Modernity was the crux of the novel Klara and The Sun written by critically acclaimed Japanese writer Kazuo Ishiguro.
The work piqued the interest of the Maktaba Books team, which led to the organisation of another session under its titular gathering, the Sama-Sama Book Club. The session was held on Sunday, 18 May 2025, at the Central Public Library, Victoria Street.
This event was also held in cooperation with the National Reading Movement (NRM) (@readingnationsg), which seeks to promote the joy of reading and learning in Singapore and started in 2016 by the National Library Board (NLB).
Briefly, Klara and the Sun is a story about Klara, an Artificial Friend (AF) robot, who sees the world through the lenses of a companion. Klara accompanies a sick teenager, Josie, in a dystopian future where some kids have been genetically modified. Klara, powered by the sun, strives to understand humanity, love, connection and isolation in a sophisticated world.
On the surface
The session began with participants sharing their general sentiment about the writing style of the book.
For instance, several attendees appreciated the nuances that the author incorporated into the description of the sun and its character. Some of them also interpreted the description of an Artificial Friend (AF) as intentionally vague to illustrate the inherent ambiguity of human imagination. Every description was potentially a reflection of the greater scheme of humanity, such as how some would struggle in letting go of things held dearly.
Such details allowed readers to slow down and observe things in their unique, complex form, compared to the instant and straightforward explanations that are the norm today.
However, some attendees suggested that the writer’s economy of words was too extensive, which could make the reading process mundane. Many also acknowledged a growing reality where people resort to the utilisation of artificial intelligence (AI) to process and navigate emotions.
Generational differences towards AI
Interestingly, Klara’s presence as a replacement for Josie sparked contrasting reactions, particularly among the different generations of attendees.
The millennials exhibited an air of tension, fluctuating between fascination and caution, and questioned the receptiveness of Josie’s mother towards the idea of resorting to AI to replace Josie. Gen Z participants, having likely grown up with advanced digital interactions such as AI, were more accustomed to integrating AI as a source of advice and counsel.
A fellow participant also noted Klara’s attempts to emulate empathy. However, such attempts were questioned – is imitating similar to understanding an emotion? Klara’s efforts to connect were endearing, but often unsettling, especially in light of humans becoming increasingly reliant on AI-powered tools for human needs, such as companionship and productivity.
Image by @chatgptricks on Instagram
Companionship and the Epidemic of Loneliness
The phenomenon of loneliness across different age groups and relationships in contemporary society was also explored in the novel. This notion was shown through the depiction of Klara as a stand-in for Josie. It illustrates the increasing human reliance on AI to build meaningful relationships despite recognising the importance of creating healthy social circles.
In reality, attendees acknowledged that many people are unknowingly in dire need of genuine connections, despite the interconnectedness of the modern world. The concept of being “together but alone” deeply resonated with them, especially in the age of social media, where many felt seen in a particular persona but not understood for who they truly are.
A participant in the book club, who is also a youth therapist, shared that many youths now turn to ChatGPT for advice on managing academic and relationship challenges. Instead of asking friends and family, youths were likely to choose AI due to its impartial stance and immediate responses. She posited that youths do not need to experience the anxiety of human judgment and the risk of losing friendships when they seek advice from AI. Consequently, such a process could result in weak emotional self-regulation among youths, she added.
The Culture of Instant Gratification
A resounding murmur of agreement was heard as the session examined how AI exacerbates humanity’s desire for instant gratification.
Klara’s immediate availability and non-judgmental presence could mirror the expectations humans often have when embracing technology: the need for instant responses, unchallenged loyalty and immediate comfort.
Another participant shared a general observation that many companies and individuals prioritise rational, quick methods to solve challenges by embracing digital tools, such as AI and Deep Learning Models. Hence, many would likely struggle to sit through arduous processes to solve technical challenges.
Some participants then questioned if such practices could regress our intellectual capability and problem-solving skills. Overreliance on AI and learning models could potentially produce repetitive common solutions due to the limited dataset of AI. Thus, the presence of creative solutions and adaptable problem solvers could slowly disappear in today’s volatile world.
On this note, a student participant remarked that many of her contemporaries have turned to ChatGPT to generate essays and answers during discussion sessions in tutorials. She mentioned that these essays are often vague and lack nuance in their arguments.
The growing usage of AI in education is alarming as students would not be actively utilising soft skills, which are vital for the workforce and the pursuit of higher education. For instance, in face-to-face discussions, students would learn to actively engage with contradicting perspectives and nuance to create robust arguments about the world. Arguments created by ChatGPT are limited as the core training data only goes up to June 2024, and it does not have real-time access to private knowledge databases.
Ethics when utilising AI
The most heated part of the discussion arose when the issue of ethical dilemmas came up.
Numerous questions were expressed:
- How should we approach AI and technology?
- Should the government regulate AI usage?
- Where do we draw the line on using AI?
- Since AI is here to stay, how do we use it responsibly?
Some participants acknowledged that AI and novel deep Learning Language Models (LLMs) were indeed here to stay, with these models gradually integrating into key systems.
For instance, the Adaptive Learning Systems (ALS) was integrated into the existing Student Learning Space (SLS) platform, which is a national education portal for primary and secondary school students in Singapore. ALS is an AI-enabled education system developed by the Ministry of Education (MOE) and GovTech. The system utilises machine learning to deliver personalised learning pathways tailored to each student’s needs.
With the integration of AI into other city participatory systems, such as SingPass, it is clear that Singapore aims to keep its citizens relevant through the cultivation of in-demand skills that involve the utilisation of AI.
In response, participants continued to share their concerns and stated their respective conscious efforts to prevent overreliance on AI. For instance, a participant shared that he visits libraries and handpicks books to help in his research of Singapore’s undiscovered yet important landmarks. He is an avid fan of Singapore’s history and loves conversations that unpack Singapore’s diverse ethnic communities. While he could have made a Google search and used the ‘AI Overview’ section, he still turned to human connection and books for his discovery.
Later, one of the session’s facilitators and Maktaba Books member, Siti Nur Najihah Ismail, brandished an opinion piece published in The Straits Times titled “Should a 5-year-old be using ChatGPT to learn?”.
The piece elicited mixed reactions from the room, leaving many participants in shock. The thought of a 5-year-old using such advanced tools may have been an unsettling idea to some participants. This raises the questions: how young is too young for our children to be exposed to technology and how do we expose our children to AI since it is inevitable?
Some were unsurprised with the piece as many children today are quick to adopt new habits and skills, especially when AI is deeply integrated into their curriculum and personal learning devices that are provided in schools.
Conclusion
Based on the group discussion, the participants concluded that the authorities might want to adopt technology and AI, albeit in a cautious manner, in the future. However, the participants also realised the ‘invisible’ impact AI could have on various aspects of life, such as children’s mental health, the social fabric of nations and general consequences on a global scale.
Overall, Klara and The Sun has successfully offered participants a poignant lens into the issues that form the foundation of our ever-evolving world, especially in an era where technology and AI are deeply intertwined with our complex modernity.
Credits for this article:
Written by Wan Nur Zafirah Wan Zaini
Edited by Nurul ‘Ain Razali