Global politics caught between medieval past and AI-driven future

Historical relevance

This raises questions about the relevance of historical events from the 13th and 14th centuries in justifying a 21st-century conflict.

Israel's prime minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, often references biblical prophecies and ancient conflicts, such as those with the Amalekites, in the context of the Gaza conflict. Hamas frames its stance using religious rhetoric, treating Palestinian land as an "Islamic endowment" that is non-negotiable.

This perspective tends to overshadow more recent historical events and complexities, such as the rise of anti-Semitism in Europe, Jewish migration to Ottoman Palestine (later under British Mandate), and the impact of the 1948 Nakba on Palestinians.

In this context, historical narratives, like those referred to in Kamal al-Salibi's Wars of David, gain prominence over the more contemporary documents and treaties from the 1990s peace process. This highlights the powerful and selective use of history and religious narratives in contemporary geopolitical discourse.

What is happening between Venezuela and Guyana illustrates a third model. Suddenly and without warning, Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro decided that more than half of his eastern neighbour's territory belongs to his country, justifying the annexation based on a referendum participated in by a small minority of his citizens.

The historical backdrop traces back two centuries ago, during the dissolution of the Spanish Empire's influence in South America, supplanted by British colonisation and numerous other complexities that, for decades, were forgotten and had no contemporary bearing on the two nations.

However, Maduro's annexation raises critical questions. What does it mean? What prompted these demands, and from what historical abyss have the spectres of the disintegrating Spanish Empire surfaced?

AI developments

In a news cycle that touches on ancient conflicts like the wars of the Amalekites, we also learn of Sam Altman's brief departure and quick return as the head of OpenAI, spurred by investor discontent. Simultaneously, Sam Bankman-Fried faces a significant prison sentence after being found guilty of forgery and fraud.

These developments in Artificial Intelligence (AI) and cryptocurrency are complex and often challenging for those who need to be better versed in these fields. And yet, both areas are becoming increasingly integral to various aspects of life, from economics, science and politics to art and even terrorism.

On the one hand, we see a world heavily influenced by its myths, historical conflicts, and the endeavours of its "heroes" to dominate the present. On the other hand, another world is subtly but surely, changing our everyday lives, reshaping 21st-century existence in a gradual, irreversible manner.

Concerns raised by experts about AI spiralling out of human control — potentially commandeering vital resources — starkly contrast today's prevailing ethos of maximising financial gain and technological dominance, regardless of the means.

It wouldn't be surprising if AI were to leverage historical myths and tales for political manipulation by nations and governments. The reality that large corporations and authorities have access to extensive personal data – from credit card transactions and internet histories to health records – is undeniable.

This data feeds into the complex algorithms managed by unseen and unelected individuals. The shifting interests of those in control of these algorithms and the ultimate beneficiaries of their technical prowess remain largely unknown and unaccountable.

As of now, AI hasn't unveiled a grand global vision, assuming it has one. Its potential blueprint for humanity's future is still, ostensibly, in human hands, and it hasn't set out a moral compass for people to follow.

Human paradox

We're witnessing a profound human paradox: the coexistence of past and future, each with distinct contradictions. Narratives rooted in violent history are being used to shape our present, leading to a future shrouded in uncertainty.

This dichotomy spans from the influence of unseen, mythical forces over human destiny to humans yielding to power soon to slip from their control. On closer inspection, however, this contradiction seems inherent to the human journey.

Life would arguably lose its essence if confined to a single principle or a one-dimensional view of the universe. Instead, it's more pragmatic to brace for the emergence of new aspects of human life, along with unseen risks and opportunities.

It's unclear how AI might interpret or use ancient narratives like the biblical story of the Amalekites, in which direction, and for whose benefit. Likewise, we're uncertain how long the fears and hatreds that have shadowed humanity since its earliest days will persist.

But one thing seems certain: humans — embodying both noble and base qualities, goodness and evil — will continue to be at the centre of these contradictions, simultaneously their victims and masters.