This Big Think interview features Sam Harris discussing the challenges of navigating a world saturated with disinformation and propaganda. He explores the impact of social media, the crisis of meaning in a secular world, the importance of reason and cooperation, and the potential dangers and opportunities presented by artificial intelligence.
Crisis of Meaning and Information: Harris highlights a crisis of meaning in the developed world, exacerbated by the fragmentation of information through social media and technology. This makes it difficult to achieve a shared understanding of reality and fosters political polarization.
The Power of Belief and Language: Our beliefs, shaped by language and narratives, drive our actions. Harris emphasizes the importance of recognizing the power of these beliefs and fostering rational conversations based on facts.
Cooperation as the Basis of Civilization: Cooperation is crucial for solving coordination problems and safeguarding human civilization. The current political fragmentation and misinformation hinder this essential cooperation.
The Importance of Attention and Meditation: Harris emphasizes the importance of training attention to engage fully in the present moment, suggesting meditation and mindfulness practices as tools for personal wellbeing and breaking the spell of ceaseless thought.
AI: Potential and Peril: Harris discusses the potential risks of artificial general intelligence (AGI), including the "alignment problem" – ensuring AI remains aligned with human interests. He suggests that an AI arms race is now unavoidable and that global cooperation is necessary to address the ethical and safety concerns surrounding AI development.
Regaining Trust in Media: Harris notes the challenge of regaining trust in media, highlighting the impact of business models prioritizing clicks and engagement over factual accuracy. He suggests a need for stronger institutions and error-correcting mechanisms in media and academia.
