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?

I’ve been looking forward to hearing from you. You’re very concerned about polarization and its effect on democracy—much of it plays out on social media. My understanding is that Taiwan regulates platforms but doesn’t do censorship. You’ve said you regulate them but don’t take content down. How can the negative effects of social media be mitigated?

That sounds brilliant, but will pro‑social media really go mainstream? Extremes make money for platforms.

Why not impose top‑down measures against certain misinformation (e.g., false information about polling places)?

Recent examples of PRC use of social media to polarize Taiwan?

It also seems big platforms externalize harm. Thoughts on corporate responsibility?

On “semiconductor diplomacy”—how does it strengthen Taiwan’s position?

How is Taiwan approaching international AI collaboration?

You grew up around journalism. What’s its role now?

Google’s AI Overviews (Gemini) summarize content and may reduce publishers’ page views. Thoughts?

Copyright feels shaky in the AI era. How do creatives retain control?

Small islands lack local capacity for “bridging.” What can we do now, given TikTok’s influence?

Many citizens are passive. How do we scale competency?

Taiwan’s digital presence is strong despite geopolitics. Any cyber perspective on recognition?

Attackers seem to have the advantage. How do we protect citizens’ data (e.g., after major breaches like Indonesia’s)?

Will digital residency blur borders?