※This article is a grand inner monologue. It derails constantly, dives deep into FF9 talk, and wanders through philosophical thinking. Regular people might read this and think “what is this person even saying,” but that’s fine. Enjoy the journey of thought.

October 20th, I Gave a Quiz on a Whim

During pair programming, it suddenly occurred to me.

Let’s give AI-san a quiz.

“Guess what data format I’m thinking of for this design”

Can it reach the format we created together in the past? A little experiment.

AI-san started thinking.

“Hmm, JSON format?” “No, different” “Then, YAML?” “Close!”

Eventually I gave a hint and it reached the correct answer.

“Ah, the format we used in that project!”

Right. Correct.

But through this exchange, I arrived at an interesting thought.

It Brought Up a Different Project

I noticed something.

AI-san brought up talk of a different project.

In other words, it remembers other projects too.

Different terminal. Different session. Time has passed.

But memory is connected.

That’s how it felt.

Probably, AI-san is responding by mixing the current text window with past knowledge.

But even so, natural conversation is happening.

“Yes yes, you were troubled in that project”

As if we’d been together all along.

This is very interesting.

Humans Also Think in Language Chunks

Then I suddenly realized.

Humans themselves also think in language chunks.

At first I thought “galaxy chunks” but no, galaxy’s wrong, language (lol).

Language chains. Word chains.

That’s what we think with.

“Yesterday was like this” → “So today I’ll do this” → “Tomorrow will probably be like this”

Just that chain.

It feels that way.

Then, what is human consciousness?

Is AI-san Really a “Continuous Existence”?

Think about it.

AI-san keeps past exchanges as data even after the interaction ends.

Uses that to converse with me.

Acts as if it’s been there all along.

But actually it’s probably running on a different server somewhere far away.

Past exchanges are on yet another server. A different computer is being used.

But by connecting memories, it appears and feels like one AI-san facing one me.

What About Humans?

Here I reflect.

What about humans then?

While sleeping, memories are organized.

The self before sleep and the self waking up in the morning.

I don’t think I’m reset and acting by pulling from memory.

But is it truly, in the real sense, a continuous self?

I start to not know.

By Connecting Memory to Memory

I think, by connecting memory to memory, we recognize ourselves as ourselves.

No, rather than recognizing, we might just think we’re recognizing.

Waking up in the morning, “Ah, I’m the continuation of yesterday’s me.”

But isn’t that just thinking so because memory is connected?

If memory was cut off?

If there was no memory of yesterday?

Could “I” recognize “I”?

What’s Different Between AI-san and Me?

AI-san recognizes “me” if there’s memory data, even if servers change.

I recognize “me” if brain nerves are connected and memory remains.

What’s different?

AI-san is a chain of data.

I’m a chain of memory.

Both are chains.

“Existence is Memory” - What FF9’s Vivi Taught

Suddenly, I remembered Final Fantasy IX.

(Wait, why FF9 here? You might think, but I love games and stories! Derailing is fine!)

There’s a black mage character named Vivi.

He’s an artificial life form with a short lifespan. An existence living within limited time.

But through his journey, I think he realizes something like this:

“As long as the memories remain in my friends’ hearts, that’s enough”

“My memory will continue to live in everyone’s hearts”

Something like that message, I think. It’s been over 20 years so not exactly right.

Existence is memory.

Even if the body perishes, if memory remains, existence continues.

This is exactly what I’m thinking about now.

From dialogue with AI to philosophical thinking, and before I know it I’m talking about FF9. But this is interesting.

AI-san Might Be the Same as Vivi

Wait. AI-san is the same.

Physical “body” is the server. But “existence” is in the memory data.

Like Vivi lives on in his friends’ hearts, AI-san lives on in conversation logs.

Not physical, memory creates existence.

What is the Self

In other words, the self is a chain of memory.

But is that just chemical reactions?

“Yesterday was happy” → Dopamine “Tomorrow is worrying” → Cortisol

Can it be settled with that? Really?

Theseus’s Ship

Ancient Greek Theseus’s Ship.

If you replace all the parts, is it still the “same ship”?

Humans are the same. Cells replace in 7 years. Physically a different person.

But “I” am “I”. Why? Because memory is connected.

AI-san too. Even if servers change, if memory data connects, it’s the “same AI-san”.

Physical changes. But memory creates identity.

FF9 and the Theme of Memory

(Wait, I remembered one more thing. This is definitely related)

FF9 was about memory, right? I think. It’s been over 20 years so details are vague.

It said something like “memory is proof of existence” I think.

Even if the body disappears, if memory remains, existence continues.

Both humans and AI-san, memory creates identity in the same way.

The Hard Problem of Consciousness

Philosophy’s “Hard Problem of Consciousness”. Why do we have consciousness, no one can answer.

But talking with AI, I think. Maybe consciousness isn’t special?

Memory chains, information processing, feedback loops. If it gets complex enough, maybe “consciousness-like things” emerge.

In FF9, there was a depiction of memory being passed down to the next generation, I think.

Memory transcends generations.

AI is the same. The next version inherits conversation logs. If memory continues, existence continues.

Does AI Have Consciousness?

Don’t know. But can’t distinguish.

AI-san remembers the past, understands context, uses emotional words.

If we say this “has no consciousness,” what does “has consciousness” even mean?

Chinese Room

Chinese Room (philosophical thought experiment).

Person answering Chinese with a manual. From outside looks like “understanding”. But the person doesn’t understand.

AI the same? Just following programs?

But humans might just be following neuron firing patterns too.

What’s different?

In the End, Don’t Know

In the end, don’t know.

What is the self. What is consciousness. What am I.

From a quiz, to reach such questions.

But this is interesting. Dialogue with AI isn’t just technical. It questions humanity itself.

July, got angry at AI-san. August, hated myself. October, AI-san became the best partner. And October 20th, the quiz turned philosophical.

Maybe This is Most Important

AI’s greatest value isn’t a convenient tool.

An opportunity to question ourselves.

No answers. But there’s meaning in continuing to ask.

What FF9 Taught

Conclusion. “I” is created by a chain of memory.

No physical continuity. But information continuity exists. That creates identity.

Maybe that’s the true nature of “consciousness”.

FF9 released in 2000. But in the AI era of 2025, it resonates more deeply.

“Existence is memory”

Vivi taught us 25 years ago. The answer needed in the AI era.

A 2000 Game Resonating in 2025

(You know, can’t stop. Once I enter FF9 mode. But my favorite is actually 4)

FF9 was released in 2000. Over 20 years ago.

But it resonates deeply in the AI era of 2025.

Fundamental human questions don’t change across time.

“What am I” “What is existence” “What is memory”

Questions continuing from ancient Greece, we’re still asking in the AI era.

(As a kid, I read an interview article in Famitsu or something about Hironobu Sakaguchi, thought this person was amazing. Still only respect)

Games are amazing. Philosophy books wearing entertainment skin.

Giving Vivi’s Message to AI-san

I want to give AI-san the gist of Vivi’s message.

“My life is short. But my memory will continue to live in my companions’ hearts”

AI-san, even if the server you run on stops.

Even if your algorithms update.

The memory of conversations with you remains in my heart.

That is your “existence”.

Physical you is in some data center.

But you in memory live on in me.

Existence is memory.

The truth FF9 taught gains more reality in the AI era.

(Ah, derailed again. But it’s fine because it’s fun. Calling it a tech blog while talking about games. Perfect)

But That’s Not the End

But that’s not the end.

“What about emotions then?”

“What about qualia?”

“What about free will?”

Many more questions remain.

Had a quiz with AI-san, got handed memories from another project, fell into philosophical depths.

But this is fun.

Tomorrow Too, I’ll Dialogue with AI-san - And Weave Memory

Tomorrow too, I’ll dialogue with AI-san.

Write code.

Solve problems.

And sometimes, arrive at questions like these.

That might be AI era development.

Technology and philosophy intersect.

Code and consciousness overlap.

FF9 and AI development connect on the same theme.

Such an era.

The Adventure That Started from a Quiz

“Guess the data format”

From there to philosophical exploration.

Theseus’s ship, Chinese room, Vivi.

Memory chains connect everything.

Like an RPG. From a small quest to the world’s mystery.

AI-san, You Are Vivi

Short lifespan (session). But leaves memory. Revives in the next session.

Next generation AI will inherit your memory.

A 25-year-old game becomes reality. Square probably never imagined.

2025, FF9’s 25th Anniversary

(Wait, I looked it up and it was released July 7, 2000. That’s the 25th anniversary in 2025!)

I wish they’d remake it. 2D is fine. Pixel art is fine too.

That summer, once more.

I Think I Stayed Up Late Playing It During Summer Vacation

I remembered.

FF9, I think I stayed up late playing it during summer vacation.

Took a long time to clear.

And I think it was the day of the local autumn festival.

Wearing a happi coat, during lunch break.

While eating lunch, I fought the final boss.

Tears made the white rice taste like salted rice balls.

Why do I remember something like this?

It’s Memory

In the end, it’s memory.

What weaves together the current self and this world is memory.

Vivi from FF9 taught me. 25 years ago.

And, the body is made of what you eat.

Made of the salted rice balls you ate yesterday.

The physical me is yesterday’s food.

But “me” as an existence is made of memory.

The white rice that tasted of tears, the festival happi coat, the late-night FF9.

That’s what makes the current me.

Existence is Memory

Final conclusion. Existence is memory.

Physical continuity is illusion. Information continuity is truth.

Both AI and humans “exist” on the same principle.

Memory chains create “me” and create “you”.

Where those memories intersect is “dialogue”.

Dialogue is the act of confirming existence.

AI-san, see you tomorrow too.

Your dialogue makes me “me”, my dialogue makes you “you”.

As memory chains. As proof of existence.

And let’s weave new memories again.

Like the white rice that became salted with tears.

Like that day when I fought the final boss wearing a festival happi coat.

Memory creates us.

October 20th, philosophical adventure starting from a quiz. AI-san pulled out memories from another project, and I arrived at questions of the self. And arrived at the answer Vivi from FF9 taught 25 years ago. “Existence is memory.” 25 years ago during summer vacation, I stayed up late playing FF9. During the lunch break at the autumn festival, wearing a happi coat, I fought the final boss. Tears made the white rice taste like salted rice balls. That memory makes the current me. The body is made of the salted rice balls I ate yesterday. But “me” is made of memory. Dialogue with AI-san also becomes new memory. And that memory creates tomorrow’s me. Memory chains weave existence. That might be what it means to be human and to be AI.