TOKYO – Two Japanese scientists are advancing technologies inspired by the cyberpunk anime and manga series “Ghost in the Shell,” exploring concepts such as invisibility and the potential for uploading human consciousness. Their work bridges the gap between science fiction and real-world possibilities.
Masahiko Inami, a professor at the University of Tokyo’s Research Center for Advanced Science and Technology, has developed a cloak made of retroreflective material that allows him to blend into his surroundings. This optical camouflage technology reflects incoming light back toward its source, mimicking a feature known as “thermoptic camouflage” from the series.
“Just as octopuses and chameleons change their body color to match their surroundings, if we project a three-dimensional image that perfectly matches the background, it would essentially appear transparent,” Inami said. He believes this innovation represents a future where individuals can change their appearance to suit their environment.
Additionally, Inami has created Jizai Arms, a robotic arm system that enables users to control multiple additional arms. The term “jizai” conveys a sense of freedom and autonomy, and Inami emphasizes the importance of users feeling a sense of agency and ownership over the technology they control.
“If I can feel a sense of agency over a system, my brain starts to believe the system is part of my body,” he explained. Inami suggests that as these technologies evolve, they may alter perceptions of skills acquisition and the way people interact.
Masataka Watanabe, an associate professor focused on cognitive neuroscience at the same university, is investigating the potential for humans to upload their consciousness to a machine, a concept that could lead to digital immortality. He is eager to explore the neural mechanisms of consciousness, referring to it as one of the greatest challenges in modern science.
“As a scientist, I want to decipher the neural mechanics of consciousness,” Watanabe said. He envisions a digital realm that could offer vast and varied experiences to an uploaded consciousness. However, he also acknowledges questions about the purpose of such an existence.
Watanabe plans to experiment with the integration of biological and artificial brain hemispheres. His approach involves connecting a machine to a human brain to observe whether awareness can extend to the machine’s perceptions.
“If my remaining brain were suddenly able to see the machine’s side as well, then at that point, there is no other way to explain it than that the two streams of consciousness had converged,” he added.
He estimates that developing this technology could require approximately 30 billion yen (about $190 million) and expects the process to take around two decades. This includes ten years to demonstrate machine consciousness and another decade to achieve mind uploading.
As the narrative of “Ghost in the Shell” unfolds in the mid-21st century, the timeline for Watanabe’s theoretical advancements will be closely watched as science fiction gradually intersects with scientific reality.
