These days, wherever you go, you can't escape discussions about AI.

There's a lot of talk about ChatGPT, AI that creates art in the style of Disney or Studio Ghibli, and how developers are losing their jobs.

However, I feel like a truly important topic is missing from the conversation.

That is the fact that AI is extending our lifespans. It's a strangely exciting thought.

To start with early disease diagnosis, nowadays AI can estimate a person's biological age just by looking at a single photo of their face.

It can even analyze mortality risk. When I first heard about this, it gave me chills.

What would you do if you posted a selfie and received a result saying, "You have this many years left to live"?

But if you think about it, this could be really useful.

Until now, you had to go to the hospital, get blood drawn, and wait a long time to find out what was wrong, but now you can get a heads-up with just a photo.

Moreover, AI trained on vast health data can predict an individual's disease risk with 78% accuracy. That's a number you can't ignore.

Everyone knows that in the U.S., a single test that isn't covered by insurance can cost hundreds of dollars. AI can catch these issues ahead of time.

And what's really interesting is that it's uncovering the mechanisms of aging itself.

We've always thought of aging as a gradual downhill slope.

But AI analysis shows that it's not that simple. Aging is stair-step-like.

There's a point where things suddenly decline. Honestly, this is something everyone can relate to when talking to neighbors.

"I was fine last year, but suddenly my knees are acting up," is something you hear often. It turns out it's not just in our heads.

There really is a point where the body suddenly declines, and AI has proven this with data.

It's a bit scary, but knowing that point in advance means we can prepare for it.

The area of new drug development is even more impressive. It used to take 10 to 15 years to develop a new drug.

The costs were in the trillions.

Anyone who has bought medication in the U.S. knows that without insurance, a single prescription can cost hundreds of dollars.

But with AI, this clinical trial period is being significantly reduced. AI helps find candidate substances and simulates them in advance.

At this rate, we might actually see a drug that slows aging during our lifetimes.

A famous story here is about futurist Ray Kurzweil.

He mentioned that after 2032, thanks to AI, the rate of lifespan extension will surpass the rate of aging.

And some scholars believe that by 2040, living beyond 120 years will be entirely possible.

In our parents' generation, living past 80 was considered a good life.

Reaching 90 meant throwing a neighborhood party.

But now, our children's generation is expected to live to 120.

In just one generation, lifespans are increasing by 30 to 40 years. Honestly, it's a bit dizzying.

But if you think about it, this isn't all good news.

Let's say we live to 120. When do we retire? What happens to pensions?

For those thinking about living on Social Security in the U.S., if you start receiving it in your 60s, you'll need to rely on it for another 60 years, and I'm not sure the system can handle that.

And from the perspective of children, having parents live to 120 might be a blessing or a burden, and that can be confusing.

Another point to consider is who will benefit from all these advancements.

AI diagnostic services, anti-aging drugs, and stem cell treatments will likely be expensive.

Most of them won't be covered by insurance.

So, the wealthy will live to 120, while the poor may die at 80. It's a bit bitter to think that lifespan could become a class issue.

Still, it's true that AI is extending our lifespans. This isn't just a vague hope; it's a trend backed by data.

Our generation is likely to live much longer than our parents did. So, we need to start thinking about how we will spend that extended time.

It's not just about living longer; the real question is how we will fill that longer life.

If we're living to 120, how will we spend the remaining 60 years after retiring at 60?

Doesn't it make you a bit anxious to think about how you'll live those years?