Welcome to the Near Future Education Forum 2024: Escape the Matrix – It’s Educational!
Ladies and gentlemen, gather ’round! If you thought AI was just about enhancing your selfies or making your annoying co-worker’s job obsolete, buckle up, because the Near Future Education Forum is here to unveil the real future of education—one where even your toaster might have a college degree.
What’s Brewing in Tokyo?
Mark your calendars: November 30, 2024, is the day we dive headfirst into “The Great Transition – Post-AI will not come.” Yes, folks, you heard it right. The Japanese have decided that the apocalypse as we know it—not happening. If you’re expecting a dystopian future where AI runs everything, you might want to rethink that trip to the cosmetics aisle because spoiler alert: Takahiro Yasuno, the keynote speaker and AI engineer, is cooking something entirely different.
Imagine a world where AI not only helps us find the fastest route to avoid traffic but also manages to inject a bit of “digital democracy” into the political landscape. Yasuno, who’s not just your average techie but an actual candidate in Tokyo’s gubernatorial election, leads with the premise that through clever algorithms, we might just have a shot at affecting real change. And we all know that if anyone can change the world, it’s definitely not your cousin who plays five hours of Call of Duty every day. But hey, we forgive him because he once suggested Dungeons & Dragons as a viable career pathway.
The Line-Up of Intellectual Heavyweights
Hold onto your nerdy glasses because after Yasuno, we have Mizuki Oka, an associate professor who will tell you how AI and artificial life can reshape creativity. I mean, sure, let’s hand creativity over to machines and see how long it takes before we all end up with the same portrait of an avocado.
Oh—and brace yourselves for Naotaka Fujii, a professor who’s deliciously ambiguous about what “real science” actually means, and I’m all for that! If “real science” can’t make my latte art look like a Rembrandt, then what’s the point?
A Smorgasbord of Sessions
Now, while the adults are in an intellectual sparring match, how about those breakout sessions, eh? Picture this: “Generative AI Content and Copyright Law in Educational Settings.” Sounds about as thrilling as watching paint dry, but you’d better be there! After all, who wouldn’t want to know if AI can legally steal the ideas you could hardly come up with yourself?
And while you’re at it, there’s a speaker who’s quite literally about to educate everyone on how to utilize generative AI in creative practices. Spoiler alert: they’re probably an active video creator who found the “copy-paste” button a little too intoxicating after a few too many late-night ramen sessions.
The Final Countdown
Let’s not forget about the after-party! Yes, free snacks and drinks! Because nothing says “I just learned about fundamental changes in humanity and technology” like a good old-fashioned buffet where you awkwardly discuss your hopes and dreams while furtively avoiding eye contact with that one person who keeps pushing you to join their startup.
In a world currently plagued by relentless uncertainty, it’s exciting to see where education intersects with the uncharted territory of technology. Whether you’re a budding AI enthusiast, a weary educator looking to rejuvenate your curriculum, or just someone who is secretly hoping the robots don’t take over—this forum promises insights and community.
So, roll up those sleeves, folks, and prepare to feast not just on snacks but on a future filled with innovation, challenges, and—dare I say it—a lot of fun. Who knew education could be both delicious and enlightening?
For more details, visit the official website (once you find it buried beneath layers of overly complex digital architectures). Remember, this isn’t just another boring seminar. It’s the start of something great—one that doesn’t involve a single take on AI-generated cat videos (well, at least not yet).
See you at the forum, and let’s toast to the future! 🍻
Since its first event in 2010, the Near Future Education Forum has shared educational practices undertaken by various educational institutions such as Digital Hollywood’s four-year universities, professional graduate schools, vocational schools, online schools, G’s Academy, and Digital Hollywood Academy. We have made recommendations for the future of education.
The theme of the Near Future Education Forum 2024 is “The Great Transition – Post-AI will not come.” The main keynote of the forum was given by Takahiro Yasuno, an AI engineer who advocates “digital democracy,” Mizuki Oka (associate professor at the University of Tsukuba), who studies artificial life, and Naotaka Fujii, a professor at Digital Hollywood University’s graduate school. He will take the podium and discuss predictions of changes during “The Great Transition” and how humans should live culture and build society from the perspective of education.
In addition, in the “Breakout Session” held before the keynote, lectures will be held on topics such as generative AI content and copyright law, how active video creators use generative AI, DX high school, and local digital shift. Conducted by educational institutions.
After the forum, there will be an afterparty with light snacks and drinks. If you are participating in the Near Future Education Forum, please feel free to drop by.
We are looking forward to the participation of many people, including educators from schools and companies, practitioners and researchers in the field of digital communication, as well as Digital Hollywood students, students, parents, and prospective students. .
■Date and time
November 30, 2024 (Tuesday) 15:00～19:00 (opening 14:30)
■Time table
14:30: Opening
15:00-15:30: Breakout session
15:30-16:00: Venue movement, coffee break
16:00: Keynote begins
16:00-16:30: Part 1: Presentation by Takahiro Yasuno
16:30-17:00: Part 2: Presentation by Mizuki Oka
17:00-17:10: Break
17:10-18:00: Part 3: Talk session (Mr. Takahiro Yasuno x Mr. Mizuki Oka x Mr. Naotaka Fujii)
18:00-19:00: After party
■Venue
Digital Hollywood University Surugadai Campus 3F
(Ochanomizu Sola City Academia 3F, 4-6 Kanda Surugadai, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo)
■Holding format
Held at the venue (after-movie will be released at a later date) *No online distribution
■Participation fee
free
■Sponsored by
Digital Hollywood Co., Ltd.
Part 1: Presentation by Takahiro Yasuno (30 minutes)
“Will AI change the world? ” How will generative AI and autonomously moving agent AI change communication in human society? Using the Tokyo gubernatorial election, which Takahiro Yasuno actually ran as an example, I will talk about how AI has the potential to change the way we do various things.
Part 2: Presentation by Mizuki Oka (30 minutes)
In the era of “The Great Transition,” the concept of creativity is about to change dramatically. In this lecture, Mizuki Oka will explore how the knowledge gained from artificial life research and the concept of open-endedness will shape the future creation process and the state of society.
Part 3: Talk session (Mr. Takahiro Yasuno x Mr. Mizuki Oka x Mr. Naotaka Fujii) (50 minutes)
Based on the theme “The Great Transition – Post-AI will not come,” we welcomed presenters Takahiro Yasuno, Mizuki Oka, and neuroscientist Naotaka Fujii, who is assistant to the president of Digital Hollywood University. We will have a discussion.
Mr. Takahiro Yasuno
AI engineer, entrepreneur, science fiction writer. Graduated from Matsuo Laboratory, University of Tokyo.
After working at Boston Consulting Group, he founded two AI startup companies.
Involved in social system transformation through digital technology. Member of the Japan Science Fiction Writers Club.
Will run in the 2024 Tokyo gubernatorial election, implementing interactive elections using AI.
Mr. Mizuki Oka
researcher. Associate Professor, Department of Systems Information, University of Tsukuba/Representative Director of ConnectSphere Co., Ltd.
In 2003, graduated from the Third School of Information Studies, University of Tsukuba. In 2008, completed the doctoral course at the same graduate school. Ph.D. (Engineering).
From the same year, he became a project researcher at the Center for Knowledge Structuring, the University of Tokyo. In 2013, he assumed his current position after serving as an assistant professor at the University of Tsukuba’s Department of System Information.
His areas of expertise are artificial life and web science.
His publications include “ALIFE | From Artificial Life to Lifelike AI” (BNN Co., Ltd.) and “Create and Operate ALife – Introduction to Artificial Life Model Theory through Implementation” (O’Reilly Japan).
Naotaka Fujii
Graduated from Tohoku University School of Medicine. Obtained doctoral degree from the same graduate school.
Researcher at Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) since 1998.
Since 2004, he has been a deputy team leader at the RIKEN Brain Science Research Center, and since 2008 he has been a team leader.
Established Hacosco Co., Ltd. in 2014.
Professor at Digital Hollywood University Graduate School since 2018. The research theme is “real science.”
His major publications include “Connected Brains” (winner of the Mainichi Publishing Culture Award), “Living with the Brain”, and “What is Reality?”.
■Breakout session (30 minutes)
Before the main keynote, the following theme lectures will be held from each Digital Hollywood educational institution. Please feel free to drop by before the main keynote.
“Generated AI content and copyright law in educational settings”
“How is AI-generated content positioned under copyright law? Also, we will provide a basic explanation of how generated AI and AI-generated content will be treated in the course of classes.
Speaker: Shinichi Uehara
Special Professor at Digital Hollywood University, Visiting Professor at Kokushikan University Graduate School of Intellectual Property, Visiting Professor at Osaka Institute of Technology Graduate School
After graduating from the Department of Sociology, Faculty of Letters, University of Tokyo, he worked at Asahi Broadcasting, where he served as the copyright manager. From 1999 to 2010, served as an expert member on the Copyright Council of the Agency for Cultural Affairs. Since 2018, he has been a director of the Japan Music Copyright Association. Authors of books include “Palau, a Paradise in the Sea – Now is a country with a nuclear-free constitution” (Mr. Amino), “Copyright from the basics for those who create” (Shoji Homu), etc.
“Is generative AI necessary for creative education? ~How to utilize generative AI for digital Hollywood graduates and active video creators~”
In recent years, the use of generative AI has been attracting attention, but in the “Awareness Survey on Creators and Generative AI 2024”
only 33.4% of people answered that they “want to actively utilize generative AI”, indicating that it is not possible. We can hear the voices of people in the field who understand the concept but are unsure about implementing it. (※)
This time, we have invited Kaoru Koizumi, an active video creator, to introduce how he uses generative AI in business settings, along with specific examples.
Speaker: Mr. Kaoru Koizumi
After graduating from Digital Hollywood University Graduate School, he joined Marza Animation Planet as an effects artist, then transferred to Kojima Productions (at the time) and participated in the development of “Metal Gear Solid V.” After that, he returned to Marza Animation Planet and worked on film, game, and anime production for 10 years. Currently affiliated with SUPER PRIME as an AI artist, he works with AI to create works and conduct research on expression.
“What are you planning for your second year at DX High School?” ”
The Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology’s budget request for fiscal year 2020 has been announced, and schools that wish to continue or newly participate in the High School DX Acceleration Promotion Project (DX High School) are considering plans and budgets for the next year. It seems that the Ministry is looking forward to not purchasing hardware in the second year, but rather enhancing software such as content. We will explain the main points regarding the second year’s project based on the country’s thoughts and voices from high schools.
Speaker: Toshiharu Kano
After working at a public high school in Ishikawa Prefecture and the Ishikawa Prefectural Board of Education Secretariat, he has been working as a high school information subject subject researcher for the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology’s Elementary and Secondary Education Bureau since 2015, and has been involved in the curriculum guidelines such as “Information I” and “Information II”. Responsible for coordination, GIGA School concept, and development of information utilization skills.
Visiting professor at the Department of Art Science, Osaka University of Arts since 2020, professor at the Department of Media Expression, Kyoto Seika University since 2021, information utilization ability research committee member, editorial advisor for Jikkyo Publishing, Life is Tech! Advisor, SeckHack365 Executive Committee Chairman (sponsored by the National Institute of Information and Communications Technology), Representative Director of the Digital Human Resources Co-Creation Federation from 2022, Lecturer at Tokyo Gakugei University, Lecturer at Hiroshima Shudo University from 2023
Speaker: Kenji Ogasawara
Born in 1984 in Okayama City. Graduated from Okayama Gakugeikan High School Super V Course and was student council president while in high school. After attending Waseda University and graduate school, he worked for a private consulting company, and since 2011 has been a teacher in the school’s geography, civics, and information department. He has served as vice principal since 2019 and vice principal since 2023. Responsible for in-school promotion of SGH (Super Global High School) and High School DX Acceleration Promotion Project (DX High School), both projects of the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology. He launched and is in charge of the school’s correspondence course Flex V Course (currently applying for approval), which will start in April 2025.
“Rural Digital Shift: Securing Human Resources and Work Style Reform in the AI Era”
Now, at the intersection of regional development and the advent of the AI era, we are facing new possibilities and challenges brought about by digitalization. In this session, we will explore approaches to securing human resources and working styles that local regions face, including strategies for accelerating regional digital transformation, how to utilize AI technology, and the effective use of remote work and freelance human resources.
*Speaker information will be announced at a later date.
After party (60 minutes) *Free participation
We plan to have a standing buffet party with all the speakers and participants, with light snacks and drinks available.
If you are participating in the Near Future Education Forum, please feel free to drop by.
Design creator: Simon
This work was created by current students at Digital Hollywood University Graduate School.
Through the cold mechanical texture and vibrant flowers, I attempted to organically fuse the contrasting elements of man-made and natural. This expresses a future where AI and humans coexist.
What is Near Future Education Forum?
The Near Future Education Forum focuses on the major changes and trends related to human culture and life, and aims to connect cutting-edge knowledge in the digital communication field as the foundation and deep wisdom that aspires to the search for truth and the expansion of humanity. This is a place to try. Through dialogue based on the knowledge and wisdom gained here, we will update the educational practices we should engage in in the near future.
Past event themes and main guests:
・2023 “Conversation With AI” Mr. Daiya Hashimoto
・2022 “Being Avatar” Shun Kubota
・2021 “BECOMING” Hiroaki Miyata
・2020 “Raise Our Flag” Matsushima Noriaki
・2019 “In Real Time” Mr. Akihiko Shirai
・2018 “The ART into Future” Mr. Hidetoshi Fuse
・2017 “Augmented Human-Prelude to human expansion-” Mr. Masahiko Inami
・2016 “Daily Life with Super Technologies” Shan Haiyoshi
・2015 “powered by AI -Human society driven by artificial intelligence-” Mr. Nakayama Gorin
・2014 “Life In DATA” Mr. Daiya Hashimoto
・2013 “Era of the Programmable World ~Human resource development for change~” Ken Sakamura
・2012 “Educational revolution through open education accelerated by digital communication” Mr. Toru Iiyoshi
・2011 “Are you making it? The future” by Hiroshi Tasaka
・2010 “Exploring New Education in Digital” Mr. Wenshu Song
[Digital Hollywood Co., Ltd.]
In October 1994, at the same time as establishing the company, we opened Japan’s first practical industry-university collaborative creator training school.
Currently, we operate “Digital Hollywood”, a specialized school in Tokyo and Osaka, “Digital Hollywood STUDIO”, a learning studio where you can study the web and videos in cities across the country, and “Digihari Online School”, a correspondence course through e-learning.
In 2004, we opened Digital Hollywood Graduate School (Professionals), Japan’s first joint-stock company to develop advanced human resources in business, ICT, and creativity, and the following year, in April 2005, we opened Digital Hollywood University, a four-year university.
Since its establishment, Digital Hollywood has produced more than 100,000 graduates across the board.
In addition, by utilizing the know-how of “blended learning” that combines video teaching materials and face-to-face classes, which has been introduced since the opening of Digital Hollywood University, we are leveraging the know-how of “blended learning” that combines video teaching materials and face-to-face classes. “Digital Hollywood Academy,” a support service for the introduction and utilization of online classes, is being developed domestically and internationally for educational service companies.
Furthermore, in April 2015, he opened G’s Academy, an engineer training school for startup aspirants, which is currently located in Tokyo and Fukuoka. In November of the same year, he opened Japan’s first “Digital Hollywood Robotics Academy” with the aim of promoting the drone business and robot service industry, focusing on human resource development and industrial incubation in the digital content industry.