Irrationality and Intolerance | Humankind’s Two Greatest Liabilities in the Age of AI

Irrationality and Intolerance | Humankind’s Two Greatest Liabilities in the Age of AI
Vicar Sayeedi
September 1, 2022

Twelve thousand years have passed since humankind abandoned life as hunter-gatherers, a nomadic lifestyle that characterized us and numerous other species of Hominins for countless millennia. The retreat of the Ice Age and subsequent melting of glaciers, the formation of fertile river valleys and a genetic mutation in wheat that now kept the grains on the stalk rather than scattering them across fields every time the wind blew, triggered the Agricultural Revolution and hastened humankind’s transition to life in settlements, villages, towns and cities.

But since the birth of civilization in Mesopotamia, only twenty or so of the world’s ~200 sovereign polities - nation states or city states [America, Australia, Austria, Canada, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, Norway, Singapore, South Korea, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Taiwan, UK, USA] have managed to reach the apex of human achievement – a point where sovereign nations and nation states can be considered advanced, peaceful and prosperous. These polities are characterized by well-developed and high-functioning governmental and nongovernmental institutions including best in class executive, legislative and judicial branches of government with the power to check one another, a free and independent press, along with world class and innovative academic, medical, scientific and technological institutions as well as industrial organizations.

Within the constellation of nations and polities that have reached the apex in our era, civil society thrives as do numerous other institutions and literary societies. This constellation is also characterized by a robust presence in the Arts and Humanities which results in cultural contributions that enrich the citizens of their respective domestic polity. Many of these institutional benefits frequently permeate cultural and physical barriers and official borders around the globe and in this way, they further enrich all of humankind. An extraordinary example is the rapid development in America and the EU of vaccines and therapies to combat the Covid-19 coronavirus. Today, most of humankind has been vaccinated twice, thrice and in some cases, four times using Messenger-RNA platform vaccines or more traditional vaccines. Such an episode is unparalleled in human history – America and the EU have literally saved humankind – and it illustrates what is possible when ethical, responsible individuals occupy leadership roles at the helm of the world’s leading liberal democracies.

But why is it that out of two hundred or so distinct polities that make up today’s world, only 10% have been able to develop economically and socially to a sufficient degree such that they exclusively constitute the rarefied constellation of nations at humankind’s apex, whilst the rest of the world endlessly struggles? Perhaps the causes vary widely across cultures, geographies and societies and perhaps their unique historical journey also plays a significant role in limiting their progress. Certainly, there is no limitation in their cognitive ability – there is no empirical or scientific evidence of that. Rather, it is most likely that such endemic and metastatic failure rests in their culture.

Specifically, it seems we can identify two attributes that appear to be present in virtually every aspirational yet struggling polity and society: namely, the endemic, pervasive and ubiquitous presence of irrationality and intolerance amongst the citizenry. The hallmark of a modern society or civilization found amongst the constellation of nations who have reached the apex is an awesome and solemn respect for the institutions described above and the establishment, cultivation and unflinching support for these institutions, come what may. Crucially, the establishment and nurturing of these institutions requires a rational and tolerant citizenry. If the citizens of a polity cannot tolerate the diversity within their society [clan, ethnicity, provinciality, race, religion, sect, sexual minorities, tribe, etc.] then they will be unable to trust one another. And if they cannot trust one another, they have invariably and unwittingly precluded their ability to work together – they will be unable to cooperate.

For the past 70,000 years, flexible, large-scale cooperation has emerged as humankind’s superpower. Following this Cognitive Revolution, Sapiens jumped from being in the middle of the food chain [a place they had occupied for the previous 200,000 years] to the very top through cooperation. Humankind erected the Pyramids of Giza on the West Bank of the River Nile in Egypt. The Great Pyramid of Kufu stands 500 ft in height, contains 2.5 million blocks of stone with each block weighing approximately 2.5 tons. This pyramid was constructed during Kufu’s lifetime – circa 2500 BCE, approximately 4500 years ago. It is humankind’s earliest example of flexible, large-scale, awe-inspiring and unprecedented cooperation.

On July 20, 1969, America sent a group of men to the surface of the moon for a brief walk-about. This Apollo mission and each subsequent mission took about seven years to initially plan and at its inception the project was considered impossible – NASA officials complained that they simply did not have the scientific and technological capabilities to achieve such a goal. They said America currently had no idea how to fulfill President Kennedy’s grand ambition. But through the unprecedented cooperation of 20,000 American companies, the nation’s leading universities and 400,000 employees – the mission was a success.

Large scale, flexible cooperation enables us to establish well-functioning institutions and these institutions are the calling card, the hallmark, the defining characteristic of the constellation of nations who have risen to humankind’s apex. These institutions and the individuals who populate them are capable of untold achievement. But the prerequisite of establishing such institutions is a society that is rational and that has overcome endemic intolerance: consistently and unequivocally, intolerance leads to distrust and distrust precludes our ability to work together; our ability to cooperate.

Together, we now live in an age where 4th Industrial Revolution science and technology including Artificial Intelligence, Biotechnology, Computing [Quantum and Super], Data Science and an increasing capacity to intervene in human intellectual and physical capacity through these disciplines is opening a chasm between the nations within the constellation at the apex and those without. These extraordinary sciences and technologies are increasingly infiltrating virtually every aspect of modern life and those societies that are unable to overcome their endemic, pervasive and ubiquitous irrationality and intolerance are likely facing a predictably bleak future. It is the work of statesmen and women everywhere to alert their citizens to the consequences that await them and to try to affect change. The people must learn that awaiting and praying for messiahs is not the solution; overcoming irrational behavior and intolerance is.






Vicar Sayeedi is a Computer Scientist and Bell Labs Alumnus, a Lecturer and a Consultant. He is also the author of several books. His most recent book is about Artificial Intelligence and is titled, The Génome Affair.

Vicar has lectured widely about Artificial Intelligence. He has recently lectured in New York at the National Hemophilia Foundation about AI & the Life Sciences. He has also lectured in London in the Royal Boroughs of Kensington & Chelsea and Westminster, in Sunnyvale in Silicon Valley, the National Library of Singapore as well as in Düsseldorf [with invitations extended to Amsterdam, Berlin, Cologne, Rome, Stockholm & Vienna] on AI and its implications for individuals and societies. Vicar has lectured at leading companies, as well.

Vicar is most interested in the big questions facing humankind. He is particularly focused on studying at the confluence of the five great disciplines of Human History, Political Science and Thought, International Affairs, Science and Technology. For geopolitical technologists, the symbiosis at this intersection offers a deep understanding and pedagogically important lessons of how advances in human endeavor have influenced and impacted civilization.

Vicar has been writing books, essays and poetry for many years. For the past 30 years, Vicar has worked in the Technology and Pharmaceutical industries. He is currently a Consultant in the Life Sciences Industry and lives in suburban Chicago with his wife and their three grown children.


You can find Vicar’s recent book on AI, The Génome Affair on Amazon at this link:
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07YQ7M9Q7

The most recent episodes of Vicar’s ai & u! Podcast are on YouTube at the following links:

Episode 1 - https://youtu.be/yNYr28jtY_k
What is Artificial Intelligence? What is Human Intelligence?

Episode 2 - https://youtu.be/kAEgDNh1Nwc
How Did We Get Here? Machine Learning, Neural Networks & the AI Lexicon, Exciting AI Agents

Episode 3 - https://youtu.be/3PYCyv1pCgM
Deep Mind - How Powerful is Narrow AI? State Surveillance and Surveillance Capitalism

Episode 4 - https://youtu.be/WvobCMIM_H4
Impact on Societies That Possess Artificial Intelligence Versus Those that Do Not!

Episode 5 - https://youtu.be/4JVpvm4g79g
Surveillance Capitalism, Surveillance State, 4th Industrial Revolution, Bifurcation of Sapiens

Episode 6 - https://youtu.be/e1q2GgcWQok
AI, Blockchain & Quantum Computing - Implications for Global and National Governance

Episode 7 - https://youtu.be/4bDSUvrOdd4
Popular Perceptions of Intelligence, the Seat of Human Intelligence and Implications for AI

Episode 8 - https://youtu.be/3GjHqQZL7Pk
AI - Why Should I care? Plus Exciting Updates from Elon Musk and Neuralink!

Episode 9 - https://youtu.be/enpecqDecC8
AI - Excellence, Innovation & Genius

Episode 10 - https://youtu.be/UsriESlTjdA
Implications for AI as China and the West Decouple

Episode 11 - https://youtu.be/0CpaMb-yw3g
Artificial Intelligence: Ethics, Law & Society

Episode 12 - https://youtu.be/PLzodrLWMq0
AI & Lethal Autonomous Weapons Systems

Episode 13 - https://youtu.be/Lm_nrNyJRbA
AI & the Future of Work in Industry 4.0 – the 4th Industrial Revolution

Episode 14 - https://youtu.be/_3E1Mhr_Dt8
Artificial Intelligence and its Implications for Authoritarianism and Democracy

Episode 15 - https://youtu.be/IpMUqHOEd7w
Artificial Intelligence, Consciousness & the Future of Homo Sapiens

Episode 16 - https://youtu.be/mIf7_VMzGKo
AI and its Implications for America's Political Environment

Episode 17 - https://youtu.be/gsMRPnovZGI
Special Episode: Reading From The Génome Affair

Episode 18 - https://youtu.be/UxNxtWDCREM
Artificial Intelligence - Digital Tyranny, Datocracy and the Imitation Game

Episode 19 - https://youtu.be/Db8U0QQWWuY
Does Artificial Intelligence Really Replicate Human Intelligence?

Episode 20 - https://youtu.be/Np18AEq-6DM
AI & Rising Geopolitical Tensions Between China & The West

Episode 21 - https://youtu.be/fOMSvNiixA0
AI & In-vitro Fertilization [IVF]

Episode 22 - https://youtu.be/EQPpRhIV6Kw
AI & Human Intelligence: A Complex Relationship

Episode 23 - https://youtu.be/EAbQ7stY7JQ
AI Upends the World of Structural Biology

Episode 24 - https://youtu.be/Bsb1F8uoBpA
AI & COVID-19: An Extraordinary Contribution

Episode 25 - https://youtu.be/PqL5PCRc8tA
AI, Connectomics & Transhumanism: the Future of Humankind

Episode 26 - https://youtu.be/HI8Zjl8VM8U
Dramatic Upheaval Inside Google's Ethical AI Team

Episode 27 - https://youtu.be/TqWwJYc2GxQ
AI & Cyber Espionage | How Will the Sunburst Attack Affect Our Security?

Episode 28 - https://youtu.be/89BcThqgcfQ
AI & the Rapidly Escalating Threat from Deep Fake Videos

Episode 29 - https://youtu.be/zvOHRMmJNB4
AI, Facial Recognition Technology & The Digital Surveillance State

Episode 30 - https://youtu.be/br4ygfEWdk0
AI & Social Media | The Most Destructive AI We've Ever Seen?

Episode 31 - https://youtu.be/sOy12ii8zwM
The Democratization of AI & The 2021 Maiflower Expedition | Plymouth, England to Plymouth, MA

Episode 32 - https://youtu.be/bixdLL74reE
Sino-American Cold War | A Blessing in Disguise for America?

Episode 33 - https://youtu.be/tTRm312DgMc
AI & the Tyranny of Meritocracy

Episode 34 - https://youtu.be/FpPzC5VP6GM
In the Midst of Chaos and Pandemic | A Big AI Announcement From the Trump Administration

Episode 35 - https://youtu.be/bK3xCBwrG8w
Artificial Super Intelligence – Can We Control It?

Episode 36 - https://youtu.be/Rc60DQ0L86Q
A New America | Hope with a Big Dose of Caution

Episode 37 - https://youtu.be/UBenYYHbYqM
Will AI [Science & Tech] Benefit From a New Cold War with China?

Episode 38 - https://youtu.be/JewJnPywnOU
Will AI Eventually Replace All Other Forms of Government?

Episode 39 - https://youtu.be/ibuJ8vozyqg
Will AI Perpetuate Bias in Employment, Health Systems, Law and Society?

Episode 40 - https://youtu.be/IJYbPfGC-08
AI | Will it be the Bain of Cyber Criminals?

Episode 41 - https://youtu.be/ozrO5_XTYKQ
AI | What Will it Mean for the Future of Work?

Episode 42 - https://youtu.be/kDKapDK-Vb0
AI | A Harbinger for the End of Democracy?

Episode 43 - https://youtu.be/7XeNyE8CA9I
AI & the Life Sciences | Developments in Connectomics & Radiology

Episode 44 - https://youtu.be/mWaPW_UolVo
AI & Geopolitics | Critical Strategic Planning in the Age of China

Episode 45 - https://youtu.be/qOSOc3vJRBk
AI & Humankind | What Might the Future Hold?

Episode 46 - https://youtu.be/atMSV1WAFkg
AI Enabled Surveillance | An Important Tool to Contain Dangerous Personality Traits?

Episode 47 - https://youtu.be/kz7-EDmlGXc
Will AI Favor Authoritarianism or Democracy?

Episode 48 - https://youtu.be/uTvKWQgdOaI
AI | A Key Enabler of Universal Basic Income?

Episode 49 - https://youtu.be/sy48Xqo-3qM
AI & The Future of Government, Industry, Markets &Trade

Episode 50 - https://youtu.be/JU1oGzb5TS0
AI & Surveillance | America’s New Strategy in the Middle East

Episode 51 - https://youtu.be/nOCQjUxLWJY
AI-Enabled Global Government | An Idea Whose Time Has Come?

Episode 52 - https://youtu.be/g1VJqiI3HyE
AI & Healthcare | What Will the Future Look Like? Will it be More Equitable?

Episode 53 - https://youtu.be/ie9KAg_kF7Q
AI & Surveillance | The Ethical Dilemma of Facial Recognition Software

Episode 54 - https://youtu.be/ie9KAg_kF7Q
AI & Regulation | Europe is Leading the Way

Episode 55 - https://youtu.be/l-gcYTZMsm8
AI & Consciousness | Will Machines Soon be Sentient?

Episode 56 - https://youtu.be/-8BaouCn9cs
AI & Regulation | Europe Announces New Rules

Episode 57 - https://youtu.be/243zm7aHImQ
AI & Human Emotion Recognition | Is it Inherently Flawed?

Episode 58 - https://youtu.be/rdXllGj8rbo
AI & Autonomous Vehicles | Where are We Now?

Episode 59 - https://youtu.be/EMbqpN5mbqw
AI & the 4 Little Trees | More on Emotion Recognition

Episode 60 - https://youtu.be/K5wtkj-VTrk
AI & the Colonial Pipeline Attack | Cyber Threats are Growing Rapidly

Episode 61 - https://youtu.be/03KysO3VJgI
AI & the Coronavirus | A Postmortem

Episode 62 - https://youtu.be/7wmSIWgbuQI
AI on the Battlefield | The Conflict in Gaza

Episode 63 - https://youtu.be/a_1AmLJD3lo
AI and Xenophobia | Will We Finally Break the Cycle?

Episode 64 - https://youtu.be/9s-Go1TYK9c
AI, Cyber Attacks & the Future of War | Where are We Headed?

Episode 65 - https://youtu.be/1nKbTMzfpqM
Artificial Intelligence | Humankind’s Final and Greatest Invention

Episode 66 - https://youtu.be/cplR62KTa88
America & the 4th Industrial Revolution | Where do We Go from Here?

Episode 67 - https://youtu.be/RMrqreI-PRw
Artificial Intelligence | [Digital] Life After Death

Episode 68 - https://youtu.be/KzR8NkVdT0Q
Artificial Intelligence | The Fear Factor

Episode 69 - https://youtu.be/BI0HqACc4Ek
Artificial Intelligence | The Trust Factor

Episode 70 - https://youtu.be/nKhqVtQC_NI
Artificial Intelligence | Implications for the Future of Democracy

Episode 71 - https://youtu.be/GKD5hXmnpTU
Artificial Intelligence | Deep Fakes & Pornography

Episode 72 - https://youtu.be/KJdoBm5Kmw8
Artificial Intelligence | Working in the 21st Century

Episode 73 - https://youtu.be/lLY6gF_eeas
AI & Disinformation | Implications for Democracy & Geopolitics

Episode 74 - https://youtu.be/URsauWURj5A
AI, Climate Change & Pandemics | A Case for Global Governance?

Episode 75 - https://youtu.be/cu7xOHpNiO4
Artificial Intelligence | New Year’s Resolutions & Societal Reformation

Episode 76 - https://youtu.be/1-orEsKg5fM
Artificial Intelligence | Meritocracy and the Gathering Storm

Episode 77 - https://youtu.be/jYzyrxhxCJk
AI, Authoritarianism & Democracy | What Does the Future Hold?

Episode 78 – https://youtu.be/G5dlaB8TZJQ
AI & Speciation | Symbiosis and the 4th Industrial Revolution

Episode 79 – https://youtu.be/8pq2ZAxRdcY
AI and Disinformation | Echo Chambers in an Age of Division

Episode 80 – https://youtu.be/bewLnveVpDI
AI & Human Conflict | Objectivism, Tribalism & the Dunning-Kruger Effect

Episode 81 – https://youtu.be/Z5ZvMYuNhLQ
AI, Climate Change & Migration | Sowing the Seeds of Intraplanetary Discord

Episode 82 – https://youtu.be/mP-r_0pS3P8
Artificial Intelligence in 2022 | Where are We Now and What Does the Future Hold?

Episode 83 – https://youtu.be/vYSW-pceOQE
Artificial Intelligence in 2022 | Is Protein Folding Our Most Important Achievement?

Episode 84 – https://youtu.be/IBgF_oyCvpE
Artificial Intelligence & 21st Century Military Doctrine | Tora! Tora! Tora!

Episode 85 – https://youtu.be/IBgF_oyCvpE https://youtu.be/sxGeIZSlYYo
Artificial Intelligence & Healthcare | A Revolution in the Making


Episode 86 – https://youtu.be/IBgF_oyCvpE https://youtu.be/gARgH5rlCG8
AI & Thermonuclear Fusion | The Ultimate Solution for Climate Change

Episode 87 – https://youtu.be/IBgF_oyCvpE https://youtu.be/baWRuYBKgu4
Putin’s Russia | A State of Humiliation

Episode 88 – https://youtu.be/6TP5AFtg-6g
AI & Genomics | Accelerating Gene Therapies

Episode 89 – https://youtu.be/_vgLJEoQFY4
Unipolar, Bipolar & Multipolar Worlds | Implications for Humankind

Episode 90 – https://youtu.be/8S7SDcqKNZ0
https://youtu.be/_vgLJEoQFY4AI & Neocolonialism | Datocracy & the Surveillance State

Episode 91 – https://youtu.be/RfEIbPNAALo
AI & the Truman Doctrine | The Merits of Preserving the New World Order

Episode 92 – https://youtu.be/q1ybdNC5MiI
The Apollo Moon Landing | Lessons for Civilization in the Age of AI

Episode 93 – https://youtu.be/r1oc9uU8Ct4
Artificial Intelligence & Sapiens 3.0 | Are We Ready?

Episode 94 – https://youtu.be/OqUfXNwqtDU
Artificial Intelligence & Authoritarianism | What’s the Attraction?

Episode 95 – https://youtu.be/-HfFs-XVnKo
Irrationality and Intolerance | Humankind’s Two Greatest Liabilities in the Age of AI