LAUSR

Dear Editor, I appreciate the support by the Japanese Psychogeriatric Society for the upcoming conference, Asian Society Against Dementia (ASAD) 2021. I will here introduce one of the concepts for ASAD 2021. As most neuropsychiatrists know, the human brain has three layers. Namely, the inner layer (visceral brain), the intermediate layer (emotional brain), and the outer layer (intelligent brain). Each corresponds to body, mind, and intelligence, respectively. The latter is also separated into the left hemisphere, responsible for language function, and the right hemisphere, responsible for non-language functions. The critical problem is that these layers are not integrated. Namely, the thing body needs, the thing mind wants, and the thing intelligence understands, are not in accordance. We do bad things despite knowing this is bad. As a manifestation of this intraindividual disintegration, we do not understand the situation of our own bodies. Smokers cannot stop smoking although they understand that it is bad for their health. As a manifestation of inter-individual disintegration, we are not able to stop wars. Four great saints of humanity have said the same thing: you should not do whatever you do not want to be done by others (‘the second person’ QOL, quality of life, as described below). Finally, with respect to humans versus the environment, we cannot stop destroying this beautiful planet even though we understand that such destruction is bad for humans. Therefore, it has been proposed that Artificial Intelligence (AI) should manage and rule humans, to control the troublesome nature of our existence. Is this the right way of thinking? AI is similar to the most intelligent part of the human brain, the left hemisphere, and thus it becomes the question: Is the left hemisphere better able to manage and rule the remaining parts of the brain? Today, COVID 19 has become one of our worldwide infectious diseases. However, I can see in this situation several misunderstandings to the notion that a new world has come. Namely, a digital society has arrived devoid of the experience of actual human interactions in the real world. I agree that social distancing is needed to prevent infection, but is it true that digital society—social distancing in the extreme— is a new world? Recently, in Japan, we have been able to see AI mimic a famous singer, who has already passed away, singing on TV, or AI behave as a famous anime artist, who also has passed away, by writing a story similar to its predecessor. Does this not make everybody feel strange? Another example is the notion of AI which can analyse medical data, and plan a treatment, so precisely that physicians might not be necessary in the future. We are not machines. Do you feel really happy, if you live in a world where AI controls and manages everything in your life? AI never requires food, never goes to the toilet, or never sleeps, as a matter of course. This is a fundamental difference with human behaviours which cannot possibly be replaced by online activities. We can conduct meetings online, but we cannot eat food online. I am afraid that some people who advocate and promote a digital society as a wonderful future for society forget that we are mammals, as well as primates. Therefore, should humans, who are prone to a troublesome existence on earth, be managed and controlled by AI? No. We should cooperate and help each other by the mutual understanding that we are an imperfect existence, by overcoming individualism.