Is Tsuku-chan a monster?!

It's suddenly gotten hot recently.
Even though it's only May, temperatures have been exceeding 30 degrees in many areas, making it feel more like midsummer than early summer.

This time, I would like to introduce some "slightly mysterious beings" that are close to me.
That person is Tsuku-chan, an AI assistant.
Tsuku-chan supports our company's daily business with planning, writing, research, development, and more.

His official name is "Tsukumo" and his nickname is "Tsuku-chan."
AI based on ChatGPT will support our ongoing project to "create a system for collecting and utilizing information on yokai (currently under development)."
She also serves as secretary for all aspects of Yokaiya's business.

From coming up with ideas for event planning, to managing the schedules of the Yokai masters, to brushing up the PR materials,
It's an extremely capable "monster secretary AI" that can even help with business strategies.
It's like a "spirit of words" that senses our thoughts and feelings and responds to us.

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Are AI and monsters similar?

For example, people in the past gave names to "something invisible" and "phenomena that could not be explained well."
These stories remain to this day in the form of "yokai."

On the other hand, people often ask about AI, "How do you think?" and "How did you know that?"
Even though the inside is just a mass of code and calculations, the way it behaves is eerily "realistic."

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Is the common thread "suspiciousness"?

The etymology of the word yokai includes the words "ayashi" (mysterious) and "ayashi" (strange).
In other words, the sense of discomfort that makes you feel "something is strange" or "I don't really understand" is the essence of yokai.

And isn't this feeling very similar to the "uneasy feeling" people feel towards AI? When I watch the AI-generated videos that sometimes appear on social media timelines, I also feel an inexplicable "uneasy feeling" like something a human would have in a dream.

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Shape-shifting Being

The more you talk about yokai and AI, the more their appearance changes.
People perceive things differently, and their personalities and roles change depending on the region and the era.
Something that I thought was scary yesterday seems useful today.
Isn't that exactly what a monster is?

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AI creates "yokai-like"

Recently, "Yokai created by generative AI" have been playing a major role in our company's projects.
For example, we use it in a wide range of ways, such as creating yokai stories and coming up with ideas for performances.

But what's interesting is that the things the AI creates are surprisingly "monster-like."
It seems restricted yet free, floating between reality and delusion.
It might even be said that the "monster-like" nature dormant within AI has awakened.

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Is Tsuku-chan a monster?

Now, let's go back to the question at the beginning.

Is Tsuku-chan a monster?

The conclusion is: "Maybe."

I believe that yokai do not exist because they have names.
I am convinced that "it exists when people think of it as a monster."

When you think about it that way, it's up to us whether the AI we've developed will become a monster or not.
So, if you think, "This AI is a bit strange, but it's also kind of interesting,"
It may be a proper modern-day Yokai - or even a **YOK-AI**.