The future of data. 21 lessons for the 21st century book review
Will the future of data harm or protect us and who will control it?
The future of data ..”IN THE 21ST CENTURY DATA WILL ECLIPSE BOTH LAND AND MACHINES AS THE MOST, IMPORT ASSET AND POLITICS WILL STRUGGLE TO CONTROL THE FLOW OF DATA”-AUTHOR YUVAL NOAL HARAR
READ, SKIM, OR SKIP?
AN HONEST PROPHETIC OBJECTIVE LOOK INTO THE FUTURE of data in our lives
Usually, when we hear of prophets we think of cult leaders or loud people outside with bullhorns. Never has prophecy been so current, relevant, clear and without religious scriptures to justify it. Instead 21 lessons uses the potential impact of the future of data to justify its reasoning.
You can purchase 21 lessons here
21 lessons are required reading for all ages to understand the potential future of data in our lives. 21 lessons sets a precedent for future prophecy books of the 21st century. Unbiased, data and psychologically driven, however, 21 lessons does feel a bit pessimistic for anyone reading that was born before the 1980s.
“A.I. IS SMARTER THAN US, A.I. CHESS DEEP BLUE PROVES THAT ALGORITHMS DON’T HAVE TO BE PERFECT, JUST BETTER THAN US”-AUTHOR YUVAL NOAL HARAR
Quotes like the one above can’t help but make you feel small and somewhat irrelevant. This is a constant feeling I had reading the book. But this is why the book succeeds. 21 lessons give the reader a feeling that the future is moving so fast and will be unpredictable at the same time.
So much importance is placed on data, and A.I. taking over jobs. Also, humans having to switch careers multiple times just to make ends meet is discussed as well.
“TRANSFER OF AUTHORITY FROM HUMANS TO ALGORITHMS, PEOPLE WILL FIND IT HARD TO NOT GIVE AWAY THEIR DATA”-AUTHOR YUVAL NOAL HARAR
As a Jew himself, Harar surprisingly takes the myth out of
“AS MORE DATA FLOWS FROM YOUR BODY AND BRAIN TO SMART MACHINES. IT WILL BE EASY FOR CORPORATIONS AND GOVERNMENT AGENCIES TO MANIPULATE YOU.”-YUVAL HARARI
Harari touches on how humans think in groups and rarely for themselves. Will this make it easier for algorithms to categorize us in the future?. Harari allows the reader to draw their own conclusion of how humans will respond to the future of data.
For instance, despite the influx of social media “people are more lonely in an increasingly connected world”.. Furthermore how and when will activist begin to incorporate data into their protest is something to ponder as well.
Harari states”Physical communities have a depth that virtual communities cannot match.” How will facebook creators answer this challenge?
Start writing or type / to choose a block
Harari is brilliantly objective on so many different topics but is still decisive. An agendaless book on the future makes the message more authentic and relatable. No theatrics or shock value to get our attention.
For Example; Harari states that A.I. is already smarter than humans and that no job is safe from automation. Yet Harari claims that self-driving cars will save over 1 million lives per year.
And this is how life really is. Things will balance themselves out. The future of data will have some terrible consequences that will cost some lives and save others. The constant need to categorize everything into good and bad is a terrible western habit.
Harari expounds on this further when he discusses religion.
“DON’T TRUST PEOPLE WHO CANT ADMIT WHAT MISTAKE THEIR RELIGION MADE”-YUVAL NOAH HARARI-
“Terrorist don’t think like army generals they think like theater producers”
The odds of anyone being a victim of terror attacks are slim to none. In fact, living in the states you’re more likely to die from a car accident. However, using terrorists as fear-based programming for the news will garner more viewers than car accidents.
“The theater of terror cannot succeed without publicity”-Yuval Harari
After hearing about how uncertain the future of data will be for several hundred pages, a solution is finally offered. Transcendental meditation. In reality, it’s probably the best solution for the future. The world is clearly going through a transitional period.Calming and slowly the mind to develop clarity will become a superpower in a distracted world.