Information has always shaped human civilisation. From ancient stories and religious texts to newspapers, television and social media, the way people share information influences what they believe, how they make decisions and whom they trust.
In Nexus, historian and author Yuval Noah Harari examines how information networks have shaped human history and how they may influence our future. Published in 2024, the book explores the relationship between information, power, truth and the development of artificial intelligence.
Harari challenges the assumption that having more information automatically makes societies wiser or better informed.
What matters is how information is organised, who controls it and whether the systems that distribute it help people correct their mistakes. Here are five important lessons to learn from Nexus and how they apply to the world we live in today.
5 Lessons to learn from Nexus by Yuval Noah Harari
1. More information does not always mean more truth
One of the most important lessons from Nexus is that the availability of information does not automatically make people better informed.
We often assume that access to more facts, news and opinions will help us understand the world more accurately. However, information can also be misleading, incomplete or deliberately manipulated.
Throughout history, information networks have helped societies organise themselves, preserve knowledge and cooperate on a large scale. Yet the same networks have also spread myths, propaganda and misinformation.
Harari explores this tension through historical examples ranging from religious institutions to modern political systems. The same challenge exists today. Social media allows us to access information within seconds, but it can also expose us to misleading headlines, unverified claims and content designed to provoke emotional reactions.
The lesson is to become more thoughtful about the information we consume. Instead of believing something simply because it appears frequently online, examine the source, look for supporting evidence and consider alternative explanations.
What to remember: Being informed is not just about knowing more. It is about learning to distinguish reliable information from misleading narratives.
2. The stories we believe shape society
Human beings depend on shared stories to build communities, establish institutions and coordinate their actions. These stories can include national identities, cultural traditions, political ideologies and ideas about how society should function.
In Nexus, Harari examines how information networks help these shared narratives spread across generations and large populations.
Such stories can bring people together around common goals, but they can also reinforce divisions when people accept different or conflicting versions of reality.
Consider how a single event can be interpreted differently by different communities. The facts may overlap, yet people's beliefs, experiences and sources of information can lead them to completely different conclusions.
Understanding this helps explain why disagreements are not always resolved by presenting more facts. Sometimes, people are also defending a larger story about their identity, values or place in the world.
What to remember: Question the narratives that influence your thinking. Understanding why you believe something is an important step towards forming independent opinions.
3. Information is closely connected to power
Information has always been an important source of power. Those who control how information is collected, recorded and distributed can influence public opinion, shape decisions and determine which perspectives receive attention.
Harari traces this relationship through historical examples, examining how empires, religious institutions and political regimes have used information networks to maintain authority or influence society. He also considers how modern information systems affect the distribution of power.
Today, this relationship extends to digital platforms, search engines and algorithmic systems that determine what people see online. The information presented to us can influence what we consider important, which issues we discuss and how we understand current events.
This does not mean every information system is deliberately manipulative. Rather, it highlights the importance of asking who controls a system, what incentives shape it and whose interests it serves.
What to remember: Whenever information influences an important decision, consider who created it, who distributes it and who benefits from the way it is presented.
4. Artificial Intelligence makes information networks more complicated
Artificial intelligence is one of the most significant themes in Nexus. Harari explores how AI differs from earlier information technologies and why systems capable of generating content and making decisions could change the way information networks operate.
Unlike traditional tools that primarily store or transmit information, AI systems can generate persuasive text, images and other content at enormous scale. They can also perform tasks that previously required human judgement, raising questions about accountability and control.
These developments create opportunities in areas such as education, research and healthcare. At the same time, they raise concerns about fabricated information, automated manipulation and the difficulty of identifying who is responsible when AI systems cause harm.
The lesson is not to reject technology outright. It is to recognise that technological progress needs to be accompanied by critical thinking, appropriate safeguards and clear accountability.
What to remember: AI can help us process information, but we should not automatically treat its outputs as accurate or allow automated systems to make consequential decisions without appropriate oversight.
5. Human responsibility matters more than technological progress alone
A central concern in Nexus is that technological advancement does not guarantee that societies will make wise decisions. Humans have developed increasingly powerful tools and information networks, but the consequences depend on how these systems are designed, governed and used.
Harari argues that the future of information networks is not predetermined. The choices made by individuals, institutions and governments can influence whether new technologies strengthen society or create additional risks.
This is particularly relevant as AI becomes more integrated into everyday life. Decisions about privacy, misinformation, automated systems and the concentration of technological power will affect how people interact with information in the years ahead.
Responsibility therefore cannot rest entirely with technology companies or governments. Readers, citizens and technology users also have a role to play by checking claims, recognising uncertainty and thinking carefully about what they share.
What to remember: Progress is not simply about developing more powerful technology. It is about making responsible choices about how that technology affects human lives.
Final thoughts
Nexus: A Brief History of Information Networks from the Stone Age to AI explores how information has shaped human civilisation, from shared beliefs to artificial intelligence.
The book argues that more information does not always mean more truth or wisdom. For readers navigating social media, digital news and AI-generated content, it highlights the need to question claims, examine evidence and think critically about how information shapes decisions.