Smartcamp Inc. (Headquarters: Minato-ku, Tokyo; CEO: Shinpei Abe) is pleased to announce that all keynote speakers have been decided for the "AI BUSINESS CONFERENCE 2026 Summer" (hereinafter referred to as "this event"), to be held from July 15 (Wed) to July 17 (Fri), 2026.

This event is a fully online conference focused on the utilization of AI in business and the creation of value beyond that. Attendees can learn about services applicable to their own businesses, incorporating the latest trends and advanced case studies. We invite you to explore the next stage of AI utilization that will contribute to the transformation of your entire organization and the redefinition of your business.

The keynote sessions of this event will cover the following themes:

Audrey Tang, Taiwan Cyber Ambassador / Former Digital Minister

Theme: Updating the Decision-Making OS ~ The Practical Wisdom of the "Taiwan Model" for Thriving in the AI Era ~

Overview: Many companies implement AI tools but struggle with widespread adoption. The root cause is not the selection of the wrong tools or a lack of on-site literacy, but rather an outdated organizational "decision-making OS." To maximize the potential of the latest AI, the very methods of information sharing and consensus building must be updated. This session will explore how to integrate AI as assistive intelligence that transforms conflict into collaborative energy, rather than AI that replaces humans. We will break down the mechanisms of Taiwan's "fast democracy" into practical wisdom that Japanese companies can use starting tomorrow.

Ryuji Noguchi, Representative Director, AIX partner Inc. Kazuo Yano, Representative Director & CEO, Happiness Planet Inc. / Fellow, Hitachi, Ltd. Hiroyuki Mizuno, Chief Engineer, Hitachi, Ltd.

Theme: Paradigm Shift in Management: Beyond "AI That Provides Answers" - AI Deliberation to Break Decision-Making Gridlock

Overview: As we seek the next step beyond AI-driven operational efficiency, what is truly needed is not the introduction of technology, but a "paradigm shift in decision-making" for leaders themselves. In this session, Ryuji Noguchi, who has led numerous companies to successful AI transformations, Kazuo Yano, Representative Director of Happiness Planet, and Hiroyuki Mizuno, Chief Engineer at Hitachi, Ltd., will speak. They will discuss the philosophy and strategy for building a new relationship between AI and humans, moving away from dependence on a single AI for "answers."

Akie Iriyama, Professor, Graduate School of Business Administration, Waseda University / Waseda Business School Ryo Sakuta, Senior Executive Officer, CRO of B2B Business, Uzabase Inc. Akiko Nishida, Senior Executive Officer, Commercial Sales Division, Head of Growth Business 2nd Sales Division, Salesforce Japan

Theme: In an Era Where AI Provides "Answers," Can Sales Create "Questions"? ~ The End of Efficiency, The Beginning of Creation: Evolution of the New Sales Organization ~

Overview: In an era where AI instantly provides "answers," can sales evolve into entities that create their own "questions"? The fundamental turning point for AI-driven sales organizations is not a competition in tool adoption, but the ability to define the essential value that humans should pursue. As process management and numerical analysis are increasingly replaced by AI, we will explore the evolution towards "project selling" that scientifically drives the creation of large deals, and a return to creativity that formulates "questions" to address customer management challenges. (*1)

Takao Suzuki, Councilor, Head of Digital Transformation Unit, Chugai Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd. Chisato Kunimoto, Representative Director, Sincerely Inc.

Theme: Key Lessons from Chugai Pharmaceutical on AIX: Accelerating Business Transformation and Overcoming the PoC Valley with an "MVP Strategy" ~

Overview: Generative AI tools have been introduced, but visible results are lacking. In business settings where ROI is demanded, endless proof-of-concept (PoC) experiments are repeated, leading to stagnation. The biggest reason for this is that the means of AI utilization has, at some point, been substituted for the "objective," causing us to lose sight of the original goal: "providing value to society through business." This session will feature a dialogue between Takao Suzuki, who leads pharmaceutical DX in Japan at Chugai Pharmaceutical, and Chisato Kunimoto, Representative Director of Sincerely Inc., which supports corporate AI transformation and AIX.

Masahiro Chaen, Representative Director, Digirise Inc.

Theme: The Maturity Phase of Generative AI: Overcoming Barriers to Organizational Implementation, a Compass for Management ~ Latest AI Trends and Success Factors from Supporting 500 Companies ~

Overview: In 2026, generative AI has moved beyond its "trial" phase and entered its "maturity phase," where its true value is being questioned. As many companies seek "direct links to profit," numerous "barriers" must be overcome to achieve results across the entire organization. In this session, Masahiro Chaen, Representative Director of Digirise, who leads the forefront of AI utilization in Japan through social media and media appearances and has supported AI organizational implementation for over 500 companies, will speak. Based on extensive data of successes and failures, he will explore the "essence of failure," the "definition of AI talent," and "investment priorities."

For details on lecture content and the timetable, please visit the special website.

(*1) This is a rebroadcast of a lecture held on May 14, 2026 (Thu) at "AI BUSINESS CONFERENCE 2026 Spring in Tokyo." The content is as of the time of recording.

["AI BUSINESS CONFERENCE 2026 Summer" Event Overview]

Date: July 15 (Wed) - July 17 (Fri), 2026

Location: Online

Participation Fee: Free, application required

Advance Application / Special Website URL: https://event-page.jp/abc/2026summer

[About Smartcamp Inc.]

With the mission "To expand technology and dramatically improve social productivity," we support companies' sales and marketing efforts centered around the SaaS comparison site "BOXIL." In December 2023, BizHint Inc. joined our group. We support SaaS adoption by creating diverse customer touchpoints.

Company Name: Smartcamp Inc.

Founded: June 2014 (Established: August 2025)

Representative: Shinpei Abe, President and CEO

Business Activities: Operation of SaaS comparison site "BOXIL," inside sales outsourcing "BALES," SaaS-specialized digital agency "ADXL," online exhibition "BOXIL EXPO," and sales engagement SaaS "BALES CLOUD."

URL: https://smartcamp.co.jp/

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