Keio Research Institute at SFC

Objectives

The evolution of highly versatile AI has been remarkable during recent years and further developments are expected in the future. In order to foresee the impact of rapid technological development on society and to discuss social systems, it is desirable to set up evaluation axes using a variety of cross-sectoral and diverse perspectives.

In order to systematically study the impact of AI and robot technologies on society and conduct research into the creation of new social systems in anticipation of technological development, the project aims to co-create the future of technology and society through dialogue with diverse stakeholders, including researchers in fields such as law, ethics, society, economics and management related to technology and social systems, as well as in fields related to creativity such as art and architecture, and with domestic companies who are leading the process of the application of AI and robot technologies. By realising research to promote the co-evolution of society and technology via research groups which integrate the Humanities and Sciences, it will be possible to construct a basic theory for designing institutions based on the co-existence of technology and people. The implementation of this research will provide direction for future institutional design and rule-making. In addition, in order to establish a globally effective centre of excellence, the project aims to study and make proposals for the systems necessary for the construction of cutting-edge rules and social infrastructures.

Outline of Research Activity Plan & Implementation Structure

The following groups will work with each other to promote systematic research:

1.  Research Supervision Group

• compilation of issue identification by research groups
• information-gathering at national and international conferences and meetings
• advocating principles and standards to win international initiatives

2. Information law group

• analysis, organisation and examination of issues from an information law perspective;
• policy advocacy in the legal system

3. Technical Group

• general-purpose Artificial Intelligence development and practice
• research on modelling brain processes in human and animal emotion; ie, value systems and ‘sociality’
• research on risks in various specialised areas to develop guidelines for value criteria and ethics
• research on an ‘emotional engine’ which Artificial Intelligence must have and the implementation of a value-judgement system which will bring reason to the discernment of what actually are the necessary values for an AI-driven world
• investigation of quality assessment methods in order to achieve the, (immediate) above

4. Management Studies Group

• analysis, organisation and examination of issues dealing with managerial aspects
• research on the use of AI to change the business environment
• research on AI and robot distribution markets

5. Creativity group

• analysis, organisation and examination of issues in the field of design and art
• research on the use of AI in the design and art domain

6. Economics Group

• analysis, organisation and examination of issues from an economic perspective
• theoretical and empirical analysis of the impact of AI technologies on employment and economic growth
• economic policy recommendations in relation to AI technologies

Conceptual diagram

Researchers, managers and professors