When and where is the symposium?

It will be held on December 3, 2026, from 1:30 p.m. to 4:30 p.m. at the Nihonbashi Building of Sompo Japan Insurance in Tokyo.

Attendance is in person only, with applications accepted through the registration site at https://sompo-happiness-ai.peatix.com.

What is the symposium about?

It features lectures and a panel discussion on "Ikigai and Well-being in the Age of Generative AI," sharing findings from the Happiness Research Group's research.

AI Safety & AlignmentTop Companies' AI MovesTop Companies AISep 25, 2026Sep 26, 2026, 06:30 JST

SOMPO Institute Plus to host AI well-being symposium on December 3, 2026

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3 Key Points

What happened
SOMPO Institute Plus's Happiness Research Group will host a symposium titled "Ikigai and Well-being in the Age of Generative AI" on December 3, 2026, at the Nihonbashi Building in Tokyo, in person only.
Why it matters
The event is framed as a chance to share research findings and discuss what is needed to raise well-being through AI use while avoiding harms.
What to watch
The symposium is a one-day, in-person event with no stated online option, so attendance depends on traveling to Tokyo. Watch for the group's fiscal 2026 research results, planned for release within the year.

WHO IT HITSThis lands on researchers, corporate well-being and HR teams, and AI ethics practitioners in Japan who follow how generative AI affects employee happiness and social well-being. It may also interest policymakers tracking Japan's low well-being scores.

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Context & Analysis

SOMPO Institute Plus launched its Happiness Research Group in 2024 with experts, supported by Sompo Holdings, to clarify what happiness means in Japanese society. In fiscal 2024 the group published a report based on survey data titled "Is Japanese Society Happy? – Diverse Well-being and Signposts to Happiness." In fiscal 2025 it held follow-up meetings, analyzed the survey data in more detail, confirmed that "ikigai and hope for the future" is the strongest factor affecting well-being, and decided to take up "AI and well-being" as a new theme. Now in its third year, fiscal 2026 focuses on ikigai and AI.

The symposium marks the group's first public event under this new theme, and its backers span academic, youth, and corporate organizations, including the Well-being Society, the Japan Personal AI Forum, and the Japan Youth Council. The group plans to publish its fiscal 2026 research results within the year, so the December 3 gathering is likely the first broad look at that work.

Whether the message lands may hinge on how concretely the speakers move from Japan's low well-being scores to practical steps for using generative AI without causing harm. For HR and well-being teams, the event could become a useful reference point for how a major insurer's research arm frames AI's role in daily life and work.

FAQ

When and where is the symposium?: It will be held on December 3, 2026, from 1:30 p.m. to 4:30 p.m. at the Nihonbashi Building of Sompo Japan Insurance in Tokyo.
How can I attend?: Attendance is in person only, with applications accepted through the registration site at https://sompo-happiness-ai.peatix.com.
What is the symposium about?: It features lectures and a panel discussion on "Ikigai and Well-being in the Age of Generative AI," sharing findings from the Happiness Research Group's research.

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