Two distinct voices of contemporary thought converge on a single question: who shapes our shared reality, and how does symbolic power circulate? 1984 by George Orwell and Nexus by Yuval Noah Harari offer a common lens through which to view narrative as a form of control and social cohesion.
Orwell imagines an omnipresent State that rewrites history, surveils every gesture, and bends language to its will. Harari, meanwhile, examines how shared myths—currencies, institutions, beliefs—translate into effective structures through symbolic narratives. In both works, information does not merely reflect reality: it creates it, regulates it, and articulates it.
Technology emerges as a central actor: in 1984, it is a tangible tool of oppression; in Nexus, a symbolic network capable of becoming authoritarian if it lacks an ethical compass. Out of that duality emerges the voice of a software industry specialist, the CEO of N5, reflecting on the human role in the face of AI:
“AI will democratize empathy in financial services,” he states, anticipating the rise of the role of the “artificial intelligence commander”—someone who blends technology, trust, and human warmth.
That observation acts as a hinge: linking Orwell’s literary drama with Harari’s philosophical diagnosis. It’s not just about deploying intelligent systems but managing them with conscious human purpose, with empathy and meaning.
Shaped truths, shared fictions
In 1984, a repeated lie becomes a social norm: the past is edited, documents are erased, and no one questions it. Harari argues that institutions like the economy only function as long as there is a collective symbolic agreement. Both perspectives converge on one certainty: power does not reside solely in force, but in whoever controls the collective narrative.
An ethical call from a state of vigilance
1984 presents a bleak vision: total surveillance that eliminates individual freedom. Nexus offers a different power map: symbolic networks that define identity, value, and belonging. The idea put forth by the founder of N5 introduces a practical key: AI will only be transformative if governed by ethical and human criteria—not as a mere operational tool.
This triangle—1984, Nexus, and N5’s strategic outlook—offers an enriching panorama:
- 1984 provides the literary urgency of warning.
- Nexus offers a calm analysis of symbolic order-building.
- The third vision reminds us that technology needs a human purpose to unlock its transformative power.
Our immunity to the manipulation that AI’s revolution could unleash will depend on asking ourselves some essential questions: Who drives it? What does it omit or protect? What effects does it legitimize or make invisible? Or better yet, to formulate a critical question.
The act of questioning is the first step toward narrative transparency.
“In my team,” says Sofía López,
“we used to think algorithms only supported financial decisions.
Then I read Nexus and revisited 1984.
That’s when I asked: ‘What if AI also presents social opportunities—not just risks?’
That single question led to institutional change:
we began measuring social impact, not just technical efficiency.”
This testimony reflects what N5 prioritizes: artificial intelligence can be truly powerful if it is directed from an ethical, empathetic, and human perspective—not just by operational metrics.
Reading 1984 and Nexus, engaging with the empathetic vision of some cutting-edge technology leaders, and daring to ask difficult questions is not merely an intellectual exercise: it is a call to conscious and cultural action. Institutional and technological truth is defended through responsible and reflective questioning.
