Nowadays, I’m about to take the degree at one in every of Asia’s greatest human assets meetings—along one in every of my private idols, physicist Dr. Michio Kaku.
My communicate shall be about how we’ve used AI at Mindvalley to boost up productiveness, creativity, and innovation. It’s a tale that’s made our corporate an educational case learn about in AI transformation.
However I’ll additionally cope with one thing darker—one thing that’s hijacking our minds, our votes, and our shared humanity.
It’s the best way AI is getting used to not lift us—however to divide us.
We see it each and every time we open TikTok, Instagram, or YouTube and get served content material that completely fits our outrage.
So as of late’s publication is ready this darker facet of AI.
It’s about how AI is being weaponized to divide society.
And the way ALL people, however the immigrant and the individual marching to get them out – are each being hijacked to serve a better political goal.
Let’s start with the set of rules
Now not the type that builds robots.
The type that feeds you headlines. Curates your outrage. Hijacks your empathy.
The type that fuels TikTok, YouTube, Fb, and X.
Those algorithms don’t simply replicate your ideals.
They sculpt them.
And right here’s the uncomfortable reality:
AI doesn’t care about democracy.
AI cares about dopamine.
It optimizes for something: engagement.
And the quickest technique to get engagement?
Concern.
Outrage.
Department.
So what can we get?
Now not reality.
Now not nuance.
We get emotional bait.
Headlines like:
“Trump ends the H1B Visa program.”
“Democrats halt the federal government as a result of they would like healthcare for illegals.”
And who advantages from this firehose of emotional manipulation?
Now not the sensible.
Now not the type.
However the ones maximum keen to mention anything else, regardless of the associated fee.
And at this time, the associated fee is being paid via immigrants. The very folks we as soon as promised to welcome, offer protection to, and uplift.
The united states: the immigrant fantasy
Let’s get started with the USA, the place this lie has taken root the private.
In his fresh speech on the United International locations, Trump declared that the U.S. govt is being close down as a result of Democrats wish to give healthcare to unlawful immigrants.
Sounds outrageous, correct?
Right here’s what he doesn’t inform you:
The real portion of the U.S. healthcare finances that is going to undocumented immigrants?
< 1%
That’s no longer a typo. Emergency Medicaid expenditures for undocumented immigrants are estimated to be lower than 1% of Medicaid’s general spending.
That’s for emergencies—like if any person is bleeding out on a freeway after you have hit via a automobile. The American means is to avoid wasting a lifestyles.
The opposite? Allow them to die.
However 1% remains to be one thing, correct? That may be going to common American citizens. How dare the ones undocumented people leech off tax-paying American citizens?
Now there’s the opposite nice fantasy that the White Home is perpetuating.
Some distance from draining the machine, undocumented immigrants give a contribution $97 billion in taxes every year—similar to the tax output of all the state of Ohio.
Sure, you learn that correct. The common undocumented immigrant in The united states in truth contributes between $8K to $10K a YEAR in tax earnings.
Now consider everybody in Ohio being instructed they’re no longer allowed to get admission to any healthcare—even emergency care—regardless of paying taxes.
And when folks say, “Smartly, they got here right here illegally,” let’s communicate historical past:
For many years, the U.S. had a rotating door coverage with Mexico.
Undocumented hard work used to be quietly welcomed to do the roles American citizens wouldn’t.
Reagan tolerated it.
Bush tolerated it.
It most effective was a “disaster” when worry was a marketing campaign technique.
I wish to be very transparent, I’m no longer suggesting we permit unlawful immigrants into international locations; international locations have border insurance policies for a explanation why.
The united states spends $25 billion in budgeted in line with 12 months on policing its border. What I’m in opposition to is the villainization of undocumented migrants, the tearing aside in their households, folks no longer having the suitable to due procedure and honest trial, as a result of those are techniques that dictators use.
As a aware civilized society, we want to be very, very acutely aware of those techniques.
Obama himself deported $3M folks from the United nevertheless it used to be performed with due procedure – there are fairer, more secure tactics to handle unlawful immigrants.
However prior to we transfer on, let’s discuss crime. Trump has been suggesting that undocumented immigrants give a contribution hugely to crime. Knowledge from the Cato Institute tells every other tale.
- Undocumented immigrants are 41% much less most probably to be incarcerated than American citizens.
- Documented immigrants are 74% much less most probably to be incarcerated.
Immigrants are via FAR much less more likely to interact in legal behaviour. However after all, it’s no longer handy to inform the reality.
For those who assume this hysteria most effective impacts undocumented staff, assume once more.
What came about after I attempted to construct an organization in The united states
Let me inform you why Mindvalley—a world private enlargement corporate—used to be pressured to depart the U.S.
In 2004, I used to be legally residing in New York. Visa licensed. Trade thriving.
Then, I used to be added to a federal watchlist.
It used to be referred to as Particular Registration—a Bush-era coverage concentrated on folks from Muslim-majority international locations.
Right here’s the irony:
I’m Hindu. And baptized an Orthodox Christian.
However as a result of I held a Malaysian passport—from a calm, advanced nation with a Muslim-majority inhabitants—I used to be flagged.
For 4 years, I couldn’t fly in or out of the U.S. with out a two-hour interrogation.
Each 4 weeks, I needed to report back to the NYPD.
I’d arrive at airports previous than everybody else to take a seat in a room with brokers who regularly requested, “How are you even in this record?”
They knew it used to be absurd. However the machine didn’t care.
So I left.
And I moved my corporate to Malaysia—no longer for decrease taxes or ability, however as a result of I refused to be handled like a suspect for sporting the “flawed” passport.
We constructed one thing strange.
Mindvalley now operates globally, has created hundreds of jobs, and affects folks in over 100 international locations.
And I made a promise:
If I couldn’t construct in The united states, I’d recreate the whole thing I beloved about The united states in my very own hood.
For this reason Mindvalley was the primary corporate in Asia to win the International’s Maximum Democratic Place of job award. It’s additionally why our place of job made Inc Mag Most sensible 10 Maximum Stunning Workplaces within the International in 2012 and 2019. I recreated the whole thing I beloved about Silicon Valley tradition in Asia and helped those concepts unfold.
Ultimately, President Obama declared Particular Registration unconstitutional.
However in 2016, Trump attempted to carry it again—below a brand new title: The Muslim Watchlist.
Handiest this time, social media used to be wide awake.
Other folks protested. CEOs like Sergey Brin marched within the streets. Trump subsidized down.
However the similar fear-mongering I lived thru is now getting used once more.
To divide.
To distract.
To scapegoat.
Europe—The numbers, the narrative, and my uncle at dinner
A couple of nights in the past, I used to be having dinner with a circle of relatives member.
He stated, “You already know, Vishen, Europe is after all waking up. Crime goes up as a result of they’ve let in too many immigrants.”
He’s no longer even Ecu. However he’s been looking at the flawed YouTube channels.
I appeared him within the eye and stated, “Let’s have a look at the knowledge in combination.”
Sure, many Europeans say they really feel unsafe.
That worry is actual.
I believe it too.
I don’t put on an eye fixed when strolling round positive portions of London.
However that worry isn’t being led to via immigrants.
More than one educational research throughout Europe and the U.S. have discovered no correlation between greater immigration and greater violent crime. (I’ve connected to they all within the weblog put up model of this newsletter).
But it surely is going additional. In spite of what Trump says, crime internationally, and particularly in Europe and the US, are plummeting.
Why? As a result of as people, we develop.
We evolve.
We transform extra aware.
Somebody telling you another way is hijacking your worry for votes. This chart from Steven Pinker’s very good e book on why we want to be constructive in regards to the long run presentations simply how a lot crime is reducing. It seems at homicides, however the similar is right for the majority ranges of crime (the e book is a wonderful learn!)
Trump’s Speech on the UN and his declare that the remainder of the sector is “going to hell”
Through now, you must most probably have learn that Trump’s speech on the UN used to be extensively observed as factually improper and described via many pundits because the worst speech any sitting American President has ever given on a public degree.
Trump says, “Take a look at Germany! Nearly part the prisoners are foreigners!”
He’s no longer flawed—at the floor.
In Germany, round 48% of prisoners are international nationals.
However Germany is a part of the EU.
“Overseas” contains folks from Italy, Poland, and France—individuals who transfer freely throughout the union.
However we need to glance higher. Of the overall incarcerated in Germany who’re international nationals kind of 70% have been non-EU nationals. And lots of have been simply the folk Trump vilified. Afghans, Syrians and different refugees and folks of we could simply say browner pores and skin complexion. So let’s read about knowledge and spot if it’s true that such folks purpose upper crime charges.
First, let’s zoom out.
For the reason that Nineties, immigration in Europe has greater via two-thirds.
In that very same length, crime has dropped via a 3rd. (All knowledge assets within the weblog put up associated with this newsletter).
So if crime is falling and immigration is emerging, the narrative falls aside.
However nonetheless one thing turns out off.
Why are there such a lot of foreigners in jails in Europe?
Right here, the research is understated.
Right here’s what the science of crime presentations us:
- Maximum crimes are dedicated via males.
Globally, males make up the vast majority of each criminals and sufferers. In the United Kingdom, 3 out of 4 folks arrested or charged are male. - It spikes in younger maturity.
Crime—particularly violent crime—peaks within the overdue teenagers to early 30s. In nearly each and every nation, younger males below 35 devote the easiest proportion of crimes. - Maximum refugees and migrants in Europe?
You guessed it: younger males below 35. That’s as a result of they’re those perhaps to take the danger of fleeing struggle zones, strolling throughout borders, and in the hunt for paintings in international international locations.
So sure, should you herald hundreds of younger males, that demographic will naturally display up extra in crime stats—even supposing their habits is not any other from native-born formative years.
However right here’s the place it will get much more fascinating.
When researchers regulate for age and gender, the variation disappears.
A Syrian, North African, or Chinese language immigrant commits a criminal offense on the identical charge as a white Ecu of the similar age.
Actually, in lots of research (together with from Stanford and the Public Coverage Institute of California), immigrants are in truth much less more likely to devote crimes than native-born electorate of an identical demographic profiles.
So when right-wing pundits display you a frightening chart with out age or gender context, be mindful this:
They’re no longer sharing the reality.
They’re promoting worry.
Crime isn’t an immigrant drawback.
It’s a younger male drawback—in every single place, throughout all ethnicities and international locations.
And right here’s the excellent news:
Crime is falling.
Even a number of the maximum “at-risk” demographics.
Humanity is evolving.
But when any person’s seeking to win your vote with worry, they’re no longer going to inform you that.
The tradition hole
Now, there’s every other debate I regularly pay attention:
“However can immigrants, particularly the ones from Muslim international locations, in truth assimilate into Europe?”
Ah.
That’s a extra fascinating query.
The solution is: Completely sure.
Once I hang around with my buddies in Europe, they arrive from an eclectic and numerous bunch—Brits, Swedes, Italians, Indians, American citizens, Canadians, Colombians, Egyptians, and Emiratis.
And something I’ve spotted?
Nearly all people have oldsters who have been deeply steeped of their unique cultures.
However amongst our technology—the ones people in our 30s and 40s—our values are remarkably an identical.
Certain, we might vote for reverse political events, however our core values?
We imagine in girls’s rights. In equity. In a democracy. In self-expression. In dignity.
However don’t take my phrase for it. There’s a scale that measures this.
In his e book Enlightenment Now, Steven Pinker discusses one thing referred to as the Enlightenment Values Scale, which measures cultural attitudes towards democracy, equality, unfastened speech, anti-corruption, girls’s rights, and extra.
What does the knowledge say?
Enlightenment values are emerging throughout all the international.
Particularly within the Islamic international. Particularly in Africa.
Sure, those areas nonetheless have decrease moderate Enlightenment rankings than Europe or East Asia.
However they’re emerging quicker than any place else on Earth.
In line with the knowledge, the common younger individual within the Islamic international as of late holds values similar to the common younger Ecu within the Nineteen Eighties. (see the chart underneath)
You already know what that suggests?
We’re speaking a couple of two-generation hole.
That’s it. Two generations.
Actually, as of late’s 18-year-old within the Muslim international most probably has extra in commonplace with a Ecu 18-year-old than that Ecu 18-year-old has with his personal grandparents.
So if we wish to declare that bringing in younger immigrants from Muslim international locations is come what may bringing in individuals who will “hijack” Ecu tradition, then in keeping with the true knowledge, we would possibly as neatly kick out our grandparents, too.
For the reason that hole isn’t between civilizations.
It’s between generations.
We’re changing into extra alike as a species.
Because of globalization, the web, training, and shared media.
We’re converging—no longer diverging.
And this new technology—the only crossing borders, dreaming larger, in the hunt for protection, alternative, connection—they don’t seem to be a risk.
They’re the long run.
Precise diagram of the Enlightenment Values scale from Pinker’s e book.
Why right-wing politicians push the worry narrative
As a result of it really works.
As a result of in terms of exact governance, they underperform.
VASTLY.
So that they depend on outrage. Concern. Department.
Let’s have a look at the numbers—over the past 30+ years of U.S. management.
Since 1990, the US has had:
3 Republican Administrations: George H. W. Bush, George W. Bush, Donald Trump
3 Democratic Administrations: Invoice Clinton, Barack Obama, Joe Biden
Now, let’s evaluate their efficiency on signs of wealth, industry, and economic system.
Sooner than I am going into the numbers. Who do you assume plays higher?
Pause a second and wager…..
Once I surveyed my target market, over 45% stated Republicans. At an entrepreneurship assembly lately in the US, 90% stated Republicans.
But the true knowledge presentations that Democrats outperform in nearly each and every primary class.
- GDP Expansion: Democrats averaged 3.46% enlargement; Republicans 2.4%.
- GDP Consistent with Capita: Upper enlargement below Democrats in each and every decade.
- Activity Advent: Democrats created 87.8 million jobs. Republicans: 31.9 million.
- Unemployment Charge: Decrease below Democrats—5.4% vs 6.2%.
- Inventory Marketplace Efficiency (S&P 500): Democrats averaged 14.4% annual go back. Republicans: 8.8%.
- Deficit (as % of GDP): Republicans moderate defects ~2.68%, Democrats ~2.57%
- Inflation: Decrease below Democrats.
- Infrastructure & Innovation: Democrats championed large-scale funding (CHIPS Act, Infrastructure Invoice). Republicans leaned on deregulation and tax cuts.
Be happy to make use of your favorite AI to appear up any of this knowledge by yourself.
The belief?
Democrats govern higher.
Republicans marketplace worry higher.
They usually’ve realized the way to weaponize the set of rules.
Now, to be transparent, the comparability I’m making right here is solely on industry metrics.
A lot of my entrepreneur buddies—folks I deeply recognize—have instructed me they vote Republican as a result of they like Republican industry coverage.
Once I shared this knowledge with them, they have been in fact stunned. Maximum were satisfied that Republicans outperform Democrats on financial measures.
Now, should you vote Republican since you align with conservative values, your Christian religion, or choose Republican tax insurance policies—that’s completely k. Vote Republican.
However let’s prevent repeating the parable that Republicans are higher for the economic system.
In relation to exact industry efficiency, the knowledge simply doesn’t cling up.
And so distraction and department transform the political recreation.
The unique Republican Birthday celebration (pre-Trump) had deep recognize for immigrations.
Reagan stated, “You’ll be able to cross to reside in France, however you can not transform a Frenchman. You’ll be able to cross to reside in Germany or Turkey, or Japan, however you can not transform a German, a Turk, or a Jap. However somebody, from any nook of the Earth, can come to reside in The united states and transform an American.” (From Reagan’s remarks close to the tip of his presidency)
And Bush stated, “Our nation is a rustic of regulations, and we’ve were given to implement our regulations. However we’re additionally a country of immigrants … The united states is usually a lawful society and a welcoming society on the identical time.” (Cope with on Border Safety and Immigration, Would possibly 2006)
However the present management. I feel many ex-Republican Presidents could be rolling of their graves.
What you’ll do subsequent
Don’t imagine the villainization of people who find themselves suffering to feed their households and get a leg up in lifestyles.
The following time you notice an immigrant handing over your meals…
The following time you’re served via a person with an accessory…
The following time you step right into a cab with a motive force from a far off land…
Ask them their title.
Ask the place they got here from.
Ask why they got here right here.
Ask what they left in the back of.
As a result of they’re no longer your enemy.
They’re no longer right here to take your activity, your healthcare, or your protection.
They’re simply seeking to reside.
Similar to your grandparents as soon as did.
And if we stay letting worry win—if we stay letting AI divide us—
Then the best con of the twenty first century shall be entire:
The tough will stay stealing from you.
And also you’ll stay blaming the powerless.
It’s time to get up.
To investigate.
To assume.
To reconnect.
To select leaders who construct—no longer burn.
As a result of democracy is not going to live to tell the tale every other decade of algorithmic worry.
However it could—if we commence opting for love over department, and reality over dopamine.
If this article stirred one thing in you, I’d love to listen to it. Go away a remark underneath. Do you settle? Disagree? Have a tale of your personal? I learn each and every unmarried one as a result of those conversations subject greater than ever.
With fierce compassion,
Vishen
REFERENCES AND SOURCES OF DATA MENTIONED IN THIS NEWSLETTER:
A foundational learn about via Luca Nunziata (2014), printed as an IZA Dialogue Paper titled “Immigration and Crime: New Empirical Proof from Ecu Victimization Knowledge”, tested Ecu victimization surveys and nationwide immigration knowledge. His conclusion: immigration does no longer carry exact crime charges, despite the fact that it should build up worry of crime because of belief biases. You’ll be able to learn it right here: ftp.iza.org/dp8632.pdf. Nunziata later printed a peer-reviewed model within the Magazine of Inhabitants Economics (2015), confirming the similar consequence — “no impact of immigration on crime victimization” (concepts.repec.org/a/spr/jopoec/v28y2015i3p697-736.html).
A landmark British learn about via Bell, Fasani, and Machin (2013), “Crime and Immigration: Proof from Massive Immigrant Waves”, printed within the Evaluation of Economics and Statistics (MIT Press), checked out two primary immigration waves to the United Kingdom — the asylum-seeker inflows of the overdue Nineties and the “A8” Japanese Ecu staff who arrived after the 2004 EU enlargement. Their knowledge display no build up in violent crime, and just a small, brief upward push in positive belongings crimes all over the asylum wave (which later reversed). The entire running paper is to be had from the LSE: eprints.lse.ac.united kingdom/59323, and the broadcast magazine model is right here: MIT Press PDF.
In Germany, one of the crucial tested Ecu instances, Maghularia and Uebelmesser (2019, up to date 2023) carried out an in depth district-level research over 2008–2019. Their learn about, printed in Magazine of Financial Habits & Group, discovered that prior to the 2015 refugee influx there used to be a susceptible certain affiliation between immigration and sure crimes, however this grew to become detrimental or insignificant in a while. Over the overall decade, the common impact of immigration on total crime used to be statistically 0. The learn about is to be had at sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0167268123001713.
Huang and Kvasnicka (2019), of their IZA Dialogue Paper No. 12469, titled “Immigration and Crime in Germany”, reviewed the Ecu proof and offered new effects the usage of legitimate police knowledge. Their conclusion echoed previous findings: no proof that asylum seekers greater violent crime; small upticks in non-violent or migration-specific offences have been defined via demographics (younger male populations) and financial integration boundaries. Obtain right here: ftp.iza.org/dp12469.pdf.
In a similar fashion, Dehos (2021), writing in Regional Science and City Economics, analyzed Germany between 2010 and 2015 and located no build up in total crime as a result of asylum seekers as soon as migration-related offences have been excluded. There used to be just a small build up in belongings crimes after asylum reputation, which the creator attributed to brief financial hardship relatively than cultural components. (sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0166046221000341).
Fresh empirical summaries proceed to make stronger this conclusion. The Ifo Institute’s 2025 research of German police knowledge discovered no correlation between the percentage of foreigners (together with refugees) and native crime charges — successfully confirming the sooner decade of literature. Likewise, a complete global survey via Marie and Pinotti (2024) within the Magazine of Financial Views reviewed research throughout Europe and the U.S., concluding that “the majority of credible proof reveals no systematic courting between immigration and violent crime.”
Even broader meta-reviews, equivalent to Gehrsitz and Ungerer (2022) in Economica, pressure the similar level: high quality research the usage of causal identity in finding no important results on violent crime, and most effective minor, brief results on positive belongings offences.
For out there summaries of this literature, the IZA International of Exertions evaluation, “Crime and Immigration” (wol.iza.org/uploads/articles/33/pdfs/crime-and-immigration.pdf), concisely notes: “There may be little proof that immigration will increase crime; at maximum, small, non permanent results seem in particular contexts.” Every other readable synthesis is “Immigration, Crime, and Crime (Mis)Perceptions” from the Inter-American Construction Financial institution (publications.iadb.org/publications/english/file/Immigration-Crime-and-Crime-MisPerceptions.pdf), which explores how public worry regularly rises even if exact crime does no longer.
In the end, Nunziata’s previous convention model, “Crime Belief and Victimization in Europe: Does Immigration Topic?”, offered on the IZA Annual Migration Assembly, gives the early theoretical framing that may cross on to steer a lot of this analysis: crime belief ≠ crime truth. It’s archived right here: convention.iza.org/conference_files/amm2011/nunziata_l1447.pdf
