Progress Report
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Development of “Jizai Hon-yaku-ki (At-will Translator)” connecting various minds based on brain and body functions[6] Ethical, legal, and social issues (ELSI) involved in JIZAI Translator
Progress until FY2025
1. Outline of the project
In R&D Item 6, we analyze the ethical, legal, and social issues (ELSI) involved in this R&D project to make JIZAI Translator socially acceptable.
Since JIZAI Translator builds on emerging biology and neuroscience, it may cause various ethical concerns regarding privacy and unfamiliar forms of communication. Also, our highest priority is to protect the rights of participants in our R&D. JIZAI Translator should reduce — rather than worsen — discrimination against people with developmental conditions.
The primary task of our R&D Item 6 is to investigate these potential issues from theoretical and practical standpoints. This sub-project also aims to provide future-oriented insights into neurodiversity and (supported) communication.
2. Outcome so far
- ELSI Review Meeting with External Experts
- Exchanged opinions and conducted interviews with scholars to analyze ELSI-related concerns
- Clarifying ELSI issues to develop guidelines for Moonshot Goal 9 and “JIZAI-Translator”
Outcome 1: We held the 3rd ELSI Workshop, “Toward AI Research and Development with ELSI Considerations,” at the Graduate School of Medicine, the University of Tokyo Hongo Campus, in a hybrid format. Dr. Yuri Nakao from Fujitsu’s Data & Security Research Laboratory was invited as a speaker, and participants discussed AI R&D that reflects ethical values in society. The R&D teams also provided comments related to JIZAI Translator, followed by a general discussion. This workshop advanced discussions on ELSI issues in AI for implementing JIZAI Translator.
Source: https://jizai2050.org/inside-story/1312
Outcome 2: Continuing from the previous year, we exchanged views with R&D members at project-wide meetings held in October and November 2025. Based on the research presentations, we identified ELSI concerns and issues related to data management and public/patient involvement (PPI), particularly by distinguishing between the development and use phases of the devices. We then considered possible directions for addressing these issues and shared them with the R&D members.
n this way, by taking an agile approach of collaborating with scientists and engineers to consider ELSI from the early stages of research and development, we are promoting the creation of an environment in which JIZAI Translator is socially accepted.
3. Future plans
We will continue the ongoing collaboration between scholars from various academic disciplines to achieve consensus on important ELSI issues in our R&D project. Our R&D Item 6 is broadening further the scope of issues addressed. We also have a plan to compile a recommendation/opinion document, or a “guidebook,” to address various ELSI-related problems attributed to JIZAI Translator and communication aids in general.
(Tohoku U: N. Osumi, S. Hara,
U Tokyo: S. Aketani, E. Nakazawa)