The true measure of advancement lies not in the sophistication of the machines we create, but in whether they uplift human dignity and strengthen the cause of justice. Drawing from the concept of ningen articulated by Japanese philosopher Watsuji Tetsurō, I reflected on the idea that human beings are shaped through relationships, community, history and shared experience. Technology may be capable of producing comforting words or persuasive answers, but it cannot truly know loss, experience love or understand remorse. The future of artificial intelligence is therefore not merely a question of i…

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 th…

Starting the first day of the visit to Japan by meeting an old friend who is also the Chairman of the Sasakawa Peace Foundation, Tan Sri Yohei Sasakawa. We were able to recall the long history of cooperation that has been established for a long time, including through Forum 2000 founded by the former Czech President, Václav Havel, which brought together world leaders, intellectuals and thinkers to discuss issues of democracy, human rights, peace and the future of universal civilization. We also remember the efforts to empower the young generation of Southeast Asia through various leadership de…