Toward an Era of Valuing 'What Exists Before Meaning' That AI Cannot Replace
Introduction: What will humans do in an era where AI handles 'production'?
The trend of AI replacing all productive work is unstoppable. Writing text, coding, generating images—things that were once only possible for humans are entering the scope of AI one after another.
So, what will humans do beyond that?
What I have been thinking about a lot lately is the value of 'what exists before meaning' . If the major trend moving forward is to pass on articulable meaning to AI to keep society running, then perhaps what remains for humans is to radiate, express, and assert something that has not yet fully become meaning. I think about this somewhat intuitively.
The essence of humanity lies within what cannot be verbalized
'Why is this interesting?'
A feeling you get in a fleeting moment that you cannot put into words. Feeling good for some reason. Your heart is moved even though you don't know why. I believe that a culture that values these things that exist before language will be necessary in the coming era.
AI is good at handling verbalized information. Conversely, chaotic sensations before they are verbalized—things that have not yet crystallized as 'meaning'—are the areas AI is worst at. Perhaps the value of the future lies in humans turning their eyes to that and creating something from it.
The essential power of 'play'
When I think about it that way, what I feel is most important right now is 'play' .
Play means that the act itself is the purpose. You do it because it's interesting. You continue it because it's fun. It is an activity that holds up precisely because there is an eye looking at the object itself.
However, I feel that creating something with the goal of external evaluation—wanting to be popular, wanting to be thought well of by others, wanting to go viral—will become increasingly difficult in the coming era. This is because, as a result of humans continuing to imitate 'human joy' within the range that can be verbalized, the world is already overflowing with shallow music and works that use mechanisms just for the sake of going viral.
And such superficial content is exactly what AI is best at. Learning patterns, optimizing, and mass-producing. That is no longer a field where humans need to struggle.
When noise dwells in a work, we encounter the limits of cognition
What is interesting is what happens after this 'optimized content' reaches its limit.
I believe a trend will emerge where, whether intentional or not, something like noise will be incorporated into works . Not perfectly organized information, but something that catches you, something that cannot be fully explained. When people encounter that, they feel the limits of their own cognition.
'I don't understand. But I feel something.'
A culture that values that sensation might gradually spread. Perhaps what lies beyond efficiency and optimization is actually an attitude of enjoying 'not understanding.'
Re-evaluating the physical and the analog
Because of these thoughts, I have recently been training my physical self and studying comedy.
For example, 'why do people laugh?' If asked whether I can fully verbalize this, I cannot. Laughter always contains physical and sensory elements that cannot be fully explained by logic. I believe that the demand for such parts that cannot be verbalized will continue to increase in the future.
The same goes for strength training. You can understand the theory, but you cannot actually do it well. For such a person, shouting 'one last rep!' and pushing them past their limits is something only a human can do. It is an analog, not digital, domain. I believe human society will be reshaped in places where bodies and emotions directly interact with one another.
Creating things purely for the sake of the thing itself
Whether it is music, classical arts, or painting—interesting works always have 'play.' Within a fully calculated structure, there is always some part that deviates. It is in that play that humanity resides.
That is why I believe what is important in the coming era is to continue creating something purely for the sake of the thing itself. Not to go viral, not to be evaluated, but to give form to 'what has not yet become meaning' within oneself.
It may not be efficient. It may not produce immediate results. However, in a world where AI can process all 'meaning,' I believe that is where the reason for humans to exist as humans lies.
Conclusion
Valuing what exists before it becomes meaning. Reclaiming play. Trusting sensations that cannot be put into words.
The role of humans in the AI era may not be to work more efficiently, but to feel more deeply. To continue expressing oneself while still holding onto something that has not yet become words. I believe that this very endeavor will enrich the coming era.
▶ Original Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Osw-v4zHRVA