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Renowned historian Yuval Noah Harari has issued a stark warning about the profound societal risks posed by advancing artificial intelligence. In his forthcoming book Homo Deus: A Brief History of Tomorrow, the author of the international bestseller Sapiens argues that smarter AI systems could render vast numbers of people economically and politically irrelevant, creating what he terms a “useless class.”
Harari, a lecturer at the Hebrew University in Jerusalem, paints a challenging picture of the 21st century where rapid technological progress outpaces humanity’s ability to adapt. While previous industrial shifts displaced workers from physically demanding roles, humans retained an edge through cognitive abilities. That advantage, he suggests, is now eroding as AI begins to surpass people in complex mental tasks.
The historian draws parallels to long-standing fears of automation but insists this time the outcome may differ. “I’m aware that these kinds of forecasts have been around for at least 200 years, from the beginning of the Industrial Revolution, and they never came true so far. It’s basically the boy who cried wolf,” Harari told The Guardian. “But in the original story of the boy who cried wolf, in the end, the wolf actually comes, and I think that is true this time.”
Central to his thesis is the emergence of a “useless class” — not a moral judgment, but a systemic one. As machines take over both manual and cognitive labor, billions could find themselves sidelined from meaningful participation in the economy or traditional state functions like workforce and military contributions. Harari emphasizes that this obsolescence stems from the perspective of political and economic structures built around human utility.
Education faces particular disruption. “Children alive today will face the consequences. Most of what people learn in school or in college will probably be irrelevant by the time they are 40 or 50,” Harari explained. “If they want to continue to have a job, and to understand the world, and be relevant to what is happening, people will have to reinvent themselves again and again, and faster and faster.”
Even with potential new jobs arising, Harari questions whether humans will outperform AI in filling them. The result could leave large populations without purpose, sustained perhaps by state support but struggling to find meaning. He highlights the difficulty of providing not just material needs but a reason to engage with life, potentially leading to reliance on pharmaceuticals and virtual reality for fulfillment.
Harari urges society to confront these possibilities head-on rather than deferring to technologists and corporations. “First of all, take it very seriously,” he said. “And make it a part of the political agenda, not only the scientific agenda. This is something that shouldn’t be left to scientists and private corporations.”
End Time Headlines is a ministry founded, owned, and operated by Ricky Scaparo, established in 2010 to equip believers and inform discerning individuals about the “Signs and Seasons” of the times in which we live. Ricky authors original articles and curates news from mainstream sources, carefully selecting topics, verifying information, and utilizing artificial intelligence tools to ensure content is both timely and accurate. Every piece is personally reviewed and edited by Ricky to align with the ministry’s mission of providing a prophetic perspective on current events.