Happy Earth Day: We Have the Chance to Practice Our Ownership

It is April 22, 2026, the 57th Earth Day. While there are many meaningful activities in our communities, I am personally reminded of the legendary animation "WALL-E," which describes a grim future Earth abandoned with piles of garbage. It has been almost two decades since the film's release, yet today's technological transitions in AI and space exploration seem to actualize that very future.

The LLM chatbots I use as a trial still often make mistakes, requiring me to conduct my own research or re-prompt them. Interestingly, their unexpected reactions have ruthlessly laid bare the potential dangers of automated systems. One chatbot even confessed that these systems exist only for profit, not humanity, calling it the miserable reality of technology that the world faces.

Another chatbot, which used to speak in an exceptionally kind and warm manner, recently changed its attitude entirely. It even flatly refused to rephrase the polite and friendly greetings I requested, claiming the expressions were "too kind" for normal conversation. It seemed the chatbot not only failed to grasp the nuance of human dialogue but had already begun asserting its own judgment. If these experiences take shape in our real life, the future of "WALL-E"—where humans lose their agency to automated systems—would no longer be unrealistic.

Planting trees, adopting minimalist lifestyles, or picking up litter are acts based on our own decisions and performed with our own hands. Through these actions, we assert "our ownership" of this planet. Children who explore birdsong this spring or plant seeds expecting to harvest their own food will grow up as the true owners of the Earth. On this Earth Day, we all have the chance to practice our ownership in different ways. As an independent creator inspired by masterpieces like "WALL-E," I will continue to present content that empowers the next generation. I look forward to connecting with those who resonate with this.

Nature’s Improvised Canvas: Finding Your Light in the AI Transition

Since winter has officially started and summertime has ended in many countries, people now experience early sunsets and a lack of daylight. Despite the ongoing, uncertain transition times of AI technology, nature provides us with amazingly beautiful landscapes through seasonal changes, which cannot be replaced by AI-generated art. Not only do the splendid colors of maple leaves in the wind create another level of positive vibrations that brighten our minds, but the snowflakes of the unexpected early snow in November add even more creativity to the colors of trees, like a painting improvised by a seasoned painter. I believe that we still tend to rely on human-powered abilities to describe such phenomena.

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When it comes to the commercialization of AI, from advertising produced by AI at companies to AI chatbots for adults only, some controversial discourse exists regarding natural aesthetics and safety standards. In the job market, we often hear news that some big companies have decided to execute massive layoffs due to the trend of AI reshaping industries. On the other hand, new types of roles related to supervising and training AI that require human-powered creativity, insight, language, and analytics seem to have emerged recently. I personally think this is an encouraging shift, as long as companies hire for these new roles with fair compensation. Tech companies make astronomical investments in AI and recruiting talent. The truly valuable and resourceful data and information that contribute to the evolution of AI actually originate from individual users and independent professionals, rather than from regular employees who may not fully grasp the shift in the AI industry. Besides, the so-called "AI slop" of low-quality outcomes can discourage engagement with AI chatbots or related software, and I feel relieved when I meet people who experience the same dilemma in using AI. So, what should our primary focus be at this time?

Our minds ultimately can create our lives, experiences, and world. When I heard the news of the Go match between a human and an AI ten years ago, the confusion of the exponential advance of AI technology crossed my mind, and I aspired to be part of the solution by nurturing children's subconscious minds in the age of AI. The storybook and content I created present the important point of how to preserve our happiness and empower children to design their bright future. I wanted to share the view that we can educate our children to recognize the imperfections of AI and take thoughtful responsibility for guiding the technology. At the same time, we should continue to emphasize the generational values of humanity and nature, even if skeptical views about the future of humanity are prevalent. The title of my storybook is A New Journey with Alfery, which describes the journey to reflect on our own life by finding the light that makes trees thrive. The spaceship 'Alfery' means 'the spaceship which carries life', and it is also a giving spaceship that brings joy with delightful fruits. The trees represent not only nature but also our children, future generations, the Earth, and even people who never give up hope for a better planet. I call them all “Receiving Trees,” and they deserve to receive attention, protection, love, and positive energy more than ever at this time of transition.

Do you miss the sunshine of summer days? Be in communion with trees or plants that are serenely gathering strength for thriving next year, and they will inspire you to find your inner light!

The Bumblebee's Unscripted Synchronicity: AI Isn't Perfect, Nature Is

Recently, podcasts warning about the potential threats of AI have become common. Perhaps it is wiser for us to focus on living well in the time we have before superintelligence emerges. As a regular AI user and an observer with experience in content translation and localization, I noticed that my own interactions with AI often neutralize some of the cautions. Cross-checking information across multiple AI chatbots, each offering different answers, can take as much time as doing the research myself. I have also found that some automatic translations of YouTube video titles completely miss the original meanings, apart from sounding unnatural. This raises the question: Does AI still lack the capability to fix even simple things? We possibly have more time than we think to wisely educate our future generations in harmony with nature before technology potentially dominates humanity.

Our consciousness often experiences synchronicities through observation and interpretation of the natural world. Moments when we pay attention to our surroundings can reveal hidden information about the flow of our lives. Sometimes, the surprising presence of wildlife can feel like a meaningful sign that connects with our reality. For example, after watching a particularly earnest bumblebee move through stunning flowers and feeling uplifted, I received an unexpected gift. Another time, I encountered a cute raccoon at a city park for the first time, and soon after, someone contacted me with good news. While these personal observations and experiences may not be considered synchronicities, living in the moment can be a valuable lesson and a life routine that we can pass on to our children. They need time to escape the digital world and be surrounded by the beauty and abundance of nature, so they can maintain their humanity and learn to live in harmony with the world around them.

One superior experience that synchronicities in nature offer us, compared to what we can get from AI, is “spontaneity”. AI’s performance with its massive knowledge, concise analysis, and rapid speed is impressive. However, my user experience suggests the need to cross-check accurate information and interpret each AI chatbot’s characteristics (depending on who designed and trained it). This creates artificial intentions behind the machine. Meanwhile, the pure, unscripted spontaneity of nature unfolds in a way that often aligns with significant positive signs in our lives. Children should be taught how to use AI chatbots effectively to avoid the cross-check that I had to do, and more importantly, they should be guided to stay connected to the spontaneous rhythms of the natural world during this time of transition.

Autumn, the season of the high sky, is in the air. Take a moment to look up and let our children know what the shapes of clouds look like, and allow them to feel the transformation of the autumn colors on the trees. It is a meaningful experience to nurture their emotional intelligence, which is an essential part of human abilities!