M.M.A. -Massive Mesh Ambitions- / Keita Nishiyama, “The Isomorphic Universe: From Life to Policy” English version also available

A media project to speculate and discuss about GHOST IN THE SHELL “M.M.A. -Massive Mesh Ambitions-”

 

The theme of ISSUE #01 is “The East.
Keita Nishiyama, “The Isomorphic Universe: From Life to Policy” is now available in English.

 

Keita Nishiyama’s career in government has been one of persistent problem solving. Since joining the Ministry of InternationalEconomy, Trade and Industry in 1985, he has devoted himself to issues caused by the bursting of Japan’s bubble economy and its aftermath – the so-called “Lost 30 Years.” Dealing with everything from initiatives to dispose of non-performing loans to digital policies, he has grappled with a wide variety of economic and social issues. But Mr. Nishiyama shows no signs of pessimism about the future. He has been a pivotal behind-the-scenes figure in the Data Free Flow with Trust (DFFT) initiative, which was presented by Japan in the 2019 World Economic Forum Annual Meeting, and has been under active deliberation by the G7 and G20. And he is pragmatically optimistic about the role artificial intelligence (AI) may play in society and government in the years to come.

 

Mr. Nishiyama’s optimism is rooted in established philosophical thought. Drawing inspiration from the concept of Markov Blankets, which are used in neuroscience and deep learning, he proposes his own philosophy of “Strong Isomorphism,” which can be applied universally to all of life, matter, and information. Starting with the isomorphism of states of “being” and “knowing” shared amongst humans, AI, and other life forms, Mr. Nishiyama developed a bold theory of relational realism that goes beyond concepts of mind-body dualism and elemental reductionism. This concept is summarized in his book “Sotaikasuru Chisei” (Relativizing Intelligence), co-authored with AI researcher Yutaka Matsuo and economist Keiichiro Kobayashi. Astute readers may notice that these ideas have much in common with the philosophy of life developed in Masamune Shirow’s Ghost in the Shell series.

 

Mr. Nishiyama celebrates the arrival of generative AI as marking the beginning of an ideological shift that will go beyond the mere transformation of industry. But how is this expected to impact Japan’s future? In this interview, Mr. Nishiyama shares a vision that has developed through a complex interweaving of philosophy and public policy, discussing breakthrough scientific technologies, Eastern and Western philosophy, the relationship between AI and state governance, innovations in domestic and international organizations brought on by the digital transformation, technology, and historical philosophy.