AI is rapidly becoming embedded in our daily lives, our institutions, and our societies. It is changing how we access information and make decisions. Even more profoundly, it is reshaping how we understand knowledge, creativity, and human agency. At this moment of technological transformation, we need to consider carefully what AI means for humanity and civilization.

In 2027, the University of Tokyo will celebrate its 150th anniversary. Throughout its long history, our university has pursued excellence across both the natural sciences and the humanities and social sciences. At the same time, scholars in the humanities and social sciences have examined the nature and role of technology from a critical perspective.

Tokyo Forum 2026 gives us an opportunity to bring these traditions together. At this year’s gathering, we will discuss both the possibilities and the limitations of AI. We will explore how AI can contribute to human well-being and social inclusion. We will ask how it can help foster meaningful connections across cultures and generations, and how it can support the preservation and transmission of collective memory in the digital age.

Language: English (with simultaneous interpretation into Japanese)