​Tokyo AI (TAI) presents the next session of the AI in Society (AIS) group, this time exploring how Japan can prepare for a future of human–robot coexistence, from emotional and ethical design in households to public and industrial integration, through the lenses of social policy, family systems, and human-centered robotics.

​Agenda

​18:00 Doors open

​18:30 - 19:00 Designing Robots That Feel: Emotional Connection in Humanistic Robotics (Shunsuke Aoki)

​19:00 - 19:30 Raising Artificial Children: Ethics, Emotion, and the Future of Family AI (Sara Filipčić)

​19:30 - 20:00 The New Three Laws of Robots: Designing a Robot-Friendly Society and the know-how to implement robots in real business (Rikiya Yamamoto)

​20:00 - 21:00 Networking

​21:00 Doors close

​Speakers:

​Talk 1 - Designing Robots That Feel: Emotional Connection in Humanistic Robotics

​Speaker: Shunsuke Aoki (Co-founder & CEO, Yukai Engineering)

​Abstract: Shunsuke Aoki shares insights from two decades at the intersection of art, technology, and emotion. As CEO and Co-founder of Yukai Engineering, he explores how emotional design principles can make robots more relatable, comforting, and human-centered, from tactile communication (Qoobo) to family companionship (BOCCO emo). His talk bridges creative technology, social robotics, and the philosophy of designing machines that make us more human.

​Bio: Shunsuke Aoki is the CEO and Co-founder of Yukai Engineering and Professor at Musashino Art University. A pioneer in humanistic robotics, his work blends emotional design and human–technology interaction. Prior to founding Yukai, he co-founded teamLab and served as CTO at pixiv, shaping Japan’s digital creative ecosystem.

​Talk 2 - Raising Artificial Children: Ethics, Emotion, and the Future of Family AI

​Speaker: Sara Filipčić (Co-founder & CEO, Be Human(e))

​Abstract: Sara Filipčić examines how emerging AI companions and family-oriented robots are influencing child development and reshaping family dynamics across cultures. Through her cross-cultural research in Japan and ongoing collaborations with scientists from Harvard, Stanford, and the Yale Center for Emotional Intelligence, she explores how human–machine relationships affect attachment patterns, emotional development, and parenting practices. Her work seeks to establish design principles for a healthier human/technology symbiosis - guiding how empathy, trust, and ethical care can be embedded into the next generation of household AI and robotics.

​Bio: Sara Filipčić is a researcher and Techstars-backed founder studying how robots shape child development and family systems. She leads the Be Human(e) Institute for Healthy Human/Tech Symbiosis, a Boston-based initiative bridging psychology, robotics, and ethics. With a background in social work and collaborations with the scientists from Harvard, Stanford and Yale, her current cross-cultural study in Japan, Hong Kong, Singapore, and the U.S. explores empathy, attachment, and the future of family/robot relationships.

​Talk 3 - The New Three Laws of Robots: Designing a Robot-Friendly Society and the know-how to implement robots in real business

​Speaker: Rikiya Yamamoto (Founder, Yamariki Edge)

​Abstract: Drawing from his New Three Laws of Robots, Rikiya Yamamoto and Tomomi Ota redefine the relationship between humans and robots through three evolving “promises”: mutual respect, shared social roles, and co-evolution. His talk explores how Japan can translate these ideas into everyday life, addressing the social, ethical, and legal norms that will govern human–robot coexistence in public and private spaces.

​Bio: Rikiya Yamamoto is a pioneer in Japan’s robotics industry, known for his leadership in developing humanized robots, Pepper/NAO, and for leading collaborations with other Japanese social robots such as AIBO, LOVOT, RoBoHoN, etc. A former consultant at Accenture, he has worked across B2C, B2B, and B2G robotics initiatives and has contributed to policy frameworks shaping the integration of robots into daily society.

​Organizers

​Tokyo AI (TAI) is the biggest AI community in Japan, with 2,400+ members mainly based in Tokyo (engineers, researchers, investors, product managers, and corporate innovation managers).

​Julia Harvey: GTM enablement strategist and facilitator with leadership experience across APAC, Europe, and the US, specializing in cybersecurity and startup ecosystem growth.

​​​​​Ilya Kulyatin: Fintech and AI entrepreneur with work and academic experience in the US, Netherlands, Singapore, UK, and Japan, with an MSc in Machine Learning from UCL.

​Supporters

​​​​​​​​​​​​DEEPCORE

​​DEEPCORE is a VC firm supporting AI Salon Tokyo. They operate a fund for seed and early-stage startups and KERNEL, a community supporting early entrepreneurs.

​Value Create

​Value Create is a management advisory and corporate value design firm offering services such as business consulting, education, corporate communications, and investment support to help companies and individuals unlock their full potential and drive sustainable growth.