Introducing 2 books about AI and the body.

■ Introducing 2 books about AI and the body.

I will introduce two publications about AI and the human body.

“NEO HUMAN” by Peter Scott-Morgan.

The book follows the author, of a scientist diagnosed with motor neurone disease, who transformed himself into a cyborg by replacing his body with a machine while supplementing his brain with AI. He lives virtually through voice synthesis, gaze input, and his own avatar.

Rather than confronting his disease, he uses it as an opportunity to be born again, a challenge that paves the way toward the future of humanity. 

Even if limb or organ function is impaired, life can be maintained as long as the brain can operate.

Rather, the brains direct connection with AI and robots will expand the body and give it freedom of activity.

The author is said to be active even now that his limbs are immobile and he has lost his voice.

The book does not paint a linear picture of the bright future of a fusion between the physical and IT, but rather juxtaposes the author’s difficult life, speaking of the fault lines between him and establishment, the pressures against living as a gay man, and his struggles in business.

The main subject of the book, the execution of his project, is also a harrowing one. In the end, the Seven Samurai finally break through.

This is a book about the way of life.

What we have given up on in the past may be turned around and be used to bring about a new future by embracing technology.

This requires a commitment to fight against the orthodox, to gather comrades, obtain funding, and to communicate.

I wonder if I would have the energy to do so if I think about the author’s situation as my own. That is my impression after reading this book.

The other book.

“Genius Weapons: Artificial Intelligence, Autonomous Weaponry, and the Future of Warfare” by Louis Del Monte.

This book questions the development of AI weapons and their control and management by mankind.

Autonomous weapons, omnipotent weapons, autopiloting, AI-implanted soldiers, and the technological and political scenarios they conceive.

It is a looming reality and an endless thought experiment.

I thought about it vexingly.

AI and nanotechnology are too advanced.

A treaty prohibiting the development of autonomous weapons would require both major powers (the United States and China to see the benefits.

This would be when the possibility of small nations, ethnic minorities, and terrorists using the new weapons increases.

This points to a situation in which the democratization of technology would need to be curbed.

What will Japan do to control tech democratization?

The military will become system-engineered.

Operational units will be replaced by AI, and the majority of personnel will be allocated to AI development and maintenance.

Like investment banks.

The unemployment problem among military personnel will be troublesome.

The military may become the strongest force against AI evolution.

This book discusses whether soldiers will control AI or AI will control soldiers, assuming the mass emergence of soldiers with AI implanted in their brains after technological singularity.

There would be no military incentive except for AI to have control over the soldiers. 

The question is, who would want that?

What AI-implanted people upload into the AI system is not knowledge, but experience and emotion.

This would bring about new life support and regeneration, so there would be incentives for this.

Post-singularity. Live to see what technology awaits.

That’s a good goal.

At the end of the book, there is a commentary by Keiji Ono of the Ministry of Defense.

The debate on security should not be kept to the experts.

Hanshin fans in the Kansai region comment on everything from professionals to aunties and children.  Mr. Ono explains the utility of public opinion, “the psychology of Hanshin fan support,” in maintaining governance.

This section of the book hit closest to home for me.