Compilation: "Cannes! Cannes! Cannes!" Part 6 Dentsu Group Seminar

During the event, approximately 70 seminars were held in venues including a large hall accommodating over 2,000 people. Seminars themed around storytelling stood out, featuring Twitter, YouTube, and The New York Times. Notable appearances included the Search & Search signature seminar "New Directors Showcase," introducing promising young talent, and celebrities like actress Sarah Jessica Parker, invited by fashion magazine Cosmopolitan. Additionally, approximately 100 smaller sessions called forums, workshops for practically acquiring creative skills, and tech talks exploring cutting-edge technology transformed the entire venue into a learning space. For young professionals, the "Masterclass" program was established to cultivate creators and sales/marketing talent, offering opportunities for direct discussion with industry "big names."

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"Augmented Humans — The Fusion of Creativity and Technological Innovation in Sports"

　Dentsu

"Today, we won't talk about advertising." — This was how Yasuharu Sasaki, Executive Creative Director at Dentsu Inc. CDC, opened his presentation. The theme was Augmented Humans: humans whose capabilities have been expanded. While technology augments (expands) human functions, he emphasized that what's crucial is accompanying this with creativity that moves the heart. Focusing on human emotion, the company has pursued the fusion of technology and creativity. Examples presented included the "Playable T-Shirt," where designs pop out when you hold your smartphone over it; the "Thinking Wallet," which moves in sync with the owner's financial situation; and the space robot "KIROBO," all of which captivated the audience.

Next, Junichi Koyama, a leading researcher in human augmentation, Professor at the University of Tokyo Graduate School, and Vice President of Sony Computer Science Laboratories, took the stage. Demonstrating headgear with 360-degree vision and the "Hover Ball"—a drone-embedded device that moves autonomously, defying physical laws—he explained the concept of "Jack-In," an immersive fusion between humans and machines, and between humans themselves. He stated that applying this to sports would augment human capabilities, enabling more people to enjoy sports more easily and emotionally.

Third, Japanese national fencing team member Yuki Ota took the stage. Holding his sword, he electrified the audience with his incredible speed and athleticism. His movements were instantly visualized using motion tracking and other technologies. The technology, which accurately captured even the sword's trajectory as it sliced through the air, was overwhelming to behold. The athlete declared, "Technology truly has the power to move people," and Mr. Sasaki concluded, "By expanding human potential, we aim to contribute to solving the world's challenges."

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"Creating prototypes for the future
　— Innovation in Marketing Too"

　Dentsu Inc. Aegis Network

A seminar featuring Nigel Morris, CEO of Dentsu Inc. Aegis Network Americas & EMEA; Andrew Lipman, co-founder and deputy director of the MIT Media Lab; and Gene Lin, global CEO of digital agency Isobar.

Morris began by stating unequivocally, "Innovation is the core of success." He emphasized, "We live in a world where everything is interconnected. Every touchpoint becomes measurable data. This presents a huge opportunity."

Lipman presented his theory that "the speed of societal change aligns with the age at which children first encounter the defining technology of that era." He noted that "children first interact with communication tools like mobile phones and tablets around age 4," suggesting today's society, dominated by computing and communication technologies, "operates on a four-year cycle." He stressed the necessity for corporate activities to adapt accordingly.

Lin introduced examples of the company's campaigns that changed the world. He concluded, "Innovation comes from rigorous processes. Individual adaptation is more important than scale. We will take on the role of the brand's space designer."

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"Conversations with Chairman Bowen and Rob Lowe"

　Dentsu Inc. McGarryBowen

Dentsu Inc. McGarryBowen Chairman Gordon Bowen held a conversation with Hollywood actor Rob Lowe. They discussed careers, life philosophies, and more.

When asked how he maintains his brand as an actor, Lowe responded, "It's essential to make 'off-brand' choices that are challenging yet surprising." Regarding career building, he stated, "Work-life balance is crucial. Both create a virtuous cycle." To live each day with enthusiasm, he offered advice like, "Everyone follows someone's voice. There's always good news every day," and "To reach authenticity, jot down what people say is true."