Are we more fixated on individual "genius" vs collectivism than at any other point in history?

This is a slightly emotional response off the back of a discussion with a heavily TESCREAList family member recently. Which concluded with his belief there are a very small number of humans with incredible information processing abilities that know the real truth about humanity's future. He knows I hate Yudkowsky, I know he considers him one of the most important voices of our time. It's not fun listening to someone I love and value heading into borderline scientology territory. I kind of feel like, just with Peterson a few years ago, this is the next post-truth battle on our hands.