AI development and governance conferences in Japan

In August 2026, GustoDevelopment and PROTOCORE hosted the MERGE 2026 conference in Tokyo and online. The event focused on AI-driven development and design, featuring specialized sessions on generative AI, agent-driven development, and future UI/UX trends. The conference included the ‘AI Designathon 2026’ hackathon, where participants developed prototypes in categories such as Product Build and Design Engineering.

Following this, the University of Tokyo, in collaboration with the Chey Institute for Advanced Studies, announced the Tokyo Forum 2026. Scheduled for November 20 and 21 at the Yasuda Auditorium, the forum will address the theme: “AI as a Transformative Technology: Humanity, Knowledge, and Civilization.” The discussions are set to cover AI policy, governance, and societal impacts, including the potential for AI to influence inequality and human capabilities.

Recent updates regarding the forum highlight a diverse lineup of keynote speakers, including Anne Brouillet, the AI Envoy for the French Presidency, Ren Ito, co-founder of Sakana AI, and Professor Kimihiko Abe from the University of Tokyo. The seventh edition of this international conference will feature panel sessions on digital archiving for historical preservation and a youth session involving collaborative research between Japanese and South Korean students.

Additional focus areas for the event include the role of universities and human resource development in the AI era. Business and academic leaders from Japan and South Korea are expected to discuss the skills necessary to navigate a changing society and explore potential cooperation between the two nations regarding education and industrial needs.