For those who follow me for AI, I will be back to that soon. But the past week shook me deeply. In San Francisco, 5 men threatened me, explicitly mentioning my race, and grabbed my hat. My Japanese wife was terrified. She could not believe Americans just tolerate that. Then came the brutal murder of Iryna Zarutska, with people watching her die as if her life meant nothing. On the flight back to Japan I was stressed and exhausted. Turbulence hit, and for the first time in years I prayed. I asked for the flight to be safe and promised I would do more good in the world. When I landed in Tokyo, I saw the news of Kirk’s assassination. What shocked me most was not only the killing. It was how many people celebrated it instead of condemning it. And also the silence from so many. I was not a fan of Charlie Kirk. I didn’t have strong feelings for him or against him. But no matter what someone says, they don’t deserve to be killed for words. After his death, I watched many of his videos and realized I agreed with much of what he said.. Would these people also cheerfully kill me, and laugh at my family, and suggest they be next? That is not the America I recognize. It sounds like another country with completely different values. For 2 years I have said America must beat China in AI or freedom will vanish. All the arguments about civil rights will not matter. But now I see that even if we win, if our values are inverted by those with no love for America, we will just export the opposite of freedom. Most people have forgotten what made America, America. Our values were shaped by Europe’s Enlightenment, where freedom of speech was central. In most of the world, speaking your mind is illegal. Especially in China. That is what has made America special: a place where people of every background could thrive together and openly discuss and debate different ideas. Many of my friends, and even my wife, hold different political beliefs. That should not be strange. But those who condone political violence should have no place in civil society. We can’t be intimidated by terrorists that would kill us for thought crimes. We must have the courage to speak truth. Loudly. Openly. Without fear. If we do, America will remain great. And it will remain the hope of the world. And inspire other people to demand freedom in their countries too. If we fail, we will live in a 1984-style world of mass control by AI, driven by those who wish to control thought. The stakes have never been higher. America’s soul and the fate of human freedom are at stake. I know how big that sounds, but I believe it to be true.