Athira Sethu
Kochi, 24 March 2025
Israeli writer and historian Yuval Noah Harari has sounded the alarm over the possible hazards of artificial intelligence (AI), cautioning that it can be even more dangerous than nuclear bombs. In a recent video posted on Instagram, Harari contended that nuclear bombs require human intervention to use but AI can move autonomously, thus posing a greater threat.
Harari, a lecturer at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem, is best recognized for his publications Sapiens: A Brief History of Humankind and Homo Deus: A Brief History of Tomorrow, where he discusses how technology has shaped human history and the future. In the video, Harari equated AI with other traditional tools and weapons, describing how tools such as hammers or even nuclear bombs are directed by humans. But AI can operate independently and make decisions independently, which is something that atomic weapons cannot do. He stressed that although human beings are in charge of conventional weapons, AI can potentially operate independently, making it far more unpredictable and lethal.
Harari noted that AI is already deployed in warfare, where weapon systems are making choices without any human intervention. He cautioned that as AI advances, it might produce new, better weapons or even create more powerful AI systems that humans would no longer be able to control. This may bring about a future where AI overtakes human intelligence and becomes a significant threat.
The increasing application of AI in defense and security fields has raised alarms regarding its possibility of overtaking human decision-making. If AI keeps growing without controls, it may determine the fate of nations. Harari’s caution emphasizes that there should be swift action to guarantee AI is engineered with human values and does not get out of hand.
The future of AI remains uncertain, and Harari’s message is clear: humans must take control now before it’s too late, as the potential risks of AI could outweigh those of any weapon ever created.
