The Greatest Threat Humans Just Can’t Stomach with Yuval Noah Harari

The Rest Is Politics
18 September 2026
Posted by Alastair Campbell
0

Episode 2 is available right now for TRIP Plus members. Sign up at therestispolitics.com

What can the Aztec Empire's catastrophic failure to understand Cortés and the Spanish conquistadors teach us about the threat AI poses today? Why does Yuval Noah Harari believe our gut refuses to accept an "alien intelligence" our brains already understand to be a threat? And can Britain avoid becoming an "AI vassal state" - or has that moment already passed?

Rory is joined by Professor Yuval Noah Harari for Part 1 of their conversation on existential threats. Part 2 is available now for TRIP Plus members.

Producer: India Dunkley

Researcher: Evie Townend

Video Editor: Josh Smith

Social Producer: Celine Charles

Executive Producer: Isabella Soames

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

1 minute(s) read

Recent Podcasts

578. Alastair and Michael Gove Disagree Agreeably on Brexit and Israel

8 October 2026

577. Is Badenoch Finally Stopping Farage and Why Are French Schools on Fire?

7 October 2026

209. Shabana Mahmood: Palestine Action, Faith and What I Told Starmer

5 October 2026

576. How Xi is Outplaying Trump and Tensions in Northern Ireland

1 October 2026

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Alastair Campbell and Mishal Husain with the book Persevilience, The New World

Oct

2026

Alastair Campbell and Mishal Husain live at Cadogan Hall

He’s invented a word. He says it’s the word the world needs now. She’s going to make him explain why. Alastair joins acclaimed broadcaster Mishal Husain on stage to discuss his new book, Per... Continue

Event

Posted by Alastair Campbell

578. Alastair and Michael Gove Disagree Agreeably on Brexit and Israel

Will there be another EU referendum, despite Andy Burnham promising not to re-run old Brexit arguments? Will Michael Gove ever criticise Israel's actions in Palestine, and if not, why not? What do the... Continue

8 October 2026

The Rest Is Politics

Posted by Alastair Campbell

577. Is Badenoch Finally Stopping Farage and Why Are French Schools on Fire?

With Reform bogged down in scandal, and Kemi Badenoch setting out her political vision at Conservative Party conference, have the Tories finally wrestled momentum on the right of British politics away... Continue

7 October 2026

The Rest Is Politics

Posted by Alastair Campbell

Alastair Campbell’s diary: The door that leads back to the EU is finally open. Now let’s walk through it

How fitting that new talk of joining again coincided with the 500th issue of The New World, originally founded to oppose Brexit... Continue

6 October 2026

The New World

Posted by Alastair Campbell

209. Shabana Mahmood: Palestine Action, Faith and What I Told Starmer

Is the government's ban on Palestine Action lawful, or overreaching? Why can't Britain just send small boats straight back to France? Can faith and public duty coexist in modern British politics? Ro... Continue

5 October 2026

Leading

Posted by Alastair Campbell

576. How Xi is Outplaying Trump and Tensions in Northern Ireland

As Trump becomes the first American president to personally welcome a visiting head of state off a plane since JFK greeted Harold Macmillan in 1962, did his summit with President Xi signal improving U... Continue

1 October 2026

The Rest Is Politics

Posted by Alastair Campbell

575. Alastair Reacts to Burnham’s Speech and Rory’s Viral Stare

Will scrapping the triple lock be electorally perilous for Burnham, or can his vision of a national care service convince the public and his party that it’s time for pension reform? Did being Mayor ... Continue

29 September 2026

The Rest Is Politics

Posted by Alastair Campbell

Alastair Campbell’s diary: Why is Farage so keen to protect Russia’s right to lie and cheat?

Reform's leader is protesting too much as he wails about free speech in the face of Putin’s disinformation... Continue

29 September 2026

The New World

Posted by Alastair Campbell