Nexus: A Brief History of Information Networks from the Stone Age to AI

A book by Israeli historian and philosopher Yuval Noah Harari, first published in English in 2024, it offers a deep historical and philosophical analysis of the evolution of information networks from the Stone Age through to the age of artificial intelligence. Harari traces how shifts in key information revolutions — from cave paintings and early writing to the printing press and the internet — shaped human societies by enhancing cooperation while also spawning misinformation and mass delusions. He thoroughly examines case studies such as the witch hunts enabled by the printing press in the 16th–17th centuries, the control of secret religious texts, bureaucratic systems in totalitarian regimes, and today’s social media algorithms, drawing alarming parallels with the rise of AI. Special focus is given to the new phase — the "inorganic" information network where computer algorithms act as autonomous agents capable of manipulating human thought and undermining democratic institutions. Using examples like Facebook algorithms fueling violence in Myanmar, Harari illustrates how AI can operate without direct human intervention and calls for a global rethinking of regulation and oversight. The book also includes proposals to mitigate these risks, such as banning fake bots and increasing algorithmic accountability, making it both a diagnosis and a call to action in an era of information crisis.