How were they doing this in 2017?

A lot of things are happening now that happened before. That doesn't mean things don't improve. Increased efficiency is the issue now. In 2017, maybe some simple algorithms, or a person, was intervening to drive ads, now AI is a big step change in better targeting.

That was one of the points in the book. in 2017 or before, a surveillance state was limited by the number of people it takes to do the actual surveillance . Now AI increases the efficiency.

Harari is a shill.

you make a very convincing argument. /s

Isn't it obvious? When someone talks a lot and most of those talks have zero relevant meaning or substance, then it's someone who is a shill.

He talks a lot when on a book tour, you know, promoting a book.

There is a couple months where he is on every podcast. Then he is gone again.

You know who else does this, every other author on the planet. When a book is coming out, then suddenly the authors are on every podcast or show, talk, debate, anything they can manage to get on. Its a blitz.

You know what else happens on a book tour, they tend to give a highlight of the book. They don't sit there reading off references and citations. They give a streamlined high level idea of what the book is about, but not all of it, because they want people to go buy it.

Then there is nothing to talk about if you think he is aok. Move on.