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Time of India
an hour ago
- Health
- Time of India
Yuval Noah Harari on risks of intimate relationships with AI: 'There could be unknown benefits, but for now…'
Israeli historian and author Yuval Noah Harari has warned that artificial intelligence's (AI) ability to replicate intimacy can alter human relationships. The author, known for his bestselling books Sapiens and Nexus, said that, "there could be unknown benefits, but for now, the risks far outweigh them." Tired of too many ads? go ad free now Harari suggested that while fears about job automation dominate headlines, AI's impact on intimate relationships presents a more unsettling prospect. In a recent post shared on Instagram, the author added a video clip of his discussion which was co-hosted by the Deutsches Institut für Japanstudien , Tokyo College, and Kawade Shobo. During this interview, Harari explained that AI, having already mastered language and attention, is now progressing towards mimicking intimacy, which he considers a potent human connection. What author Yuval Noah Harari said about intimate relationships with AI Captioning the Instagram post, Harari wrote: 'Wouldn't you want a partner that always gives you 100% attention and is never upset? We are facing a world where a new generation grows up with intimate relationships with AI . There could be unknown benefits – but for now, the risks far outweigh them.' In the video, he can be seen saying: 'AI can replicate intimacy the same way that it masters language and the same way that it previously mastered attention. The Next Frontier is intimacy, and it is much more powerful than attention. If you want to change somebody's views on politics to sell a product, anything intimacy is the most powerful tool to do that. A good friend can change your views in a way that no number of articles in a newspaper or a book can do until today. Nothing could fake intimacy, and it was impossible in particular to mass produce intimacy.' Take a look at the Instagram post 'Now, what happens if the new generation grows up? And develops intimate relations with AIs instead of with other human beings. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now Again, we don't know. It could have some benefits, but the potential danger is enormous. That people will become attached to the fake people, and in the process, we lose the ability to create intimacy with real human beings. Because really, human beings are much more problematic than AIs that want to become your intimate friend,' Harari continued. 'Its greatest advantage is that it has no feelings of its own. It's never upset. It's never angry. It's never tired. It can focus on you 100%. Understand exactly how you feel and create a fake sense of intimacy,' the author, who is known for exploring human evolution, technology, consciousness, and AI's impact on our future further noted.
Economic Times
3 days ago
- Economic Times
Nexus author Yuval Noah Harari warns of AI's deeper emotional threat beyond job loss: ‘The danger is enormous...'
Agencies Yuval Noah Harari warns that AI's ability to replicate intimacy poses a far greater threat than job loss. Unlike humans, AI offers flawless, tireless attention, creating fake emotional bonds that could weaken real human connections. As artificial intelligence rapidly evolves, fears around job automation dominate headlines. Yet acclaimed author Yuval Noah Harari, known for his bestselling books Sapiens and Nexus , offers a far more unsettling warning: AI's ability to replicate intimacy could fundamentally alter human relationships—and not necessarily for the better. In a recent panel discussion co-hosted by the Deutsches Institut für Japanstudien, Tokyo College, and Kawade Shobo in March 2025, Harari shared a revealing video clip on his Instagram. He explained how AI, having already mastered language and attention, is now advancing toward mimicking intimacy—arguably the most potent human connection. 'Intimacy is much more powerful than attention,' Harari said. 'A good friend can change your views in a way no article or book ever could.' Until now, genuine intimacy was something that could not be faked or mass-produced. But AI has broken that barrier. Harari cautions that a new generation might grow up forming intimate bonds with AI rather than with other humans. Unlike humans, AI has no feelings of its own. It never gets upset, angry, or tired and can focus entirely on an individual, creating a 'fake sense of intimacy.' This, Harari warns, poses an 'enormous potential danger': people might become emotionally attached to artificial entities and, in the process, lose the ability to engage in real, complicated human relationships. Genuine intimacy is messy and requires navigating emotions and conflicts—something AI simply bypasses. While job displacement remains a valid concern with AI's rise, Harari's perspective highlights a deeper cultural and psychological challenge. The risk isn't only economic; it's existential. If humans turn to AI for emotional support and connection, the very fabric of human relationships could unravel. Harari's insights resonate strongly given his broader work on humanity's future. As a historian and philosopher, he has long explored how technological revolutions reshape societies—from the cognitive revolution that made Homo sapiens dominant to the looming biotechnological era where humans might engineer new life forms. Yuval Noah Harari is an Israeli historian and public intellectual renowned for making complex ideas accessible to the public. His landmark book Sapiens: A Brief History of Humankind traces the arc of human evolution and culture, while Nexus: A Brief History of Information Networks from the Stone Age to AI delves into the digital transformations shaping today's world. Harari's work explores themes such as consciousness, free will, and the future of intelligence. He famously predicts that Homo sapiens as we know them may disappear within a century, replaced by technologically enhanced or AI-driven beings. Harari's warning is a timely reminder that the AI revolution is not only about economic disruption but about how humans relate to one another at their core. As AI becomes ever more capable of mimicking human emotions and intimacy, society faces profound questions: Can artificial relationships satisfy human needs? And at what cost to genuine human connection? This emerging reality invites urgent reflection—not only on what AI can do but on what it should do. For now, the risks seem to outweigh the benefits, and Harari's voice urges caution and awareness before the next frontier in AI irrevocably changes what it means to be human.
Time of India
3 days ago
- Time of India
Nexus author Yuval Noah Harari warns of AI's deeper emotional threat beyond job loss: ‘The danger is enormous...'
The Perils of 'Fake' Connection Beyond Job Loss: A Radical Shift in Human Experience Who is Yuval Noah Harari? You Might Also Like: 'Don't be that person who ignores this technology': Nvidia CEO warns AI will rewrite the rules of employment A Wake-Up Call for the AI Era As artificial intelligence rapidly evolves, fears around job automation dominate headlines. Yet acclaimed author Yuval Noah Harari , known for his bestselling books Sapiens and Nexus, offers a far more unsettling warning: AI's ability to replicate intimacy could fundamentally alter human relationships—and not necessarily for the a recent panel discussion co-hosted by the Deutsches Institut für Japanstudien, Tokyo College, and Kawade Shobo in March 2025, Harari shared a revealing video clip on his Instagram. He explained how AI, having already mastered language and attention, is now advancing toward mimicking intimacy—arguably the most potent human connection.'Intimacy is much more powerful than attention,' Harari said. 'A good friend can change your views in a way no article or book ever could.' Until now, genuine intimacy was something that could not be faked or mass-produced. But AI has broken that cautions that a new generation might grow up forming intimate bonds with AI rather than with other humans. Unlike humans, AI has no feelings of its own. It never gets upset, angry, or tired and can focus entirely on an individual, creating a 'fake sense of intimacy.'This, Harari warns, poses an 'enormous potential danger': people might become emotionally attached to artificial entities and, in the process, lose the ability to engage in real, complicated human relationships . Genuine intimacy is messy and requires navigating emotions and conflicts—something AI simply job displacement remains a valid concern with AI's rise, Harari's perspective highlights a deeper cultural and psychological challenge. The risk isn't only economic; it's existential. If humans turn to AI for emotional support and connection, the very fabric of human relationships could insights resonate strongly given his broader work on humanity's future. As a historian and philosopher, he has long explored how technological revolutions reshape societies—from the cognitive revolution that made Homo sapiens dominant to the looming biotechnological era where humans might engineer new life Noah Harari is an Israeli historian and public intellectual renowned for making complex ideas accessible to the public. His landmark book Sapiens: A Brief History of Humankind traces the arc of human evolution and culture, while Nexus: A Brief History of Information Networks from the Stone Age to AI delves into the digital transformations shaping today's work explores themes such as consciousness, free will, and the future of intelligence. He famously predicts that Homo sapiens as we know them may disappear within a century, replaced by technologically enhanced or AI-driven warning is a timely reminder that the AI revolution is not only about economic disruption but about how humans relate to one another at their core. As AI becomes ever more capable of mimicking human emotions and intimacy, society faces profound questions: Can artificial relationships satisfy human needs? And at what cost to genuine human connection?This emerging reality invites urgent reflection—not only on what AI can do but on what it should do. For now, the risks seem to outweigh the benefits, and Harari's voice urges caution and awareness before the next frontier in AI irrevocably changes what it means to be human.
