Israeli historian and futurist Yuval Noah Harari, speaking at the Milan Leadership Forum in Italy, outlined the challenges that artificial intelligence (AI) poses to humanity, calling them the greatest in the history of leadership. He noted that the AI revolution creates not only “unprecedented opportunities” but also serious threats that require leaders to adopt new approaches to governance.
Harari emphasized that to survive in the age of AI, humanity needs leaders who are capable of offering new visions while maintaining trust among people. He remarked that “if people cannot trust one another, we will all become easy prey for uncontrolled super-intelligent AIs.”
To illustrate his point, Harari drew on the biblical myth of the Tower of Babel, pointing out that in the modern world, language has become not only a tool but also an agent in its own right. He believes that AI could spiral out of control, transforming from a tool into an autonomous actor that threatens human coexistence.
The futurist also noted that the current situation is characterized by the collapse of the international order and chaos within societies, which complicates cooperation among people. A lack of trust, he said, leads to a “double trap,” in which the lack of trust accelerates the development of AI but at the same time makes it harder to control.
Harari believes that to overcome these challenges, humanity must find ways to adapt to the new conditions by slowing the pace of technological development. He emphasized that leaders must take care of their own mental and physical health, as this affects their ability to restore trust among people and ensure prosperity in the age of AI.
