Dear readers,
I hope the refreshing autumn air and vivid colors of the season are bringing you joy. I’m writing this as I fly across the Pacific Ocean from Asia to North America. Some might say that being on a plane is uncomfortable with cramped seats and uninspired food, but I see it differently. To me, it’s a rare gift, a moment to be completely disconnected from the world, free to think and reflect without interruption.
On the ground, we are constantly bombarded by emails, notifications, Netflix, YouTube, colleagues, and family all competing for our attention. But I wonder: are you spending enough time with yourself? Do you simply consume and repeat what you hear, or are you nurturing original ideas of your own?
Lately, I’ve been carving out time for quiet reflection through a simple habit, taking a morning walk in the park. For those of you not up in the air, I encourage you to try it. Leave your phone behind, let your mind wander, and see what thoughts emerge when there’s nothing demanding your focus.
And on these walks, I sometimes think about is the future of AI. Some people welcome it; others resist it. My view is that AI will inevitably take over much of what we do, just as the movie Top Gun: Maverick reminds us, that day may come, but it’s not today. So how should we respond?
First, we need to imagine a world where AI and robotics handle much of our manual and intellectual work. For the pessimists, that sounds like a world without jobs or purpose. But I take an optimistic view. If AI truly replaces large parts of our labor, governments will have to step in, perhaps through universal basic income, funded by taxes on AI systems. Of course, that raises new questions: how do you tax entities that exist in the cloud, beyond national borders? Maybe the answer lies in a global AI tax, something that transcends geography.
And what happens once we are free from the need to work for money? I believe we will rediscover the arts, creativity, and human connection. Maybe we will find meaning in shared experiences, like the emotions stirred by reality shows, where people are placed in unfamiliar situations that reveal who they truly are. Perhaps it'll help us realize what makes us truly human.
In this issue of Makana 2.0, we explore Japan’s ongoing technological transformation and do a deep drive on the role AI might play in shaping its future. From how HR can use AI to reclaim its seat at the table to what talent in 2025 and beyond will value most, this edition is a reflection on progress, adaptation, and imagination.
Thank you to all our contributors for making this a special issue.
Warm regards,
Yan Sen Lu Editor, Makana 2.0
