: one on witch hunting and another by Copernicus. The witch-hunting book, written in an engaging style, contributed to the mass hysteria of witch hunts, while Copernicus, though scientifically groundbreaking, struggled to reach the public due to his dry, factual style. This comparison highlighted that it\u2019s often not facts alone that drive societal change \u2013 it\u2019s stories.<\/p>\n

Information, Truth, and the Influence of Algorithms<\/h3>\n

In today\u2019s digital age, Harari explained, information doesn\u2019t just come from traditional sources; it\u2019s also driven by algorithms. He drew an interesting comparison between the Bible and modern recommendation systems (like Netflix), suggesting that algorithms curate content for us in much the same way early religious leaders chose what stories to include in the Bible. This shift raises the stakes because, unlike past technologies, AI can make decisions on its own, picking and amplifying narratives without human input.<\/p>\n

While science constantly evolves and corrects itself, Harari pointed out that religious texts don\u2019t have the same mechanisms for correction. This means certain values and beliefs become fixed over time, often persisting despite new insights. Science, he explained, progresses by questioning and correcting established knowledge \u2013 a system that is largely absent in other information sources.<\/p>\n

The Relationship Between AI and Democracy<\/h3>\n

Harari also explored the complex relationship between AI and democracy. Democracy, he argued, has always depended on the technology of its time, from the printing press to television to the internet. But AI is different; it can act autonomously, and this changes the democratic equation. Previously, people controlled what stories got \u201cout there\u201d, but now, algorithms make those choices, which brings up essential questions about transparency and accountability.<\/p>\n

He suggested that algorithms should disclose when they\u2019re interacting with people, instead of pretending to be human. According to Harari, organisations should take responsibility for the actions of their algorithms, not leave it to users. Since AI is advancing rapidly, he emphasised the need for real-time governance, ethics, and explainability to keep pace with these changes.<\/p>\n

The Misunderstanding of Consciousness and Intelligence in AI<\/h3>\n

Harari touched on how people often confuse intelligence with consciousness. He noted that we selectively attribute consciousness to animals we care about \u2013 like cats and dogs \u2013 but not to those we consume as food, and this selective empathy is based more on emotional attachment than logic. Similarly, people may project consciousness onto AI systems, even though we lack an objective way to measure it. This highlights more about human psychology than AI\u2019s capabilities.<\/p>\n

Final Reflections<\/h3>\n

Reflecting on Harari\u2019s points about storytelling, I\u2019m reminded of a recent conversation with a colleague about its role in design. She shared an example from her team, where a designer “translates” the complex work of engineers to make it accessible to other stakeholders. The engineers have deep expertise, but their explanations can sometimes be too technical for non-specialists. The designer steps in as a translator, simplifying the technical language and using visuals to communicate key ideas, so everyone in the organisation can better engage with the work.<\/p>\n

This kind of visual storytelling plays an essential role in design. While storytelling through words has long been central to our culture, visual storytelling adds another layer. A well-crafted visual can convey complex ideas more effectively than words alone\u2014hence the saying, \u201cA picture is worth a thousand words.\u201d While visuals can sometimes be misinterpreted, combining them with clear text or speech creates a more comprehensive and engaging experience for a wider audience.<\/p>\n

In design, storytelling bridges gaps between technical experts and non-technical audiences, making complex information more relatable and accessible. It reminds us that effective communication often requires a blend of methods to ensure clarity, engagement, and alignment with our ethical responsibilities as creators.<\/p>\n

Harari ended the talk with a call for openness, curiosity, and adaptability. In an era of rapid technological change, he advised staying flexible and open to rethinking our views. He stressed the importance of grounding ourselves in our core values as we navigate the future of AI.<\/p>\n

Watching Harari\u2019s talk reinforced some important ideas for me, especially about the role of storytelling in shaping our understanding of complex issues, from history to modern technologies. Although I regret not being there in person, the recording allowed me to experience his insights and highlighted the importance of ethical considerations as we move forward in technology.<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

A few weeks ago, I had a ticket to see Yuval Noah Harari, one of my favourite authors, live on stage in London. Unfortunately, I couldn\u2019t make it on the day due to feeling unwell. Thankfully, I received\u00a0Nexus: A Brief History of Information Networks from the Stone Age to AI,\u00a0the book that Harari was promoting […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":45,"featured_media":5484,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[37],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-5482","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-design-comment"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.open.ac.uk\/blogs\/design\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/5482","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.open.ac.uk\/blogs\/design\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.open.ac.uk\/blogs\/design\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.open.ac.uk\/blogs\/design\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/45"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.open.ac.uk\/blogs\/design\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=5482"}],"version-history":[{"count":2,"href":"https:\/\/www.open.ac.uk\/blogs\/design\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/5482\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":5485,"href":"https:\/\/www.open.ac.uk\/blogs\/design\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/5482\/revisions\/5485"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.open.ac.uk\/blogs\/design\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/5484"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.open.ac.uk\/blogs\/design\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=5482"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.open.ac.uk\/blogs\/design\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=5482"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.open.ac.uk\/blogs\/design\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=5482"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}