AI agents
Happy New Year, and I look forward to your continued support this year!
2025 will undoubtedly be a year of explosive advancements in AI capabilities. Unfortunately, Japan remains among the slowest to adopt AI globally, which means the country may face a turbulent year of escalating digital deficits. For the Japanese people, who often tolerate the erosion of altruism and cooperative spirit, 2025 and the years ahead may become a trial of endurance.
In the industrial sector, Japan's over-reliance on the automotive industry will become glaringly apparent, akin to a severe fracture. Meanwhile, the world is steadily transitioning into an era where humanoid AI robotics are becoming a practical reality.
As AI technology evolves, administrative jobs are likely to decrease significantly. So, what kind of abilities will people need in this new era? The answer lies in "value creation"—the power to deliver tangible results that only humans can achieve. With AI's rapid evolution, both work styles and the nature of business will transform dramatically.
Only individuals who can perform uniquely human tasks—not mere "tasks" but true "work"—will thrive. The ultimate goal of life is happiness (equating to value), and the essence of humanity lies in "value creation"—the ability to produce tangible results.
We are entering a lightning-speed era of AI development: AI (current) ⇒ AGI (2025–2027) ⇒ ASI (2030–2035). Once AI surpasses its emergent threshold—projected to happen by the end of 2025 at the latest—its capabilities will skyrocket exponentially. Visionaries like Masayoshi Son, Elon Musk, and Sam Altman have confidently stated this:
Masayoshi Son: By 2035, ASI with intelligence 10,000 times that of humans will emerge.
Elon Musk: AGI will arrive by late 2025 or 2026, followed by ASI in 2029.
Sam Altman: AGI will arrive in 2025.
Around mid-to-late 2025, AI's capabilities are expected to grow exponentially, profoundly impacting our daily lives. Sadly, the value creation brought about by these advancements will likely stem from foreign companies, not Japanese ones.
One area to watch is "AI agents." AI agents go beyond simple Q&A functionality; they can think and act autonomously. For instance, if you consult an AI agent about a winter vacation, it won't just suggest destinations—it will automatically handle schedule adjustments, bookings, and payments. AI agents possess the logical thinking and execution skills to achieve goals independently.
U.S. companies are leading the charge:
Salesforce plans to introduce 1 billion AI agents by the end of 2025, automating 83% of customer support tasks without human intervention.
Google integrated AI agents into its Chrome browser in late 2023, streamlining information gathering and organization.
In Japan, there are movements to leverage AI agents as well. For example:
BrainPad has implemented AI agents for e-commerce sites, automating product tagging.
AI Inside plans to incorporate AI agents into OCR technology to enable error-checking.
Within three years, we will see an era where any task that can be completed entirely online or on a computer will be autonomously managed by AI.
AI agents are more than mere replacements for human work—they act as partners that enhance creativity and productivity. For companies, the challenge will lie in leveraging AI for greater efficiency while also creating new services. Moreover, AI agents will even be capable of negotiating and transacting with one another. However, to collaborate effectively with AI, ensuring its reliability and preparing the necessary data infrastructure will be essential.
As we move into this era, we must consider how to coexist with AI and create unique value only we can provide. To avoid being rendered obsolete by AI, AGI, or ASI, what true value will you create?
I firmly believe that only those who master the "true learning" our company offers and put it into practice will survive. Regrettably, my experience tells me that 90% of people fail to act on the "true learning" provided to them—a sobering reality.
★Fortune comes only three times in a lifetime. Don’t throw it away by staying stagnant—embrace the cycle of "take."