Yuval Noah Harari on AI and Human Stupidity

EXERCISE:

Comprehension

Watch the video, then choose the best answer for each question.

1. According to Harari, why is the combination of human stupidity and human power so dangerous?

A) Because humans are wise enough to build weapons but not powerful enough to use them. B) Because humans are powerful enough to create dangerous technology but not always wise enough to use it safely. C) Because human stupidity always prevents people from creating any kind of new technology. D) Because powerful nations refuse to develop nuclear weapons or artificial intelligence at all.

2. What makes AI completely different from earlier technologies like the printing press or the atom bomb, according to Harari?

A) AI is much cheaper to produce than any previous technology in history. B) AI can only be used by governments, unlike the printing press or the atom bomb. C) AI can make decisions and invent new things on its own, without human input. D) AI was invented long before the printing press or the atom bomb existed.

3. Why does Harari say the old idea of "first you learn, then you work" no longer applies?

A) Because nobody knows what skills will still be needed in ten or twenty years, so people must keep learning. B) Because schools no longer teach the skills that any job actually requires today. C) Because most people now retire before they finish their education completely. D) Because young people today refuse to work at all after they finish learning.

4. What kind of support does Harari say society will need because of this constant need to change?

A) Financial support to help people afford expensive university degrees abroad. B) Legal support to protect workers from being fired without a valid reason. C) Medical support to treat the physical exhaustion caused by working two jobs. D) Psychological support to help people cope with the stress of learning again and again.

5. According to Harari, what happened to the global order in the second decade of the 21st century?

A) It was strengthened by new international agreements between major world powers. B) It was attacked from all sides by people who never offered a real alternative. C) It was completely replaced by a new, more peaceful global system. D) It stayed exactly the same, despite several attempts to change it.

6. What evidence does Harari mention that the world might be entering a more dangerous period?

A) Wars are increasing and military spending is rising sharply around the world. B) Nuclear weapons have been completely eliminated by most major countries. C) Governments are spending far more money on nurses and teachers than before. D) The number of armed conflicts has dropped steadily since the early 2000s.

Key Word Transformation

Complete the second sentence so that it has a similar meaning to the first sentence, using the word given. Do not change the word given.

1. Nuclear weapons could destroy the whole of human civilization.

DESTROYED

The whole of human civilization by nuclear weapons.

2. Humans aren't stupid; that's why they are so powerful.

WERE

If humans stupid, they wouldn't be so powerful.

3. It's possible that we are already fighting the third world war.

MIGHT

We already be fighting the third world war.

4. People must continuously learn and reinvent themselves.

CHOICE

People have no but to continuously learn and reinvent themselves.

5. In the early 2010s, the global order started to change.

SINCE

The global order has been changing the early 2010s.

6. Governments spend money on weapons rather than on nurses and teachers.

INSTEAD

Governments spend money on weapons of on nurses and teachers.

Vocabulary Matching

Match each word with its correct definition. Select the matching letter from the dropdown next to each word. Note: one definition does not belong to any word.

1. stupidity

2. misuse

3. breakthrough

4. alien (adj.)

5. workforce

6. irrelevant

7. orderly

8. skyrocket

9. midst

10. reinvent

d) strange and unfamiliar, as if from another world

h) to increase very quickly to a very high level

c) lacking common sense or good judgment

k) to feel a strong emotional connection with something

a) to use something in the wrong way, causing harm

i) in the middle of something, especially an event or period

f) no longer important or useful

j) to change so much that you become like a new version of yourself

e) all the people who work for a company, industry, or country

g) well-organized, calm, and following clear rules

b) an important discovery or development

Odd One Out

In each group, find the word that doesn't belong.

1) foolishness / wisdom / stupidity / ignorance

a) foolishness b) wisdom c) stupidity d) ignorance

2) breakthrough / discovery / routine / innovation

a) breakthrough b) discovery c) routine d) innovation

3) soar / skyrocket / surge / plummet

a) soar b) skyrocket c) surge d) plummet

4) chaotic / orderly / peaceful / organized

a) chaotic b) orderly c) peaceful d) organized

5) outdated / essential / irrelevant / pointless

a) outdated b) essential c) irrelevant d) pointless

Writing Task Instant Feedback

Do you think artificial intelligence brings more benefits or more risks to society? Write a short piece (120-150 words) explaining your opinion.

Required Elements (you MUST include ALL of these):

At least one second conditional
At least one modal of speculation (might/could/may)
At least one passive voice construction
At least one defining relative clause

You can check each topic by clicking the links above if you need to review your grammar before writing.