Hiroshima City films A-bomb testimony to develop AI system for simulated dialogue with survivors on screen
Nov. 6, 2024
by Michio Shimotaka, Staff Writer
On November 5, the Hiroshima City government filmed the testimony of Sadao Yamamoto, a 93-year-old atomic bomb survivor who lives in Higashi Ward, as part of the development of a system that uses artificial intelligence (AI) to enable users to have simulated dialogues with A-bomb survivors on a screen. Elementary, junior high, and high school students also participated, so discussions between Mr. Yamamoto and them could be applied to the development of the system.
Mr. Yamamoto was exposed to the atomic bombing at the East Drill Ground (in present-day Higashi Ward), about 2.5 kilometers from the hypocenter, when he was a second-year student at Hiroshima Second Middle School (now Kanon High School, located in present-day Nishi Ward). He recounted his experience before the camera, such as seeing people with severe burns lying on the side of the road, and appealed, “An atomic bomb should never be used on earth again.” Thirteen elementary, junior high, and high school students selected from among applicants asked him, “What would you like to say to younger generations?” and many other questions.
In an interview after the filming, Mr. Yamamoto said the development of the device was “significant in that we now have the means to leave A-bomb testimonies.” Recalling the event, Fumihiro Tanago, 16, a first-year student at Kindai University Hiroshima High School, Higashihiroshima, said, “His every word was fraught with his thoughts. With the number of survivors dwindling, it would be a valuable opportunity for people.”
The device will use AI to instantly analyze the questions posed by users and select and play back appropriate answers from video interviews with A-bomb survivors that have been filmed in advance. The city plans to create a total of five units based on the testimonies of five survivors and put them into use next August.
(Originally published on November 6, 2024)
On November 5, the Hiroshima City government filmed the testimony of Sadao Yamamoto, a 93-year-old atomic bomb survivor who lives in Higashi Ward, as part of the development of a system that uses artificial intelligence (AI) to enable users to have simulated dialogues with A-bomb survivors on a screen. Elementary, junior high, and high school students also participated, so discussions between Mr. Yamamoto and them could be applied to the development of the system.
Mr. Yamamoto was exposed to the atomic bombing at the East Drill Ground (in present-day Higashi Ward), about 2.5 kilometers from the hypocenter, when he was a second-year student at Hiroshima Second Middle School (now Kanon High School, located in present-day Nishi Ward). He recounted his experience before the camera, such as seeing people with severe burns lying on the side of the road, and appealed, “An atomic bomb should never be used on earth again.” Thirteen elementary, junior high, and high school students selected from among applicants asked him, “What would you like to say to younger generations?” and many other questions.
In an interview after the filming, Mr. Yamamoto said the development of the device was “significant in that we now have the means to leave A-bomb testimonies.” Recalling the event, Fumihiro Tanago, 16, a first-year student at Kindai University Hiroshima High School, Higashihiroshima, said, “His every word was fraught with his thoughts. With the number of survivors dwindling, it would be a valuable opportunity for people.”
The device will use AI to instantly analyze the questions posed by users and select and play back appropriate answers from video interviews with A-bomb survivors that have been filmed in advance. The city plans to create a total of five units based on the testimonies of five survivors and put them into use next August.
(Originally published on November 6, 2024)
