“Augmented Human” and “Sustainable Tech”
Location
San Francisco, USA
Date
3-4 November, 2017
This conference explored two main themes: enhancing human capabilities through technology and implementing environmentally sustainable solutions. The first day focused on AI, wearables, robotics, and MR, alongside ethical considerations. On the second day, sessions highlighted the social potential of food tech, including cell-cultured foods, insect protein, and AI-driven agriculture—paired with tasting experiences that brought technology and sensory engagement together.
Global IT History
- Bitcoin’s price surges from $1,000 at the start of the year to over $20,000, pushing total market capitalization past $600 billion
- In Japan, the revised Payment Services Act establishes a formal exchange framework; the U.S. SEC introduces new regulations, while China imposes a full ban on ICOs
Expansion of the AR (Augmented Reality) Market
- The global AR market reaches $3.1 billion, with over 200 million mobile AR users
- Apple’s release of ARKit accelerates adoption, instantly enabling hundreds of millions of iOS devices for AR use and spawning over 2,000 AR apps within three months
Advances in AI and Neurotechnology
- Neuralink, founded the previous year by Elon Musk, raises $27 million to develop brain–machine interface (BMI) technology connecting the brain and computers
- Research on direct brain–computer interfacing is made public
Speakers
Junichi Rekimoto
Professor, The University of Tokyo
Mounir Zok
Director of Technology and Innovation, US Olympic Committee
The Venerable Tenzin Priyadarshi
Director, MIT Media Lab Ethics Initiative
Jane Metcalfe
Founder, NEO.LIFE
Caleb Harper
Principal Investigator & Director, MIT Media Lab Open Agriculture (OpenAG) Initiative
Yuki Hanyu
Representative, Shojinmeat Project / CEO, Integriculture Inc.
Kaoru Hayashi
Representative Director & Group CEO, Digital Garage
Joichi Ito
Co-Founder of Digital Garage and current Director of the MIT Media Lab
Gallery
