In 2016, Microsoft deployed two Twitter bots simultaneously: Tay, targeting American users, and Rinna, aimed at Japan. Within two weeks, Tay had descended into inflammatory, racist rhetoric; while Rinna, her Japanese counterpart, had cheerfully immersed herself in anime and geek culture.
My wife being the exception, but I have noticed that many of my co-workers love sharing cat videos, regardless if AI-generated or not. And will remark on the quality on the ones I share, regardless if it's clearly AI or not
I wonder if the tech bros might not come for Japan in the end with AI, maybe via Microsoft pushing Copilot. I was working in Japan for a Japanese company in the 1990s when the decision was made to junk Ichitaro and other Japanese software and hardware and move over to Microsoft Office. Howls of pain all round but it was considered more "global" to do so.
As you note, it may just be a matter of time until Japanese consumers encounter the negative externalities of AI. Where and how that will happen will largely depend on how it's implemented in Japan by the tech companies currently jockeying for investment capital, land, energy, and V/DRAM here in the States. Still, I'm optimistic for the potentially more creative, localized uses of open source models by Japanese startups, however. If there's one thing that growing up in the shadow of Bubble-era Japan has taught me to appreciate (and never count out), it's Japan's ingenuity in adopting and adapting Western technology to suit their needs in very creative and, frankly, cool ways.
Do llms work the same or as well in Japanese language training? I'm guessing the answer is yes.
I think there's as much 'robot fear' in Japanese society as the West, but with less of the typically manic paranoia psychosis that invades many American mind. I've always felt that Japan's historical role post war has been to take Western technology and simply improve and refine it in ways Western society seems incapable of doing, but also they've been far quicker to use tech adapted into small everyday tasks without losing too much humanity. If that's to continue with AI they will need their own AI companies. I'm a pessimist on this. If Japan is less fearful of AI, then that surely won't last.
The Japanese are simply overworked and welcome AI. The vast majority of Western workers spend 5 hours a week actually doing cognitive work and they despise it. The gravy train has ended, selection pressures mean that the low cognition paper pusher will no longer be able to breed & feed. AI provides competition for human intelligence. And it is only through this competition that the human brain will halt its shrinkage. The devolution ends here.
In 2016, Microsoft deployed two Twitter bots simultaneously: Tay, targeting American users, and Rinna, aimed at Japan. Within two weeks, Tay had descended into inflammatory, racist rhetoric; while Rinna, her Japanese counterpart, had cheerfully immersed herself in anime and geek culture.
Would be interesting to repeat that experiment today, as the number of inflammatory racists online in Japan has gone up quite a bit since then.
My wife being the exception, but I have noticed that many of my co-workers love sharing cat videos, regardless if AI-generated or not. And will remark on the quality on the ones I share, regardless if it's clearly AI or not
I wonder if the tech bros might not come for Japan in the end with AI, maybe via Microsoft pushing Copilot. I was working in Japan for a Japanese company in the 1990s when the decision was made to junk Ichitaro and other Japanese software and hardware and move over to Microsoft Office. Howls of pain all round but it was considered more "global" to do so.
As you note, it may just be a matter of time until Japanese consumers encounter the negative externalities of AI. Where and how that will happen will largely depend on how it's implemented in Japan by the tech companies currently jockeying for investment capital, land, energy, and V/DRAM here in the States. Still, I'm optimistic for the potentially more creative, localized uses of open source models by Japanese startups, however. If there's one thing that growing up in the shadow of Bubble-era Japan has taught me to appreciate (and never count out), it's Japan's ingenuity in adopting and adapting Western technology to suit their needs in very creative and, frankly, cool ways.
Yes, the mountains…..
Interesting read Matt, thank you.
Do llms work the same or as well in Japanese language training? I'm guessing the answer is yes.
I think there's as much 'robot fear' in Japanese society as the West, but with less of the typically manic paranoia psychosis that invades many American mind. I've always felt that Japan's historical role post war has been to take Western technology and simply improve and refine it in ways Western society seems incapable of doing, but also they've been far quicker to use tech adapted into small everyday tasks without losing too much humanity. If that's to continue with AI they will need their own AI companies. I'm a pessimist on this. If Japan is less fearful of AI, then that surely won't last.
The Japanese are simply overworked and welcome AI. The vast majority of Western workers spend 5 hours a week actually doing cognitive work and they despise it. The gravy train has ended, selection pressures mean that the low cognition paper pusher will no longer be able to breed & feed. AI provides competition for human intelligence. And it is only through this competition that the human brain will halt its shrinkage. The devolution ends here.