[3/3] Summary and Outlook: -For Us Living in the AI Era-
■ Introduction: Looking Back at Singularities
Thus far, we have looked back at historical singularities.
Hiraga Gennai's Elekiter. The Wright brothers' airplane. What seemed like “bizarre experiments” to people at the time were, from our modern perspective, turning points that transformed civilization.
Then came Osamu Tezuka's Astro Boy and Fujiko F. Fujio's Doraemon. They depicted the future from a “future person's perspective,” and many of their predictions became reality.
Now, in 2025, we stand at the very center of a new singularity. AI, ChatGPT, large language models. Many people feel both anxiety and anticipation, wondering, “What will happen next?”
But history teaches us something. Singularities cannot be stopped. But how we face them is a choice.
■ Development: Three Truths History Teaches Us
Truth 1: Technological Innovation Accelerates
From the Elekiter to the electric civilization: 200 years. From the Wright brothers to the aviation industry: 120 years. From computers to everyone owning a smartphone: 80 years. From the internet becoming commonplace: 30 years. From ChatGPT's emergence: 2 years.
The intervals between technological innovations are shortening exponentially. And once this flow begins, it cannot be stopped. This is the first truth history reveals.
Truth 2: “Perfection” Is Not Required
The Elekiter was not a practical power generator. The Wright brothers' airplane flew for only 12 seconds. Early computers filled entire rooms and performed calculations slowly.
What matters is not “perfection,” but the fact that it “works.” Even imperfect, the mere existence of that technology sparks the next innovation.
AI in 2025 is imperfect. It hallucinates and makes mistakes. Yet it still “can.” It writes text, creates art, holds conversations, and writes code. That fact alone promises the next decade or two of innovation.
Truth 3: Anyone Can Adopt a “Future Person's Perspective”
Osamu Tezuka was a medical doctor, and Fujiko F. Fujio was well-versed in technology. But they weren't special. What they did was a thought experiment: “If I were a person from the future, how would I see the present?”
This thought experiment is something anyone can do.
Imagine you're a person from 2045 looking back at 2025. You might say, "Back then, AI was imperfect. But that was the beginning. Everything changed from that moment on.“ — That's what they might say.
■ Summary +α: To Us Living in the AI Era
So, what should we do?
There's no need to fear. But we cannot afford to be indifferent.
In Hiraga Gennai's time, some might have looked at the Elekiter and said, "It's scary." In the Wright brothers' time, some might have looked at airplanes and said, ”It's dangerous." When computers emerged, people said, “They'll take human jobs.”
Yet history proves technology itself is neither good nor evil. What matters is how we use it, how we engage with it.
Electricity causes disasters but also sustains civilization. Airplanes were used in war but connected the world. Computers enable surveillance but also share human knowledge.
AI is the same. Depending on how it's used, it can enrich humanity or pose dangers. That's precisely why each of us must engage with it as active participants.
Be a realist and a romantic
Let's remember what Osamu Tezuka taught us. He was a realist and, at the same time, a romantic.
Look calmly at reality and understand technological trends. That is the realist's stance. Simultaneously, hold onto the dream of “how wonderful it would be if the future were like this.” That is the stance of a romantic.
Only when we possess both can we truly ‘choose’ our future.
AI is inevitable. The Singularity is likely unavoidable too. But what kind of society we build beyond that is our choice.
Viewing the Present as a “Person from the Future of 2045”
Finally, let's think once more from the "perspective of a future person."
What would a person from 2045 say when looking back on 2025?
“2025. AI was imperfect. Many people felt uneasy. But some people calmly studied the technology, engaged in constructive discussions, and tried to choose a desirable future. Their efforts created the society we have today.”
We can choose a future where that is said.
The year 2003 as envisioned by Osamu Tezuka, the 22nd century as depicted by Fujiko F. Fujio. Much of it has become reality. So, what about the future we envision?
To us living in the AI era: Be fearless, remain engaged, be both realist and romantic. The future is what we ourselves create.
~Fin~
May 2026 be a good year for everyone.
Thank you for reading to the end.
【Part1: The History of Technological Innovation: -What Astro Boy Teaches Us-】
【Part2: Singularity and AI: -The Future Doraemon Showed Us-】