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At NCC TOKYO 2025 Summer, experts discussed how Japan can shape the future of a global digital society through the lens of “Zen AI” and blockchain innovation. The session examined issues such as ethical alignment, social trust, and sustainability in an age of accelerating AI and decentralized technologies. Drawing on Japan’s values of harmony, coexistence, and trust, speakers highlighted the potential of merging spirituality and open-source culture to design a new “Digital Architecture” that balances technological progress with human and environmental well-being.

Challenges and opportunities for building practical, trustworthy AI were explored from multiple perspectives. MIT cognitive scientist Vikash Mansinghka and AI policy expert Merve Hickok were among the speakers, presenting multifaceted discussions around generative AI—including copyright, bias, hallucination, and security. The event envisioned a future AI society shaped by a balanced approach between regulatory design and technological innovation, with transparency and usability at its core.

The impact of generative AI on society and the economy, along with its potential to transform business, was examined through the lenses of technology, policy, and ethics. Speakers included Microsoft’s Lili Cheng, University of Tokyo professor Yutaka Matsuo, and other thought leaders from politics and media. Discussions addressed the future of digital society, with case studies of generative AI startups, emphasizing the integration of innovation and social problem-solving.

This summit addressed cross-border strategies between Japan and the U.S. web3 ecosystems, examining them from the perspectives of technology, policy, business, and community. Speakers such as Mysten Labs founder Evan Cheng, a web3 representative from Shibuya Ward, and the founder of akiyaDAO presented insights on web3 infrastructure, the social implementation of DAOs, and examples of addressing Japan’s vacant housing issue. Japan’s commitment to building a decentralized society through web3 was made clear.

Focusing on reimagining social and structural design in the web3 era, the conference explored the possibilities that emerge from the fusion of technology and values. Harvard professor Lawrence Lessig, NFT artist Pplpleasr, and MIT's Ariel Ekblaw discussed blockchain, DAO, and open-source frameworks as enablers of a participatory and inclusive digital architecture.

The event explored the potential of web3 to create a decentralized society, from both technical and cultural standpoints. Topics such as crypto assets, NFTs, DAOs, and the metaverse were dissected, and discussions focused on how to incorporate web3 as a foundational part of Japan’s growth strategy and industrial future. Industry leaders like Animoca Brands' Yat Siu illustrated the transformative societal potential of next-gen technologies.

This conference proposed new perspectives for tackling global shifts in society, environment, and technology. Stewart Brand, founder of the Whole Earth Catalog, served as the main guest and led multifaceted discussions on the importance of long-term thinking and the relationship between culture and technology. With a focus on sustainability, post-COVID redesign, and technological ethics, speakers offered a wide range of visions for a more sustainable future.

Data was positioned as a creative material, with potential spanning from biology to outer space. Speakers from diverse fields—including art, architecture, science, and AI—shared insights into using data to design new experiences and value. Special attention was given to data’s role as a medium connecting humans and machines, nature and cities, and as a future-shaping interface.

Amid the explosive growth of personal data, the conference focused on balancing data usage and protection. Harvard's Lawrence Lessig, Keio University's Jun Murai, Japan's Cabinet IT Office, and MyData Global offered insights into privacy, governance frameworks, and user-controlled data management. The discussion explored how to integrate technology, legal systems, and societal structures to shape the next-generation data ecosystem.

Centered around the emerging concept of "Design Intelligence," this event investigated the impact of AI-design fusion on creativity and human-centered value. Co-hosted by Rei Inamoto (former CCO of AKQA, now partner at Inamoto & Co.) and joined by John Maeda and design leaders from IBM and Adobe, the conference became a crossroads of practical innovation and philosophical discourse on redefined creativity in the age of AI.