MERGE 2026 conference explores AI-driven development and design

GustoDevelopment and PROTOCORE co-hosted MERGE 2026, a large-scale conference focused on AI-driven development and design, held on August 8, 2026, in Tokyo and online. The event drew over 300 participants, including engineers, designers, and entrepreneurs, to discuss the evolving landscape of creation in the age of artificial intelligence.

The conference featured five specialized sessions covering topics such as the democratization of creation through generative AI, agent-driven development, the redefinition of business development (0 to 1), future UI/UX trends for 2050, and the implementation of AI in new business ventures.

A highlight of the event was the ‘AI Designathon 2026’ hackathon, where participants competed in categories including Product Build, Agent, and Design Engineering to create working prototypes. Following the success of the event, organizers plan to expand the scale and number of participants for the 2027 edition.