In order to achieve Moonshot Goal 1, “Realization of a society in which human beings can be free from limitations of body, brain, space, and time by 2050”, we aim to develop and disseminate technologies that enable anyone to freely expand their physical and cognitive abilities by using cybernetic avatars (CAs).

We are proceeding with our research and development project, “Liberation from Biological Limitations via Physical, Cognitive and Perceptual Augmentation”.

The ultimate goal of this project is to realize the “Internet of Brains (IoB)”, where the brain is connected to the Internet using brain-machine interface (BMI) technology, and people can freely control CAs in cyber-physical space, where cyberspace and real space are fused together, and directly communicate with other humans and AI.

To achieve this ambitious goal, we are currently focusing on various approaches in the development and research of BMI, including invasive, non-invasive, minimally invasive, and even non-contact approaches, advancing the creation of cutting-edge technologies. In addition, we will gradually improve BMI technology, which is currently at a relatively basic research stage, to a practical level, by combining it with rapidly developing AI technology. For this purpose, we are actively collaborating with researchers in Japan and overseas and bringing together diverse expert knowledge, accelerating research and development in this field.

Additionally, many ethical, legal, social, and economic issues are expected to arise when such technologies are implemented into society. Therefore, we will address these issues in a proactive manner, reflecting the opinions we have obtained through ongoing dialogue with the public to implement technologies suitable for practical use in society while also providing guidelines for their use.

As a first step toward this goal, we have released the “Brain Tech Guidebook” and “Brain Tech Evidence Book”. We expect continuous revision of the Guidebook and Evidence Book to not only lead to the creation of many new technologies, but to also yield economic benefits through industrialization.

In addition, we hope that these effects will spread and provide feedback to related basic research, leading to the development of a “new science” that circulates between the economy and basic research.

 

KANAI Ryota

Director
Advanced Telecommunications Research Institute International (ATR)
Chief Executive Officer
Araya Inc.