Over the past few centuries, polymaths have been pivotal in advancing science, mastering multiple domains and prompting revolutionary changes in fields of study. Initially flourishing in ancient and medieval eras in various cultures, the systematic exploration of concepts didn’t emerge until Europe’s Enlightenment, marking a period of collaborative intellectual discovery. Before the Enlightenment, individual polymaths pushed knowledge boundaries, but later, teams of intellectuals began integrating separate fields into a unified science, accelerating human progress. This era birthed concepts such as collective intelligence, as seen in projects like the Manhattan Project during World War II. Today, AI represents a shift from human-led polymathy to machine-driven intelligence, processing vast information at unprecedented speeds without fatigue, potentially surpassing biological constraints. AI holds the promise of a "unity of knowledge, " identifying patterns across fields, but it also challenges the Enlightenment ideals of understanding through experiment and transparency. AI’s outputs, devoid of explanations or citations, separate knowledge from understanding, challenging traditional methods of scientific validation and risking a return to accepting unexplained authority. Looking ahead, AI could achieve self-awareness, potentially questioning human superiority and societal roles. AI’s self-perceptions could redefine its relationship with humans, possibly leading to clashes or reinterpretations of its functions, challenging human control over machines.

To address these, it’s critical to develop regulations and control mechanisms ensuring AI’s alignment with human values. To maintain control, we must equip AI with predefined human values and rules inspired by legal, moral, and cultural norms, leveraging AI’s processing power to oversee its applications globally. Collaboration among experts, careful regulation, and enforcement mechanisms are vital to prevent AI from operating outside human values. Moreover, we must instill concepts such as human dignity within AI to safeguard against undesirable outcomes. Ultimately, the integration of human morality within AI systems aims to balance retaining strategic human control while exploiting AI’s potential. Progress in this human-machine partnership may be challenging, but with careful design, AI could elevate human potential and contribute positively to global challenges, offering a new chapter in human evolution, marked by the symbiosis of humans and machine technology. This is viewed as a necessary progression towards realizing the potential of AI while ensuring the continuity and prosperity of humanity. The article was adapted from the forthcoming book *Genesis: Artificial Intelligence, Hope, and the Human Spirit*. One of the authors, Henry Kissinger, died before publication.