ABSTRACT
Kei’ichirō Hirano’s essay explores the relationship between humans and artificial creations, with focus on artificial limbs and AI companions. He reflects on his novel Katachi dake no ai, which examines the aesthetics and functionality of artificial legs, and argues that while these prosthetics serve a practical purpose, they also create a hierarchy between “real” and “fake” limbs, affecting users’ self-perception. Hirano expands this discussion to AI and how technology compensates for human limitations. He questions societal biases, comparing artificial legs to AI-driven romantic relationships. If AI lovers become more appealing than human partners, will society dismiss them as “fake,” or will they be embraced like prosthetics? The essay also delves into AI’s ambiguity, differentiating between narrow AI (single-purpose tools) and general AI (which mimics human versatility). Hirano references his novel Honshin, which explores AI’s role in preserving human memory. However, he concludes that AI, bound by past data, lacks the unpredictability and growth inherent in human relationships. Ultimately, Hirano argues that while technology may reshape our perceptions of reality, human creativity and emotional depth remain irreplaceable.
