International Conference “ICRES 2024” Nem x Mila Presentation — Living with Avatars: A New Era for Humanity
The International Conference on Robotics Ethics and Standardization “ICRES 2024” will be held from July 29 at Keio University campus. On July 31, during a special session, Virtual YouTuber/writer Virtual Bishoujo Nemu, who works as part of the research unit “Nem x Mila” investigating the metaverse and VTubers, along with Swiss anthropologist Ludmila Bredikhina (known as “Mila”), who recently gained attention with an in-depth interview broadcast on NHK, will present a talk titled “Living with Avatars: A New Era for Humanity — Insights from Data on the Reality and Future Challenges of Metaverse Residents.”
As a key topic of the conference, the “Cybernetic Avatars” proposed in the Moonshot Goal 1 by the Cabinet Office will be discussed. Already living as avatars in the world of social VR, Nem x Mila will present on the realities and challenges of avatar society based on their research data and personal experiences as metaverse residents.
ICRES 2024（9th International Conference on Robot Ethics and Standards)
ICRES 2024 (9th International Conference on Robot Ethics and Standards) is an international conference that comprehensively discusses safety, ethics, legal, and social issues in artificial intelligence and robotics.
Title: ICRES 2024（9th International Conference on Robot Ethics and Standards
Date: during 29–31 July 2024
Place: Keio University, Japan
Organized By:
- Clawar Association
- Robotics Society of Japan (RSJ)
- Japanese Society for Artificial Intelligence (JSAI)
- SISReC, OTRI, Osaka University
- IEEE Standards Association
- IEEE Society on Social Implications of Technology
- Center of Advanced Research for Human-AI Symbiosis Society, Keio University
- Linked Open Data Initiative Inc.
Sponsored By:
- OMRON SINIC X Corporation
- AI Alignment Network
- Kawasaki Heavy Industries, Ltd.
- Tokyo Robotics Inc.
- CyberAgent, Inc.
*Source: ICRES 2024 — International Conference on Robot Ethics and Standards (ICRES) 2023 — https://clawar.org/icres24/
Nem x Mila Presentation — Living with Avatars: A New Era for Humanity
As part of a special session at ICRES 2024, VTuber/writer Virtual Bishoujo Nemu and Swiss anthropologist Ludmila Bredikhina (known as “Mila”) will present as the research unit “Nem x Mila,” which investigates the metaverse. They will discuss the topic “Ethical, Legal, and Social Issues in a Cybernetic Avatar Society,” drawing on data from their research reports such as “Social VR Lifestyle Survey 2023 (Nem x Mila)” and “Harassment in the Metaverse (Nem x Mila, 2022),” as well as their own experiences and insights gained from interviews with metaverse residents. The presentation and Q&A session will be conducted in English.
Title: Living with Avatars: A New Era for Humanity — Insights from Data on the Reality and Future Challenges of Metaverse Residents
Theme: Ethical, Legal, and Social Issues in a Cybernetic Avatar Society
Date: July 31, 13:40～15:00
*Source: ICRES2024_SS_papers.pdf — https://www.dropbox.com/scl/fi/18ccq2y74nkh24hcnc1js/ICRES2024_SS_papers.pdf?rlkey=o4n2gfjx2tyh5thskr8y6uayx&e=1&dl=0
From the Cabinet Office Moonshot Goal 1: “Cybernetic Avatar Foundation for Inclusive Social Participation”
The Moonshot Research and Development Program is a major national research initiative aiming to create disruptive innovations originating in Japan. It promotes bold, challenging R&D (moonshots) based on more audacious ideas that are not merely extensions of existing technologies.
Moonshot Goal 1 aims to “realize a society free from limitations of body, brain, space, and time by 2050” and proposes the use of “cybernetic avatars” as follows:
Cybernetic Avatar Foundation for Inclusive Social Participation
- By 2050, develop technology and infrastructure that allow for the execution of large-scale, complex tasks by combining multiple avatars and robots operated remotely by several individuals.
- By 2030, develop technology and infrastructure that enable one person to operate more than 10 avatars for a single task at the same speed and accuracy as operating one avatar.
Note: The concept of a cybernetic avatar includes not only robots and 3D images serving as proxies but also ICT and robotic technologies that enhance human physical, cognitive, and perceptual abilities. It aims for free and versatile activity in the cyber-physical space of the Society 5.0 era.
Cybernetic Avatar Lifestyle
- By 2050, develop technology that allows anyone who wishes to enhance their physical, cognitive, and perceptual abilities to the highest level and promote a new lifestyle that reflects societal norms.
- By 2030, develop technology that allows anyone who wishes to enhance their physical, cognitive, and perceptual abilities for specific tasks and propose a new lifestyle that reflects societal norms.
*Source: the Cabinet Office Moonshot Goal 1
Social VR Lifestyle Survey 2023 (Nem x Mila)
To visualize lifestyles in the Metaverse, we have published a report of a large-scale public survey conducted among users worldwide. This second survey has reached a new record with 2,000 responses, making it the largest to date. Thank you for your cooperation. We focused on highly requested themes: “changes due to rapid population growth,” “community,” and “economy.” To stimulate open discussions about the future of humanity and the Metaverse, we are offering the complete 80-page report for free. We are welcome for your feedback.
Harassment in Metaverse (Nem x Mila)
We conducted a large-scale survey during which we collected and analyzed approximately 900 answers from social VR users worldwide to clarify the reality of harassment in Metaverse, which is attracting attention due to the rapid growth in the number of users. The report is published here and is free to consult in order to stimulate discussions for a better Metaverse. We also compared user trends from the last year, “Social VR Lifestyle Survey 2021” and summarized the changes. We are welcome for your feedback.
Research Unit “Nem x Mila”
Nem and Mila formed the research unit “Nem x Mila” to investigate the impact of the metaverse on humanity. They regularly publish reports, such as the “Social VR Lifestyle Survey,” which examines life in social VR. In 2023, they presented at the United Nations international conference “IGF Kyoto 2023.”
Reference: Nem x Mila, Presentation at the United Nations Conference “IGF Kyoto”
Virtual Girl Nemu (VTuber, Writer)
A Japanese VTuber and writer, as well as a metaverse culture evangelist. She is the official VIVE ambassador for HTC. In 2022, she published “Metaverse Evolution Theory” (Technical Review Co.) and won the Grand Prize in the Business Book category of the “IT Engineer Book Awards 2023.” She was also selected as the “Most Brilliant VTuber of the Year” at the MoguLive VTuber Award 2023.
*Reference: VTuber Virtual Bishoujo Nemu’s Book Wins “IT Engineer Book Awards 2023”
Ludmila Bredikhina (known as “Mila”)
A Swiss doctoral student. In 2022, she received the academic award “Prix Genre” (Gender Award) in the gender field from the University of Geneva for her master’s thesis on “Virtual Bishoujo Juuniku” and “VTuber.” In 2024, NHK aired an in-depth documentary on her titled “Deepest Japan Research.”
*Reference: “Virtual Bishoujo Juuniku” Thesis Wins Academic Award at University of Geneva
*Reference: NHK’s “Deepest Japan Research” — Swiss Researcher Mila Featured in Documentary on “Virtual Bishoujo Juuniku”
