Let's balance tech craze with sustainability

In the past decade, technology has developed at a frenetic pace. Whether it's electric vehicles, artificial intelligence or 3D printing technology, they have all made the world different.

However, as everyone pursues speed in the automotive sector, convenience in artificial intelligence and efficiency in construction, have we ever considered that developing technology in this manner may lead toward our decline?

For instance, have we thought about the global electricity shortage that would make it difficult to support all cars switching to electric? Moreover, if there is a problem with the power grid, all electric vehicles would instantly lose their functionality, which poses a significant risk.

Similarly, when people excitedly use AI to transform photos into images in the style of Hayao Miyazaki, this actually harms the copyright of Miyazaki's works.

Furthermore, Miyazaki has a strong aversion to AI-generated art, and these actions are hurting emotionally as well.

Japan places great emphasis on balancing technological development with intellectual property rights, economic benefits and safety. A simple example is the speed of their trains, which ran at 443 kilometers an hour as early as 1997.

However, due to the risk of trains derailing during earthquakes at such high speeds, along with considerations for passenger comfort, Japan Rail abandoned the pursuit of speed in favour of safety and comfort. This is what has allowed JR to gain a world-renowned reputation while also achieving sustainable development.

Therefore, as technology continues to advance, the world should seriously consider how to balance safety and sustainable development.

Andrew Wong is a veteran independent commentator