It happened while I was waiting for the pedestrian signal to turn green. One of four women in their seventies who crossed in front of me said, "I'm going to ask ChatGPT now," as she took out her smartphone. The other three responded lightly, "Yeah, yeah, ask it for us too." I was quietly shocked by how effortlessly natural their exchange was. I realized just how deeply it has permeated.
I overheard their conversation and was reminded of the time when smartphones first appeared in the world. Just like back then, when the proportion of people staring at their smartphones increased every time they boarded a train, I felt that the moment for the world’s scenery to change again had come.
A few days later, at my regular hair salon, the stylist excitedly said, "I really want to walk a lot right now." The reason was barefoot walking with "barefoot shoes," which have thin soles that allow you to regain the sensation of your feet. By walking while feeling the ground as if barefoot, the natural muscles of the feet awaken, and both posture and breathing improve — this rediscovery of bodily sensation is quietly gaining popularity now.
A daily life where AI refines sentences, suggests routes, and sometimes even becomes a conversational partner—behind this convenience, we may have gradually entrusted our five senses of "touch, smell, hearing, taste, and sight" to the other side of the screen. That is precisely why subtle stimuli such as the temperature of the ground beneath our feet, the trail of the wind brushing our cheeks, and the distant calls of birds feel like irreplaceable experiences returning to us.
What are the things that only humans can do or experience? With the emergence of AI as "something that behaves like a human," an era may be coming where grand philosophical questions become a matter of interest for many people. Finally, I asked ChatGPT, "What is something that only humans can experience?"
ChatGPT's response:
"No matter how smart AI becomes, it can never experience the thrill of falling in love or the sweaty palms from watching a scary movie. The 'living stories' that humans feel, worry over, and share as participants will never disappear. On the contrary, as AI takes over routine tasks, we will enter an era where we can cherish those unique, irreplaceable experiences even more."