Smilegate FutureLab to Host AI Era Conference with MIT and Stanford Sc… 2026-05-15

■ 'The Future is on Stage: Redefining Learning, AI, and Agency' to be held on June 20

■ Workshops for youth and educators to be held alongside the conference

Smilegate FutureLab, an organization dedicated to designing creative environments for future generations, announced on Friday the 15th that it will host the '2026 FutureLab Education Conference' for two days on the 20th and 21st of next month.

The theme of the conference is 'Redefining Learning: Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Agency.' It aims to redefine the relationship between humans and future technologies while proposing the conceptual value of 'Agency,' which will become increasingly vital in the AI era. In academic and educational contexts, Agency refers to "the capacity to make autonomous choices and take proactive action."

The conference will consist of presentation sessions and panel talks. Mitchel Resnick, Vice Chair of FutureLab, a professor at the MIT Media Lab, and the creator of the block-based programming language 'Scratch,' will deliver a keynote titled "Agency and Creative Learning in the AI Era." He will explore the philosophy of 4P learning* and self-determination within an AI-driven environment.

Eriyam Mogos, a director at FutureLab who leads cutting-edge technology and education at the Stanford d.school, will present on "Critical Design Competencies for Future Generations in the AI Era." Joining her is Professor Ge Wang, co-director of the Stanford Human-Centered AI (HAI) Initiative, who will take the stage to discuss "What Do We Want from AI?" Following these sessions, student creator Kim Na-young will share her firsthand experience of producing an AI-generated film.

The panel talk will feature Vice Chair Mitchel Resnick, Director Eriyam Mogos, Professor Ge Wang, and Director Karen Wilkinson, founder of the Exploratorium's Tinkering Studio in San Francisco. Together, these world-renowned scholars will weave their insights on the conference theme into the unique philosophy and "language" of FutureLab.

The event also features a rich lineup of side programs. Concurrently with the conference, a youth workshop will be held for elementary students (grades 3–6), featuring autonomous creation booths where they can engage in hands-on making using everyday materials.

On the following day, June 21, MIT Media Lab researchers and artists will lead six specialized workshops for educators interested in creative learning. 

The conference is open to any educators and parents interested in creative learning. Tickets go on sale starting today (the 15th) via Event-us and the official FutureLab website. All proceeds from ticket sales will be donated to local communities dedicated to building creative environments for children and youth.

Min-jung Paek, Head of FutureLab, stated, "We have organized this event to share the educational philosophy of FutureLab—which has spent the last decade fostering creative environments where future generations can discover their unique potential—and to propose a new social agenda." She added, "We hope this conference serves as an opportunity for many educators, parents, and students to contemplate new values in future education."

*The 4P Learning framework is a core theory of creative learning developed by Professor Mitchel Resnick.