【2/3】Singularity and AI: -The Future Doraemon Showed Us-
【Prev: [1/3] The History of Technological Innovation: -What Astro Boy Teaches Us-】
■ Introduction: Another “Person from the Future”
Last time, we considered the thought experiment of "seeing the future from the perspective of a person from the future" through Osamu Tezuka's Astro Boy. Hiraga Gennai's Elekiter, the Wright brothers' airplane. What were merely "bizarre experiments" at the time were obvious "singularities" when viewed from the future.
Now, let's bring in another “person from the future”: Doraemon.
In 1969, Fujiko F. Fujio began serializing Doraemon. Doraemon, a cat-shaped robot from the 22nd century (2112), captivated children's imaginations with the myriad “secret gadgets” he pulled from his fourth-dimensional pocket.
While Osamu Tezuka set his stories around 2003, Fujiko F. Fujio chose the 22nd century—roughly 100 years ahead. How much of the technology depicted there has become reality today?
■ Evolution: The Future Doraemon Showed Us, and Today
Secret Gadgets Becoming Reality
“Translation Konjac” — A gadget that, when eaten, allows you to understand any language. In 2025, we have real-time translation apps. Google Translate, DeepL, and AI-powered simultaneous interpretation. While not perfect, communication across languages has become dramatically easier.
“Memory Bread” — A gadget that lets you perfectly remember everything you eat. While this hasn't been realized, search engines and AI function as “external memory devices.” You can instantly search for anything you want to know, and asking ChatGPT gives you detailed explanations. The very need to ‘memorize’ is changing.
“Time Machine” — This remains firmly in the realm of science fiction. However, research into quantum computers and applications of relativity theory continues. What will the world be like 100 years from now?
The Singularity of AI
Doraemon himself is a robot possessing advanced AI. He has emotions, worries about Nobita, sometimes gets angry, and sometimes laughs. Now, in 2025, large language models like ChatGPT, Claude, and Gemini have emerged, capable of human-like conversation.
But do these AIs possess a “mind”?
Doraemon clearly has a “heart.” He possesses the “will” to help Nobita. On the other hand, some view current AI as merely statistical pattern matching. Yet, one could also argue that our human ‘heart’ and “will” are nothing more than patterns of electrical signals and synaptic connections within the brain.
The Imperfections and Potential of AI
AI in 2025 possesses astonishing capabilities, yet it also has clear limitations.
ChatGPT writes fluently but sometimes confidently states things that are factually incorrect (hallucinations). Image-generating AI creates beautiful pictures but can miscount the number of fingers on a human hand. AI-driven cars can make wrong judgments in unexpected situations.
In other words, AI is not perfect. Yet, this contains an important implication.
The Electricity Generator was not a perfect power source. The Wright brothers' airplane flew for only 12 seconds. Yet, they were “singularities.” Even without perfection, the fact that something “can be done” triggers a chain reaction of technological innovation.
■ Reflection: Is the Singularity Inevitable?
“The Singularity (Technological Singularity)” — the tipping point where AI surpasses human intelligence, repeatedly self-improves, and evolves at an unpredictable speed. Some predict it will arrive in 2045.
Will this truly happen?
Looking back at history, the answer becomes clear.
In 200 years since the Elekiter, we built a society that cannot live without electricity. In 120 years since the Wright brothers, 4 billion people now fly annually. In 80 years since computers emerged, everyone now carries a smartphone.
The pace of technological innovation is accelerating. And once started, the flow of technological innovation has never stopped.
When Fujiko F. Fujio created Doraemon, he likely imagined himself as a "person from the future, the year 2112." Working backward from that, he must have thought, "2025 should be like this," and "2050 will probably be like that."
So, what if we imagine ourselves as "people from the future, the year 2045" and think from that perspective?
"The year 2025. ChatGPT had only been around for two years. Many people were debating AI's potential and dangers. No one yet realized that year would be a turning point."
History proves it. The singularity is always something "only visible in hindsight." Yet simultaneously, its signs are always present in the "now."
■ The Bridge: What Should We Do?
The future Doraemon showed us is gradually becoming reality. AI is imperfect, yet it continues to evolve steadily. If the Singularity is inevitable, what should we do? Should we fear it? Should we embrace it? Or should we simply observe? In the next installment [Part 3/3], I will summarize these reflections and offer a vision for the future as a message to us living in the AI era.
【Next: [3/3] Summary and Outlook: -For Us Living in the AI Era-】