Hiroshi Ishiguro, the producer of the Signature Pavilion Future of Life at Expo 2025 Osaka, Kansai, Japan, has focused intensively on the research, development, and social implementation of avatars since accepting the role four years ago. He believes that avatars are the very technology that can save Japan’s future.

Avatars refer to remotely operated robots or computer-generated (CG) characters. The CG characters used by V-Tubers are a prime example. Methods of remote operation vary from directly transmitting speech and actions to conveying only intentions. In the latter case, AI interprets those intentions and generates speech and movements. In other words, avatars encompass all entities that act based on human intent.

Professor Ishiguro began his avatar research around 2000. Initially, his work in robotics focused on robots that move while recognizing their environment with a camera. Around that time, he resolved to advance his research further by developing robots that assist humans in daily life. He has now been pursuing this field for over 25 years.

Avatars are expected to address critical issues facing Japan’s future. Japan’s population is projected to decline by 30% in the next 50 years, leading to a severe labor shortage. Avatars offer a solution: they enable everyone, including older people and people with disabilities, to expand their physical, cognitive, and perceptual abilities and participate in diverse activities with superhuman capabilities. Work and education will become possible anytime, anywhere, reducing the need for commuting and enabling people to reclaim more personal time.

This vision is also reflected in one of the goals of the Japanese Cabinet Office’s Moonshot Research and Development Program: to create a society by 2050 where individuals are liberated from the constraints of body, brain, space, and time through avatars. As a project manager of this initiative, Ishiguro has been deeply involved in avatar research and development. Simultaneously, he launched the startup company AVITA Inc. to implement CG avatars in society. These avatars are steadily taking root in Japanese society.

While avatars are built using cutting-edge technologies like AI and robotics, their purpose is to expand users’ abilities and enhance productivity. They also provide employment opportunities in Japan for people with disabilities, older adults, and people living abroad, thereby alleviating future labor shortages. Moreover, avatars advance diversity and inclusion. Human beings have historically discriminated against one another based on their physical appearance.

Avatars liberate us from the physical body, enabling the realization of a truly inclusive society. With avatars, we can build a society where everyone is recognized, connected, and coexists peacefully.

In essence, avatars offer a path to the evolution of humanity. Human evolution has not only been biological but also technological. For humanity to act more freely in an expansive world, we must continue evolving through science and technology. Avatars and other technologies will guide us into the future.

The Inochi Forum will work in partnership with organizations such as AVITA to engage the public in broad discussions on how science and technology can contribute to the evolution of individuals and society.

Education, work, healthcare, and daily life utilizing avatars

[References]
・Future of Life, Ishiguro Signature Pavillion at the Expo 2025
https://expo2025future-of-life.com/
・Avatar Symbiotic Society
https://avatar-ss.org/
・AVITA
https://avita.co.jp

[Action Platform]
Medical and Welfare / Education and Children / Economy,
Employment and Poverty / Diversity and Inclusion

[SDGs]