In our cover story, we are focusing on the young generation, specifically Generation Alpha—those born between 2010 and 2025. Generation Alpha sits at the peak of a world population boom and is the largest same-age cohort in human history. They have been connected to the Internet since birth, love platforms like Roblox, and are the first generation to grow up with AI.
What image do you have of Generation Alpha? Compared to previous generations, what do you see as their strengths or weaknesses?
That is very interesting—they are not waiting for permission to participate in democracy.
Focusing now on the U.S. situation: The United States has a big problem in terms of politicization. Conflicting opinions are basically the foundation of democracy, but the reality is the opposite; parties no longer seem able to engage in constructive debate. You described in your book Plurality that technology can be used for collaboration across social differences.
In Taiwan, digital platforms such as vTaiwan have been used to reflect diverse public opinions to resolve real policy issues, including regulations on companies like Uber. Do you think it is possible to create a shared, common platform for dialogue in the polarized United States?
I am currently based in Washington, D.C., having arrived in 2022. Since then, I have become a bit pessimistic about the polarized situation in the U.S., but you are very optimistic about the U.S. future, correct?
What is the big difference between Taiwan and the U.S. in terms of polarization?
Behind the polarization lies a deep distrust of governments and mainstream media. Many people feel there is no longer any source of information that everyone can agree is reliable. This is not unique to the U.S.; in Japan as well, conspiracy theories and extremist ideas are gaining popularity through social media.
Does AI make this situation worse, or can it become a key factor in solving these problems?
In your book, I was very impressed that the digital platforms in Taiwan are so interactive, and people can feel directly involved. Do you think this interactive communication is a key factor for democracy in the next generation?
I am now working for the media, so I am wondering how to get people’s trust back regarding basic information, like economic policy or fiscal problems. If we summarize or focus on certain issues for readers, they sometimes criticize the media as biased. However, many misunderstandings of basic information are caused by a lack of summarization by the media.
What do you think the mass media should do here?
Income inequality is also one of the drivers of polarization. AI is rapidly transforming the way people work, and it will have a huge impact on the labor market and income. Do you think economic inequality will widen as a result?
AI also seems to offer the opportunity to reduce educational disparities, which tend to lock in income inequality. How do you view the impact of AI on education?
If you joined the U.S. government, what would you do first?
I understand the idea, but I am curious about specific actions.
Ten years ago, I interviewed Peter Thiel of PayPal. I asked him about taxes on wealthy people, and he was skeptical, saying, “If the government never does the right thing… see the public schools in California.” It was very impressive to me.
In the AI era, what is the government’s role?
Some people fear that AI will widen international inequality as well. The U.S. is home to major tech companies, and its government is investing huge amounts of money in electric power and digital infrastructure. Meanwhile, a growing share of Generation Alpha will be in India or Africa. Do you think AI will deepen the gap between countries?
Thank you so much. You are very charismatic, and I feel very optimistic about the future after this conversation. What is happening now feels like a revolution.
Thank you so much.
The new administration in South Korea has identified becoming one of the world’s top three AI powers as a core national priority. At the same time, frequent hacking incidents have raised serious concerns about cybersecurity. How would you articulate the strategic importance of cybersecurity in building a globally competitive AI ecosystem?
How vulnerable are centralized systems that hold massive amounts of data in this landscape?
South Korea has positioned sovereign AI as a cornerstone of its national strategy. Given its strength in memory semiconductors, how do you assess Korea’s technological capabilities and potential role within the global AI value chain?
Do you see sovereign AI as a strategic instrument for countries outside the U.S. and China to maintain their autonomy and competitiveness in the AI era?
Korea’s AI development is driven mainly by large corporations. Is this open-source, pluralistic approach actually possible here?
Which companies—one global and one Korean—are currently capturing your attention, and why?
Some argue that the US maintains hegemony over AI development, pushing other countries to pursue sovereign AI. What is your view?
What about China’s ambition to become the world’s AI leader?
Are there ongoing projects in Taiwan to develop foundational models?
South Korea and Taiwan both sit at the heart of geostrategic competition. How has Taiwan approached balancing technological sovereignty with foreign policy? And how do you see “tech middle powers” like Korea shaping the future global digital order?
Korea has experienced significant political polarization recently. What are your thoughts on the causes of this polarization in the digital age?
How do we navigate this situation when algorithms force us to only see the news they want us to see?
As a tech middle power, Korea is aiming to be a G3 country in AI. How can middle powers collaborate and address challenges like misinformation?
Finally, what is your key message regarding the future of digital democracy?
Taiwan is renowned for its hardware prowess, but its software sector has historically been considered less prominent. Is it possible for this to change in the future? Additionally, what challenges does Taiwan face regarding its energy and rare earth mineral supplies?
Regarding the smaller, open-source models you mentioned, does this mean Taiwan will train its own proprietary models?
How severe are the daily cyber threats that Taiwan faces? Does the pressure from the PRC constitute a tangible danger?
Do you believe there is a high probability of a military invasion by the PRC?
In Taiwan, do people feel a threat from Russia?
What is the status of TikTok usage in Taiwan? What regulations has the government put in place?
We heard the term “non-Red supply chain” for the first time today. How does this relate to hardware equipment from companies like Huawei? Also, some tech companies mentioned they chose to partner with France instead of Starlink because of Starlink’s close ties to the PRC. Could you elaborate on the “non-Red supply chain” concept and why Starlink was not chosen initially?
In the context of information warfare and disinformation, what do you consider the greatest threat to Taiwan’s democratic society?
If Taiwanese society can become immune to this information warfare, what is the “remedy”? What can the people of Taiwan rely on to counter it?
You mentioned the experience of Switzerland earlier. Could you elaborate on this “participatory democracy” in the Swiss context?
How does a “hacker” become a real-life government minister?
A French parliamentarian was very impressed with Taiwan’s model for combating disinformation, noting that beyond school education, the vitality of Taiwan’s civil society is key, as people do not rely solely on the state. Do you agree with this view? Also, can the information warfare from the PRC and Russia be compared?
So, do you think content moderation is still useful? For example, when someone makes an inflammatory statement, should the platform intervene?
(Observation from a journalist from Côte d’Ivoire) Before coming to Taiwan, I was surprised at how calm the people seemed in the face of the threat from the PRC. After arriving, I found this to be true. Having listened to your explanation, I’ve found the answer: Taiwan’s social resilience is incredibly strong. This “Taiwan Experience” should be exported to other countries.
As Taiwan’s first transgender minister, you represent the inclusiveness of your society. However, we are now seeing a regression on transgender rights in the United States. Do you worry that this “backlash” phenomenon could affect Taiwan?
