The Future That Arrived First: People Who Experienced the World After AI

Author Jang Kang-myoung · Publisher Dongasia · Published 2025-06-26 · ISBN 9788962626605

About the Book

"If AI can play creative Go,
does that mean machines could someday creatively solve mathematical problems
and create creative works of art?"

Re-examining the meaning of creativity, literary quality, and humanity.
What will 'human literature' become in the age of AI?

The match between Lee Sedol 9-dan and AlphaGo was shocking not only in its result but also in its content. The Go community had guessed that 'AlphaGo, being a computer, would be strong in the late game where calculation power is crucial.' However, AlphaGo showed even greater strength in the opening phase, which was considered the domain of creativity. Now, many professional players evaluate AlphaGo's Go as creative. But isn't creativity a human exclusive? If AI has creativity, does that mean it can write thousands of creative literary works every day? Jang Kang-myoung premises that literature is different from Go, but states that very little is actually impossible. This, he says, is the lesson left by AlphaGo.

Even after AlphaGo, there were professional Go players who said, 'I will play human Go, which AI cannot.' When asked exactly what human Go is, their answers involved elements unrelated to excellence, such as misunderstandings and mistakes, emotional expressions and gestures, and stories surrounding the match. When AI writing novels churns out hundreds of masterpieces every day, 'human literature' might take on a similar meaning. Authors with unique 'life stories' may receive more attention, even if their writing skills are lacking, because AI can supplement writing skills. Jang Kang-myoung predicts that the values pursued in various industries will be altered by AI.

Once AI begins to spread in an industry, it is almost impossible to stop it, as it creates a group that benefits. Indeed, some professional Go players welcome the introduction of AI. They have been able to narrow the skill gap that arose from starting Go late, lacking early game intuition, or having an information gap with top players. Conversely, it also means that someone might suddenly lose their unique strengths. Here, Jang Kang-myoung expands the discussion in another direction: Should big tech companies with AI technology be allowed to dictate the landscape of an industry and the lives of those within it? Is developing such technology truly the right thing to do?

"In the age of AI, artists might have to learn how to skillfully merchandise themselves and their ability to craft stories through their creative process. Also, how to buy a sports car and certify it, or how to target other famous personalities." _Page 268

"I hope that values lead technology.
Valuable technology only emerges in that context.
Currently, we are experiencing the exact opposite phenomenon."

The lie that AI is just a tool
How can we control the values of science and technology?

Some experts argue that 'AI is just a tool, and its use is a matter of individual choice.' Jang Kang-myoung asserts that their naive prediction is wrong. He states that some technologies influence people's perceptions and actions. For modern people, smartphone use is no longer a matter of individual choice. The same applies to taxi drivers following navigation recommendations or popular musicians distributing their music on streaming services. Social media has changed how we experience things and the criteria by which we evaluate their value. AI might become something even more profound, becoming the very environment we live in.

Meanwhile, is the "new jobs will continue to emerge in the AI era" optimism a source of social value and pride, or merely a reason to get paid? The book relentlessly delves into this question. Even after AlphaGo, professional Go players' jobs did not disappear. However, their authority and pride plummeted. Professional players whose skills rapidly improved are suspected of 'AI cheating.' What Go fans expect from commentators is not their opinion, but their role in easily conveying 'AI's recommended moves.' Is an expert's pride a trivial value in the face of progress? Would it be okay to be relegated to an AI assistant as long as a salary is provided?

Jang Kang-myoung argues for technical and institutional control over AI, using the example of clinical trials that pharmaceutical companies must undergo in the drug development process. He points out that the mechanisms to check the rapid pace of technological development and its impact on our lives and society are insufficient. He also calls for cross-border responses, similar to the control of nuclear weapons and atomic energy through the International Atomic Energy Agency and climate crisis responses through international treaties. Furthermore, Jang Kang-myoung emphasizes the role of humanities in believing in and imagining a better future, beyond the radical and simplistic notion of 'good life' touted by big tech companies. Such imagination, he says, is something AI cannot yet do, but only humans can.

"Regarding the origin of values and how to control technology, perhaps someone could come up with a brilliant idea? I await modern thinkers. I hope smart people don't flock to Silicon Valley but challenge this problem instead." _Pages 338-339

Table of Contents

1. The Future That Came Early
2. Pride and Prejudice, and Creativity
3. The Most Important Question
4. Flatness and Fairness
5. Beyond the Tool of Language
6. Immutable Laws and Changing Concepts
7. New Jobs, or the 'House of Death'
8. Human, All Too Human
9. Value-Driven Technology
10. What AI Still Cannot Do

Author's Note
Notes