AI Future Talks: Episodes 11 & 12 Professor Interviews Announced

DEFiDE Inc. (Minato-ku, Tokyo, Representative Director: Tetsuya Yamamoto), an AI/DX consulting company, has released the 11th and 12th episodes of its interview series 'AI Future Talks' featuring leading Japanese AI researchers.

The featured guests are Hitoshi Matsubara (Professor, Kyoto Tachibana University; former President of the Japanese Society for Artificial Intelligence), who has spent half a century exploring the possibilities of AI and creativity since the dawn of Japanese AI research, and Hironori Washizaki (Professor, Waseda University), a leading figure in software engineering who serves as the 2025 President of the IEEE Computer Society, the world's largest organization of computer technology professionals. The central question is: 'What should humans cultivate in the generative AI era?' Two researchers from different generations and specializations confront this same question head-on.

■ AI Future Talks: This Interview

[Episode 11] Hitoshi Matsubara, Dean and Professor, Faculty of Engineering, Kyoto Tachibana University / Former President, Japanese Society for Artificial Intelligence / President, Computer Shogi Association

Theme: 'What should humans cultivate in the generative AI era?'

*Recommended audience: AI/DX leaders, AI researchers, students

Driven by a childhood dream to 'realize Astro Boy,' Matsubara has been a pioneer supporting the early days of Japanese AI research. He has explored the limits and possibilities of AI creativity across diverse fields including computer shogi, AI novel writing (passing the first round of the 'Hoshi Shinichi Award'), the 'TEZUKA2020/2023' project (AI creating new manga by Osamu Tezuka), sports AI, and tourism informatics. Currently, as Dean of the Faculty of Engineering at Kyoto Tachibana University, he leads next-generation educational reform while researching 'human-centric AI.'

Matsubara emphasizes the importance of humans continuing to cultivate their 'ability to ask questions' and 'will to create,' especially now that generative AI is transforming from a 'tool' into a 'partner.' While AI handles expression generation, the philosophy that humans still give it meaning and value resonates deeply in both AI literacy education and management decision-making. The core theme of the interview is the question of a 'happy relationship between AI and humans,' a pursuit spanning his half-century career.

▶ Perspectives gained from this interview

- Executives: What unique human value judgments should executives protect in an era where AI 'creates'?
- AI/DX leaders: How to instill the 'ability to ask questions,' which AI struggles with, within an organization.
- AI researchers: Matsubara's methodology for 'AI creativity research' spanning games, literature, manga, and sports.
- Students: The forefront of AI literacy and creativity education – what to learn at university in the generative AI era.

[Episode 12] Hironori Washizaki, Professor, Department of Computer Science and Communications Engineering, School of Fundamental Science and Engineering, Waseda University / 2025 President, IEEE Computer Society

Theme: 'The evolution of generative AI reveals the essence of humanity'

*Recommended audience: AI/DX leaders, AI researchers, students

Washizaki, who serves as the 2025 President of the IEEE Computer Society (the world's largest organization of computer technology professionals) and also chairs ISO/IEC international standardization committees, is a global authority on software engineering and AI quality assurance. In addition to his research and teaching at Waseda University, he practices industry-academia DX human resource development as the business manager of the IoT/AI/DX recurrent education program 'SmartSE.' His new book, 'Software Development with Generative AI: A Practical System for Leveraging LLMs to Transform Everything from Design to Testing and Management,' is attracting industry attention.

Washizaki's key themes in the interview are 'abstraction,' 'goal orientation,' and 'the ability to keep learning.' As the long-held human task of generating and organizing knowledge becomes automated, the fundamental question of who sets the questions, defines the purpose, and judges value emerges sharply. Pursuing AI means redefining human cognition and activities. As the era of ASI (Artificial Superintelligence) approaches, he discusses the role humans should play from a practical software quality assurance perspective.

▶ Perspectives gained from this interview

- Executives: What are the 'abstraction and goal-setting skills' required of management talent in the AI era?
- AI/DX leaders: The practical importance of 'SE for AI (Software Engineering for AI)' that remains even as AI advances.
- AI researchers: How to design the reliability and ethical issues of AI systems based on global quality assurance frameworks.
- Students: The 'ability to keep learning' as told by an IEEE-CS President – a next-generation engineer image beyond qualifications and skills.

■ AI Future Talks Series Overview

Episode Researcher Theme
1 Satoshi Kurihara (Professor, Keio University / President, Japanese Society for Artificial Intelligence) Can Japan, which avoids challenges, open up the future of AI?
2 Hitoshi Iba (Professor, Graduate School, The University of Tokyo) Utilizing AI, computing evolution
3 Masahiro Nagano (Assistant Professor, Graduate School of Informatics, Kyoto University) Challenging the development of robots that coexist with humans
4 Hiroshi Ishiguro (Professor / Distinguished Professor, Osaka University) Creating and designing the future is humanity's responsibility
5 Ryutaro Ichise (Professor, Institute of Science Tokyo) Knowing the principles of AI is fundamental
6 Atsushi Udagawa (Associate Professor, Musashi University) The ability to doubt AI redefines human value
7 Mamoru Komachi (Professor, Hitotsubashi University) AI is a tool. Humans are responsible for how to use it
8 Takata Minamizawa (Professor, Keio University) Designing a new era through co-creation and boundary-crossing
9 Masahiko Osawa (Associate Professor, Nihon University) Combining everyone's power to challenge creating Doraemon
10 Yoshinobu Hagiwara (Associate Professor, Soka University) Aiming to realize AI and robots that coexist as partners
11 Hitoshi Matsubara (Professor/Dean, Kyoto Tachibana University) What should humans cultivate in the generative AI era? ★This episode
12 Hironori Washizaki (Professor, Waseda University) The evolution of generative AI reveals the essence of humanity ★This episode
13 More to be announced (Series ongoing)

URL: https://www.defide-ix.com/ai/ai-future-talks

■ Company Overview

Company Name: DEFiDE Inc.
Location: 2-4-6 Akasaka, Minato-ku, Tokyo
Representative Director: Tetsuya Yamamoto
URL: https://www.defide-ix.com/
AI Future Talks: https://www.defide-ix.com/ai/ai-future-talks
chai+: https://lp.chatbothub.ai/
Recotto: https://lp.recotto.ai/
SmartOps: https://smartops.jp/
JOB Scope: https://jobscope.ai/
Generative AI Work Value Score Analysis: https://jobscope.ai/ai-survey/
HR Capital Dashboard (JOBScope ISO304