Fukutomi Gazette: Artificial Intelligence (AI) – A New Tool We Cannot Afford to Ignore

In recent years, Artificial Intelligence (AI) has become one of the most talked-about topics worldwide. Simply put, AI is a technology that can simulate human cognitive abilities such as learning, reasoning, analyzing information, and solving problems. By processing and learning from vast amounts of data, AI can assist people in searching for information, organizing data, translating documents, analyzing market trends, drafting articles, and even supporting strategic business decision-making.

The applications of AI are extensive, spanning finance, healthcare, education, logistics, manufacturing, and everyday life. In fact, many of us are already using AI without even realizing it. Everyday examples include GPS navigation, autonomous driving systems, online shopping recommendations, voice assistants, machine translation, and intelligent customer service. As technology continues to advance, AI is gradually transforming the way we work and live.

From my own experience, AI has become an indispensable tool in my daily work. In the past, preparing a plastics market report typically required six to seven hours. The process involved collecting market intelligence, organizing data, analyzing price trends, and writing the report itself. Today, with the assistance of AI tools such as Gemini and ChatGPT, I can conduct research and process information far more efficiently. The exact same report can often be completed within two to three hours.

In addition to market reports, I regularly write Gazette articles and my “Business Philosophy” column. Previously, each article could take three to four hours, or even longer, to complete. Today, AI helps me organize my thoughts, gather information, proofread content, and improve sentence structure. This significantly enhances productivity. More importantly, it allows me to devote more time to thinking, analyzing, and making judgments, rather than spending countless hours on repetitive information gathering and organization.

That said, I do not believe AI can completely replace human beings. Many people express concerns about becoming overly dependent on AI, and such concerns are not without merit. AI derives its knowledge entirely from existing information and data; it does not possess genuine human experience, nuanced judgment, or industry intuition.

In the plastics recycling industry, for example, the same terminology, specifications, or market conditions may be interpreted differently across various countries, regions, and companies. In many cases, AI provides answers that are technically correct but may not fully reflect the practical realities of our industry. Therefore, while I frequently use AI to draft documents or proofread articles, I still personally revise and supplement the content with my own observations, hands-on experience, and professional judgment.

AI is like a highly diligent assistant. It can help us complete tasks more quickly, but it cannot think for us. Ultimately, critical decision-making remains the sole responsibility of human beings.

This reminds me of the early days of mobile phones several decades ago. At that time, many people were reluctant to share their mobile numbers, while others viewed mobile phones as luxury items that were unnecessary for daily life. Over time, however, mobile phones evolved from simple communication devices into essential tools for modern living. Today, we use our phones to make payments, book flights, conduct banking transactions, schedule medical appointments, access information, and even verify our identities when crossing borders. Mobile phones are no longer just telephones; they have become an integral part of our personal and professional lives.

A similar situation occurred during the early development of the Internet. Many companies once believed that websites and email were optional extras. Today, it is difficult to imagine a business operating successfully without an online presence. History has repeatedly shown that technological progress does not stop because of skepticism or resistance. AI is no exception.

Using AI does not guarantee success, nor does it automatically generate profits. However, in the future business environment, those who fail to utilize AI may gradually lose their competitive edge. When your competitors can complete market research and information gathering in two hours while you require an entire day, the gap inevitably widens. When others can leverage AI to quickly obtain market intelligence and customer information while you rely solely on traditional methods, the difference in efficiency becomes increasingly significant.

Therefore, I believe the greatest value of AI is not to replace people, but to enhance human capability. Just like mobile phones and the Internet before it, AI is no longer a future trend—it is a present reality.

We do not all need to become AI experts, but we cannot afford to ignore it. The competition of the future may not be between AI and humans. Rather, it will be between those who know how to use AI effectively and those who do not.