In "The Square and the Tower," Niall Ferguson highlights the inherent trade-offs in system design, emphasizing that systems can excel in speed, openness, or security, but achieving all three simultaneously is impossible. This concept speaks to the fundamental challenges facing modern technological and social architectures.

Ferguson warns of the dangers posed by the combination of rapid network advancements, artificial intelligence, and opaque systems, along with the implications of the New Caste and technological acceleration. This convergence creates not only vulnerabilities but also potential disruptions to global order, as everyday objects become integrated with sophisticated weaponry and decision-making processes.