WIRED Hosts "Singularity Summit" to Explore AI and Humanity's Future
WIRED Japan (Condé Nast Japan) held "WIRED A.I. 2015 ~ TOKYO Singularity Summit #1" on September 29 at Toranomon Hills, Tokyo, focusing on artificial intelligence (AI).
Futurist Ray Kurzweil predicts the "singularity" – the turning point where computers surpass human intelligence – will arrive in 2045. What will AI bring that will profoundly change employment, business, lifestyles, and the very nature of existence? Scientists leading AI research globally gathered to contemplate the future of AI and humanity. The event venue overflowed with the enthusiasm of over 600 attendees, reflecting the rapidly growing interest in AI.
At the event, Ben Goertzel, a world-renowned AI researcher visiting from the US, discussed the history and current state of Artificial General Intelligence (AGI). Rav Varshney (University of Illinois) explained "Chef Watson," a cooking app using the globally acclaimed AI "Watson."
In Japan, Hiroshi Yamakawa (Dwango AI Research Institute), and Yuji Ichisugi (National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and Technology, Artificial Intelligence Research Center) introduced the "Whole Brain Architecture," a general-purpose AI modeled after the human brain. Motoaki Saito (PEZY Computing/ExaScaler) presented the development of a "supercomputer packing integrated circuits equivalent to 7.3 billion human brains into a 6-liter volume." Astrophysicist Takuya Matsuda expressed strong expectations that the Whole Brain Architecture and Saito's supercomputer hold significant potential for a dramatic reversal, given Japan's current lag behind global digital platforms like Google and Facebook in AI development. Additionally, life scientist Yasuki Ueda (University of Tokyo / RIKEN) explained the analysis of all cells in the human brain, emphasizing the importance of cross-disciplinary collaboration in AI research. Other speakers included Yutaka Matsuo (University of Tokyo), Hideki Takeda (UBIC), Tomoko Mikami (Microsoft Japan), Hiroo Inoue (Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry), and Katsura Hattori (Editor/Science Journalist). Discussions unfolded from diverse perspectives, including business and government.
Toward the end of the program, a discussion took place with all the guests, including WIRED Editor-in-Chief Megumi Wakabayashi. They reaffirmed their strong determination to realize in Japan an AI that is not limited, but rather "1H = an artificial intelligence equivalent to a whole human being."
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