*Subtitles: Choose “Subtitles/CC” in the “Settings” (gear icon) at the bottom right of the YouTube video. *Subtitles may not show with multiple languages or overlapping audio.
In several countries around the world, not just in Japan, the issues of population decline and labor shortages are becoming increasingly severe. To address these challenges, avatars that enable people to engage freely beyond the constraints of time and space are essential. This discussion will explore how avatars are being accepted globally and how they will shape the future of society.

【Session Summary】
Held on May 17, 2025, the session “Integration of the real & digital worlds” was part of the “Future of Community and Mobility” theme week at Expo 2025 Osaka-Kansai. This session brought together cutting-edge discussions across avatar technology, physical augmentation, soft robotics, AI, and cognitive science, focusing on how the integration of real and digital spaces is transforming human existence and the structure of society.
Moderator Hiroshi Ishiguro (Osaka University) introduced the potential for overcoming physical, spatial, and temporal limitations through the development and implementation of cybernetic avatars. He also touched upon the notion of "self-continuity" via avatars, suggesting that android technology could one day preserve one’s personality and sensibilities even after death.
The session presented a range of interdisciplinary perspectives that questioned the relationship between technology, society, and human identity. It underscored that avatar technologies are not merely about utility, but serve as a central axis in an ongoing philosophical and cultural transformation.

【Speaker Summary: Hiroshi Ishiguro】
Hiroshi Ishiguro, a pioneering researcher in avatar-based human augmentation, introduced the trajectory of his two-decade research and his vision for future society. Ishiguro advocates for a “cybernetic avatar society” that enables people to act freely beyond the limits of body, brain, space, and time. He envisions new social structures created through semi-autonomous avatars integrated with AI.
His presentation traced the evolution of avatar technologies—from remotely operated avatars to “Geminoid” androids capable of autonomous communication and expression. Notably, he discussed the development of androids that replicate his own memories, personality, and speech patterns—technology aimed at leaving a “copy of oneself” for the future. This touches not only on labor replacement, but also challenges ethical notions surrounding death and social identity.
Ishiguro presented social experiments using avatars, such as interactions between kindergarteners and seniors during the pandemic, remote clerks in convenience stores, and customer service agents in the insurance sector. These examples demonstrated how avatars empower those with limited mobility or social interaction opportunities to participate in society, even contributing to employment and regional revitalization.
He proposed a model of the human as a “multi-bodied being,” where avatars act as extensions of the self. Ishiguro emphasized the importance of “fashion” and “play” in shaping how avatars are socially accepted, suggesting that aesthetic diversity and expressive flexibility will be key to building a broader avatar culture.
He also discussed how Japanese culture, with its openness toward non-human entities, could take international leadership in shaping the avatar-integrated society. Through his reflections, Ishiguro raised a profound question: “What does it mean to be human?” His presentation offered a compelling blueprint for designing the society of tomorrow.

【Speaker Summary: Miwako Doi】
Miwako Doi discussed the transformative potential of avatar technologies through the lens of Moonshot R&D initiatives she is a sub program director. Using a backcasting approach—designing solutions from a future ideal—she presented a vision for 2050, where human society is liberated from the constraints of body, brain, space, and time.
Opening with reflections on her long-standing work in natural language processing, IoT, and wearable technology, Doi traced how these innovations have enriched everyday life. She then introduced the Moonshot Goal 1 initiative, focusing on seven core avatar research projects. Among them is the "symbiotic avatar" promoted by Hiroshi Ishiguro, envisioning a society where humans and avatars coexist.
Doi emphasized the role of avatars in enabling social participation for older adults, persons with disabilities, and those unable to travel. She even proposed a future where avatars could embody the personality and memories of deceased individuals, enabling “posthumous participation” in society—an ethically provocative and imaginative concept.
She also highlighted how avatar labor could enhance well-being and cognitive engagement, fostering inclusion. At the same time, she called for robust policy frameworks, including systems for avatar authentication and international guidelines to ensure trust and reliability.
Concluding her remarks, Doi stressed that cybernetic avatars are not simply tools for labor substitution, but mechanisms for reimagining human presence itself. Her presentation seamlessly bridged future-oriented vision with pragmatic institutional design, pointing toward a future where technology and humanity evolve together.

【Speaker Summary: Masahiko Inami】
Masahiko Inami shared insights from his research on human augmentation, focusing on how technology can reconstruct and expand human physicality and perception. His lab has developed unconventional interfaces such as robotic “superhuman” body parts—including a sixth finger and wing-like appendages—as well as robotic faces capable of reshaping human expressions.
Framing these projects as efforts to “redesign the human body,” Inami argued that the body should not be seen merely as a biological constraint but as a modifiable platform for expression. For instance, technologies like a sixth finger can enhance not only motor skills but also creativity and emotional expression, unlocking new human potentials.
He emphasized the importance of designing interactions where humans remain in control. “Implicit interaction”—technology that supports human intentions without explicit commands—is key. For this, AI capable of understanding sensory and behavioral context becomes essential.
Inami proposed that in a future society enabled by cybernetic avatars, the assumption of “one body, one mind” may no longer hold. People could operate multiple avatars simultaneously or share embodiment and perception with others, raising philosophical and ethical questions about selfhood and accountability.
He also noted how technologies like the metaverse and generative AI allow individuals to construct and customize their environments and bodies. Self-expression in such a world is no longer limited to appearance, but extends to the design of entire experiences. Humans, he suggested, are increasingly becoming “creative agents” rather than mere recipients of the world.
In conclusion, he stressed that avatars and augmentation should not be limited to welfare or labor support. By embracing “play” and “fashion,” these technologies can become embedded in everyday culture. His presentation illuminated a future where technology redefines the human condition, enabling greater freedom and creativity.

【Speaker Summary: Giulio Sandini】
Giulio Sandini, drawing from his extensive work in humanoid robotics and cognitive　neuroscience, explored how cybernetic avatars can reshape our understanding of cognition　and interaction. Beginning with his early studies on visual perception and eye movement　control, Sandini explained how modeling human visual systems laid the foundation for　natural human-robot interaction. His subsequent research fused robotics and neuroscience in a bidirectional approach: designing robots based on human understanding and using robots to study human cognition. Through experiments with humanoid robots, he revealed how uniquely human traits like empathy, embodiment, and cognitive development are deeply rooted in social contexts.
Sandini introduced the compelling concept of a “Cognitive Twin,” in which avatars, while evolving from the long term goal of autonomy, build long-term relationships with users, gradually learning their thought patterns, behaviors,and memories. Over time, these avatars could become “cognitive companions” that foster deeper mutual understanding and act more like friends than tools.He stressed the need for interdisciplinary integration in avatar development—not only engineering, but also AI, robotics, cognitive science, ethics, and social sciences. For industry, he emphasized the importance of “human-centered design,” where functionality must be balanced with cultural and social adaptability.
Looking ahead to global deployment, Sandini highlighted the importance of accommodating cultural differences in gestures, language, and expectations. He advocated for international standardization and flexible design to ensure transparency and explainability of avatar behavior, which is essential if avatars are to become a universal cognitive interface. In closing, Sandini stated, “Avatars are not merely imitations of human intelligence—they are mirrors that deepen our understanding of ourselves.” His remarks underscored the societal and philosophical significance of cybernetic avatars, not just as technical achievements but as tools for introspection and empathy.

【Speaker Summary: Cecilia Laschi】
Cecilia Laschi spoke on the future of avatar technologies and embodied intelligence, informed by her research in soft robotics and neuro-robotics. Opening with an overview of her work on biomimetic robots—particularly those inspired by the movements and structures of soft-bodied animals like octopuses—Laschi introduced the concept of “embodied intelligence,” where cognition emerges through physical interaction with the environment.
She emphasized how the structural flexibility of soft bodies simplifies control mechanisms and enhances responsiveness to the environment. This principle, drawn from evolutionary biology, informs the design of avatars and assistive robots that interact seamlessly with humans and surroundings.
Laschi also shared her work in developing assistive technologies for aging societies, such as a soft robotic arm used in Singapore hospitals to gently lift elderly patients. Beyond functionality, she stressed the ethical dimension of robotics—machines should preserve dignity and emotional well-being, not merely deliver physical assistance.
Importantly, she urged a shift in perspective—from “compensating for bodily limitations” to “creating new kinds of bodies.” Avatars, in her view, can surpass prosthetics and become extensions or reimaginings of human capability. Multi-armed avatars or remotely controlled bodies redefine what it means to inhabit a single body.
Laschi envisioned a society where humans, robots, and avatars share responsibilities and build mutual understanding. Rather than being mere proxies, avatars should become collaborative members of communities, active in fields like education, welfare, and urban planning.
In her closing remarks, she stated, “We are not only augmenting bodies—we are at the stage of redesigning society itself.” Her vision reflected a deep integration of scientific insight and ethical awareness, proposing avatars as agents of cultural transformation and inclusive coexistence.

【Discussion Summary】
The session concluded with a panel discussion featuring all speakers, centering on essential questions such as: “How should cybernetic avatars be implemented in society?” and “How will technology impact human identity and social structure?”
Hiroshi Ishiguro reiterated the idea that avatars can help create a society unconstrained by body, brain, space, or time, conceptualizing humans as “multi-bodied beings.” Masahiko Inami emphasized integrating elements of play and fashion into avatar culture to ensure it is embraced by everyday society. He suggested that reaching children and creative industries could facilitate the social acceptance of these technologies.
Miwako Doi highlighted avatars as a means of enabling dignified social participation for individuals facing physical, cognitive, or geographical challenges. She stressed the need for ethical and institutional frameworks—including authentication systems and international standards—to support social implementation.
Giulio Sandini argued that cybernetic avatars must evolve from tools addressing the long-term goal of autonomous partners that achieve mutual understanding and express emotional relationship. He introduced the concept of “Cognitive Twins,”where avatars learn from users to become empathetic companions. Realizing this visionrequires interdisciplinary collaboration grounded in a deep understanding of human cognition.
Cecilia Laschi emphasized the embodied and societal dimensions of avatars, calling for their design not as secondary actors but as collaborative members of society. In fields like healthcare and caregiving, ethical flexibility and design inclusivity are critical to ensuring harmonious human-robot coexistence.
A shared theme emerged: the real and digital are not opposites, but complementary. Technologies like the metaverse, AR, and multi-location avatars are dissolving the boundaries between physical and virtual realities. This evolution prompts a fundamental redefinition of the self.
In closing, Ishiguro remarked, “We are not changing society through technology—we are rebuilding society by questioning what it means to be human.” The discussion reaffirmed that avatars are not just technological products, but social and philosophical entities embedded in evolving human values.