Series Index
1. How AI Is Reshaping Religion and Human Ethics
2. What Remains Human in the Age of Expanding AI
3. Can AI Redefine Religion?
4. Common Ground in Tradition and the Future of Faith
5. Rebuilding Human Desire and Ethics in the AI Age
6. Human Existence and the Value of Being in the AGI Era
By IM Byung-min (IBM), Columnist
For centuries, humanity has pursued happiness, peace, love, freedom, prosperity, and a sense of purpose. Despite the advancement of civilization and the passage of time, these aspirations have remained unchanged. Today, we are living in an era of rapidly advancing artificial intelligence (AI). AI is making life more convenient and opening possibilities that were once unimaginable. Yet technological progress does not automatically solve humanity's challenges. On the contrary, the more powerful technology becomes, the more deeply we must ask what we should live for and what direction our lives and societies should take. The path toward fulfilling human aspirations in the age of AI lies in achieving harmony between technology and humanity.
The Industrial Revolution transformed human labor, while the Information Revolution changed how people create and use knowledge. Today, the AI Revolution is extending its influence into the realms of human thought and decision-making. As more tasks become automated, people are increasingly freed from repetitive work and able to focus on creative and meaningful pursuits. At the same time, these changes bring uncertainty as well as opportunity. Some jobs disappear while new ones emerge, and social structures continue to evolve at a rapid pace. To thrive in the AI era, individuals must develop the capacity to adapt to constant change.
Human Values Beyond Intelligence
As AI becomes more integrated into everyday life, human values become even more important. Love, friendship, empathy, compassion, sacrifice, and forgiveness are fundamental forces that sustain society. While AI may be able to simulate emotions, it cannot replace the genuine love, empathy, and moral responsibility that arise from human experience. Even if Artificial General Intelligence (AGI) or Artificial Superintelligence (ASI) were to surpass human intelligence by thousands or even millions of times, they would remain fundamentally different from human beings.
For example, an AGI or ASI that has mastered the Bible might serve as an expert guide capable of explaining religious teachings, but it could never become a pastor or priest. It cannot convey the authentic emotional depth of love that only human beings can experience and share. People discover true happiness through understanding one another's suffering, sharing burdens, and celebrating joy together. For this reason, preserving human relationships and strengthening communities remain essential, regardless of technological advancement.
Human creativity will become even more valuable in the age of AI. While AI excels at analyzing data and identifying patterns, the ability to imagine entirely new visions and philosophies remains uniquely human. Among humanity's enduring aspirations, economic security is particularly important. AI has the potential to dramatically increase productivity and create new industries. However, if the benefits of technological progress are concentrated among only a small portion of society, inequality may deepen. Ensuring fair opportunities and fostering an inclusive society will therefore be critical in the AI era. Human progress depends not only on competition but also on cooperation. Society must establish institutions and safeguards that ensure no one is left behind.
Ethical responsibility will also become increasingly important. No matter how advanced AI technology becomes, human dignity, freedom, and fundamental rights must remain the highest priorities. Those who develop and deploy AI must establish ethical standards and act responsibly throughout the process. Mental well-being will become equally important. As digital technologies continue to advance, challenges such as information overload, isolation, stress, and unhealthy social comparison may become more widespread.
Activities that nurture inner balance—including spending time in nature, reading, exercise, meditation, and meaningful conversation—should not be neglected. Remaining connected to one's inner self while living in a highly connected technological world is essential for maintaining psychological and emotional health.
Ultimately, realizing human aspirations in the age of AI will require the continuous cultivation of wisdom that enables us to evaluate and apply AI-generated knowledge responsibly. It also requires restoring our humanity through self-reflection, strengthening communities through ethical responsibility, and seeking deeper meaning in our lives. Human beings are more than technological entities. We dream, love, create, and hope.
No matter how advanced AI becomes, a prosperous and fulfilling future can only be achieved when human dignity and human values remain at the center. The true measure of success in the AI era is not technological progress itself, but whether technology enables people to live more meaningful and authentically human lives.
Human Responsibility Beyond Algorithms
Ethics in the age of AI refers to the moral principles, ethical standards, and responsibilities that should guide everyone involved in the development and use of artificial intelligence, including algorithm designers, AI agent developers, and the institutions that deploy these technologies. As AI capabilities expand, human responsibility must expand as well. AI can process enormous amounts of information and solve complex problems, but determining what is morally right and socially beneficial remains a human responsibility.
Therefore, ethics in the AI era must be grounded in human wisdom and conscience, providing the framework through which technology is governed and applied. Researchers are currently exploring concepts such as AI alignment and digital sandbox environments to ensure that increasingly powerful AI systems operate within human-defined boundaries of safety, morality, and ethical responsibility.
Just as rockets expanded humanity's physical reach far beyond natural limitations, future AGI and ASI systems may dramatically expand cognitive capabilities. Yet regardless of how powerful these systems become, safeguards will be necessary to minimize risks and ensure that advanced intelligence remains aligned with human values.
One of the most important foundations of human conscience and ethics is the principle of human dignity. Responsibility for ethical decisions and their consequences cannot be delegated to AI. Even when we take a photograph with a smartphone, the process is ultimately the result of algorithmic operations. No matter how sophisticated AI technology becomes, it cannot replicate the full human experience perceived through the senses and lived consciousness.
Likewise, even if AGI systems continue to evolve through increasingly complex interactions among intelligent agents, their essential nature remains algorithmic. For this reason, responsibility for the ethical decisions made by AI, AGI, or ASI—and for the consequences of those decisions—ultimately rests with human beings, whose dignity and moral agency cannot be replaced by machines.
