The Stories of Ibis by Hiroshi Yamamoto
Hiroshi Yamamoto presents Ibis’ stories by showing the differences
between the book’s people and androids. He does this by creating a world in
which intelligent machines are increasing in population faster than humans. The
stories present a future in which the Earth is ruled by artificial intelligence
(AI), and hints at how they are slowly enslaving humans. This background acts
as the frame for humanity’s fears regarding technological advancement.
I
find Ibis’ stories fascinating as they as they are relevant to the rapid
technological advancements of modern society. However, these changes raise more
questions than answers. The first two stories, “The universe on my Hands” and
“A romance in Virtual Space”, shows interactions between human beings in
practical and narrative spaces. The stories raise doubts as to the difference
between reality and fiction. The first story shows the relationship between the
internet and role-playing friends, while the second explores romance in the narrative
world. The most interesting part of the book is the last two stories, “The Day
Shion Came” and “AI’s Story”. The sixth story introduces the close relationship
between humans and machines. The introduction of a virtual nurse assisting a
human shows us how human beings relate to machines for efficient outcomes.
However, I believe that Yamamoto is wrong in his portrayal of the virtual being
better than the real. To ensure a better future for mankind, human beings need
to accept and interact with machines. However, prosperity must not come at the
cost of experiences that are traditionally considered real.
Through these interesting stories, my general view towards technological
advancement has changed. First it should be understood that advancement in
technology is inevitable. Even though it ushers in rapid change and alters
cultural norms, it also unifies people of different backgrounds. Thematically,
Hiroshi Yamamoto illustrates how prejudice separates us and how little we often
differ from each other. The book shows that we should not only tolerate those
who are perceived to be different – but that we should accept them. It also
illustrates how different cultures have the same fears, and how prejudice and
isolation drive us apart.
Work Cited
Yamamoto, Hiroshi. The Stories of Ibis. Translated by
Takami Nieda. Haikasoru/Viz Media, 2010.
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