Kyoto Institute of Philosophy to hold AI-symposium at Waseda University on Nov 20, 2026

The Kyoto Institute of Philosophy is organizing the event with Waseda University's research centers on Japanese studies, including the Yanagita Ryusaku Memorial International Institute for Japanese Studies and the Institute for Japanese Classical Books, as well as MIT Global Humanities. This follows the first Kyoto Conference held in September 2025, which drew about 300 participants from 19 countries. The institute was founded in Kyoto in July 2023 as an independent platform connecting philosophy and society, and its co-representatives are Yasuo Deguchi of Kyoto University and Jun Sawada, chairman of NTT.

Keynote speakers are Yasuo Deguchi and Wiebke Denecke, who leads MIT Global Humanities and also spoke at the first Kyoto Conference. MIT Global Humanities draws on humanities and cultural traditions to address challenges in AI, diplomacy and education. The two panel discussions bring in speakers from universities, industry, government and diplomacy, covering human intelligence and leadership, and building a shared future across cultures.

The symposium reflects a stated concern that technological innovation alone is insufficient to handle human judgment, values, trust and leadership, and it asks how Japan's cultural and intellectual traditions can be used in management, education, diplomacy and international cooperation. Attendance is free but requires pre-registration, and the working language is Japanese.