The Men Rewriting Our World
22 September 2026
16:00 - 17:30
Speakers' Corner
Science journalist and de Volkskrant editor George van Hal has teamed up with fellow journalist Laurens Verhagen to write De Techbro's (English: The Tech Bros), a book that takes a hard look at the billionaires who dominate Silicon Valley, and are increasingly exerting their influence in the White House. It's time to join the conversation.
Elon Musk wants to colonize Mars. Peter Thiel dreams of immortality. Sam Altman believes AI could become a god. Meanwhile, with their immense wealth and technological power, they are quietly dismantling democracy.
In De Techbro's (De Arbeiderspers, 2026), George van Hal and Laurens Verhagen explore the political, economic, and philosophical ideas that unite these men. They show how seemingly far-fetched visions of the future, space colonisation, superintelligence, and eternal life, have tangible consequences for ordinary people, here and now.
During this session, George van Hal will be a guest at The Lighthouse, where he’ll be interviewed by Thijs Jacobs, a third-year Bestuurskunde & Overheidsmanagement student at The Hague University of Applied Sciences. They’ll discuss the book, its key findings and perhaps the most urgent question of all: what can we actually do in response?
Registration
Free entry for students, staff, and anyone interested, as always. Please register in advance:
George van Hal
George van Hal is a science editor at de Volkskrant, where he writes about astronomy, physics, space exploration. And, these days, the people who seem convinced they're above the laws of both nature and democracy.
Thijs Jacobs
I’m Thijs Jacobs, 21, from Katwijk, and currently in my third year of Bestuurskunde & Overheidsmanagement at The Hague University of Applied Sciences. I’ve been interested in politics and social issues for as long as I can remember. Big Tech has an impact on all of our lives, which is why I think it deserves much more attention.
An event by The Lighthouse
At The Lighthouse, you take a closer look at the world and maybe also at yourself. Always relevant, inspiring, and with a twist.
