Smilegate Future Lab announced on May 15 that it will host the '2026 Future Lab Education Conference' for two days, from June 20 to 21.

The conference centers on the theme 'Redefining Learning: AI and Agency.' Smilegate Future Lab intends to re-examine the relationship between humans and future technology in the AI era and propose the conceptual value of 'Agency.' In academic and educational fields, agency refers to the capacity to make independent choices and act upon them.

The conference consists of presentation sessions and panel talks. Mitchel Resnick, Vice President of Future Lab, will present on 'AI Era, Agency, and Creative Learning.' He is a professor at the MIT Media Lab and the creator of the block-coding programming language 'Scratch.' Eriam Mogos, a Director at Future Lab, will present on 'Critical Design Competencies for the Future Generation in the AI Era.' She leads advanced technology and education initiatives at Stanford University's d.school. Ge Wang will take the podium on the topic of 'What do we want from AI?' He is a co-director of Stanford University's Human-Centered AI Initiative. Youth creator Na-young Kim will share her experience in creating AI films.

The panel talk will feature Mitchel Resnick, Eriam Mogos, Ge Wang, and Karen Wilkinson. Karen Wilkinson is the founder of the Tinkering Studio at the Exploratorium in San Francisco. These scholars will weave their insights on the conference theme into the unique language of Future Lab.

During the conference, workshops will be operated for elementary school students in grades 3 to 6. These workshops will feature autonomous creation booths where students can experience creation using everyday materials.

On the second day, June 21, six workshops will be held for educators interested in creative learning. Hosted by MIT Media Lab researchers and artists, these workshops include 'Linked Body,' which allows participants to experience physical AI and machine learning principles through body movement; 'Shadow Remix,' which expands imagination through light and shadow; and 'Animated Your World,' which connects microscopic observation to digital animation.

The conference is open to any educators and parents interested in creative learning. Tickets will be sold starting the 15th via Eventus and the Future Lab website. All proceeds from ticket sales will be donated to local communities that foster creative environments for children and youth.

Min-jung Baek, Center Director of Future Lab, stated, "We organized this to spread the educational philosophy of Future Lab, which has been creating creative environments for the next generation to express their unique creativity over the past decade, and to propose a social agenda." She added, "We hope this conference serves as an opportunity for many educators, parents, and students to reflect on new values for future education."