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I then went to the University of Tokyo and met its President Dr. Teruo Fujii, before delivering a special lecture titled "The Value of Humanity in Human-Machine Civilization" which raised the big question of our time: what will happen when the technology we create is increasingly able to imitate the way humans think, communicate and make judgments? Artificial intelligence is developing rapidly and opening up incredible new spaces for human progress. But the more fundamental question is about our ability to maintain wisdom, courtesy, moral judgment and a sense of responsibility in navigating the changes that are happening. Malaysia is taking steps to emerge as an AI Country by 2030. I emphasize that Asia must play a role in shaping a digital civilization centered on shared human values, justice and prosperity. While the world celebrates unprecedented technological breakthroughs, war, oppression and human suffering continue: the genocide in Gaza, the brutal killing of schoolchildren in Iran, the relentless shelling of Lebanon and the global energy crisis following the closure of the Strait of Hormuz. Worryingly, some of these tragedies are facilitated and intensified by the technology we often associate with progress. So the real measure of progress is not in the sophistication of the machines and technology we produce, but in the extent to which it elevates human dignity and strengthens universal justice. I also touched on the idea of ningen described by the Japanese philosopher, Watsuji Tetsurō. Humans are not formed in isolation, but through relationships with family, community, history and shared life experiences. Technology may be able to produce soft words or give convincing answers. But it is not possible to know loss, feel love, understand regret and endure life experiences that give meaning to every human consideration. The future of artificial intelligence is also a question of power and sovereignty. As digital capabilities become increasingly concentrated in a few countries and large corporations, each country must have the ability to understand, manage and determine the direction of the technologies used by its society. Technology should not erode humanity, but rather help enrich it. Our challenge is not to hinder progress, but to ensure that progress is guided by values, based on wisdom and courtesy, and upholding responsibility and concern for fellow human beings. ===== At the University of Tokyo today, I delivered a special lecture entitled "Humanity in a Human-Machine Civilisation", reflecting on one of the defining questions of our age: what becomes of humanity when the technologies we create grow increasingly capable of imitating the way we think, communicate and exercise judgement? Artificial intelligence is advancing at remarkable speed, but the greater challenge before us is not technological, but human. Malaysia has set its sights on becoming an AI Nation by 2030. Yet beyond the excitement surrounding emerging technologies, we must ask a more fundamental question: what kind of digital civilization are we seeking to build? Asia must not enter the age of artificial intelligence merely as a market, a manufacturing base or a source of data. We must help shape a digital civilization worthy of mankind. There is a profound irony in our age. As humanity celebrates extraordinary technological breakthroughs, war, oppression and human suffering continue to scar our world: from the genocide in Gaza and the brutal killing of schoolchildren in Iran, to the relentless bombardment of Lebanon and the global energy crisis triggered by the closure of the Strait of Hormuz. More troubling still, some of these tragedies are enabled and amplified by the very technologies we so often associate with progress.
Notes
Saya kemudiannya ke Universiti Tokyo dan bertemu Presidennya Dr Teruo Fujii, sebelum menyampaikan syarahan khas bertajuk “Nilai Kemanusiaan Dalam Peradaban Manusia-Mesin” yang mengangkat persoalan besar zaman ini: apa yang akan terjadi apabila teknologi yang kita cipta semakin berupaya meniru cara manusia berfikir, berkomunikasi dan membuat pertimbangan? Kecerdasan buatan berkembang pesat dan membuka ruang baharu yang luar biasa kepada kemajuan manusia. Namun persoalan yang lebih mendasar adalah tentang keupayaan kita mempertahankan hikmah, ihsan, pertimbangan moral dan rasa tanggungjawab dalam mengemudi perubahan yang sedang berlaku. Malaysia sedang mengorak langkah untuk muncul sebagai sebuah Negara AI menjelang 2030. Saya tegaskan bahawa Asia mesti berperanan membentuk sebuah peradaban digital yang berpaksikan nilai kemanusiaan, keadilan dan kemakmuran yang dikongsi bersama. Tatkala dunia meraikan pelbagai penerobosan teknologi yang belum pernah dicapai sebelum ini, peperangan, penindasan dan penderitaan manusia masih terus berlaku: genosid di Gaza, pembunuhan kejam anak-anak pelajar di Iran, pembedilan tanpa henti di Lubnan serta krisis tenaga global susulan penutupan Selat Hormuz. Lebih membimbangkan, sebahagian tragedi ini dipermudah dan diperhebat oleh teknologi yang sering kita kaitkan dengan kemajuan. Maka ukuran sebenar kemajuan bukanlah pada kecanggihan mesin dan teknologi yang kita hasilkan, tetapi pada sejauh mana ia mengangkat martabat manusia dan memperkukuh keadilan sejagat. Saya turut menyentuh gagasan ningen yang dihuraikan ahli falsafah Jepun, Watsuji Tetsurō. Manusia tidak terbentuk dalam keterasingan, tetapi melalui hubungan dengan keluarga, masyarakat, sejarah dan pengalaman hidup yang dikongsi bersama. Teknologi mungkin berupaya menghasilkan kata-kata lunak atau memberi jawapan yang meyakinkan. Namun ia tidak mungkin mampu mengenal kehilangan, merasai kasih sayang, memahami penyesalan dan menanggung pengalaman hidup yang memberikan pengertian kepada setiap pertimbangan manusia. Masa depan kecerdasan buatan juga merupakan persoalan tentang kuasa dan kedaulatan. Apabila keupayaan digital semakin tertumpu kepada segelintir negara dan syarikat besar, setiap negara mesti memiliki keupayaan untuk memahami, mengurus dan menentukan hala tuju teknologi yang digunakan oleh masyarakatnya. Teknologi tidak seharusnya menghakis kemanusiaan, sebaliknya membantu memperkayakannya. Cabaran kita bukan untuk menghalang kemajuan, tetapi memastikan kemajuan itu dipandu oleh nilai, disandarkan kepada hikmah dan ihsan, serta menjunjung tanggungjawab dan kepedulian sesama insan. ===== At the University of Tokyo today, I delivered a special lecture entitled “Humanity in a Human-Machine Civilisation”, reflecting on one of the defining questions of our age: what becomes of humanity when the technologies we create grow increasingly capable of imitating the way we think, communicate and exercise judgement? Artificial intelligence is advancing at remarkable speed, but the greater challenge before us is not technological, but human. Malaysia has set its sights on becoming an AI Nation by 2030. Yet beyond the excitement surrounding emerging technologies, we must ask a more fundamental question: what kind of digital civilisation are we seeking to build? Asia must not enter the age of artificial intelligence merely as a market, a manufacturing base or a source of data. We must help shape a digital civilisation worthy of humankind. There is a profound irony in our age. As humanity celebrates extraordinary technological breakthroughs, war, oppression and human suffering continue to scar our world: from the genocide in Gaza and the brutal killing of schoolchildren in Iran, to the relentless bombardment of Lebanon and the global energy crisis triggered by the closure of the Strait of Hormuz. More troubling still, some of these tragedies are enabled and amplified by the very technologies we so often associate with progress.