Technology and Happiness: Can Hi-Tech Improve Society’s Well-Being? (G1 Global 2019)

G1 Global Conference @GLOBIS Tokyo, Sept. 16, 2019.
Since the beginning of human history, technology has had the power to improve people’s lives. Oftentimes, however, it is also used for destruction, from the invention of weaponry to the development of hazardous chemical compounds. Today, new technologies such as AI, IoT, big data, and machine learning are opening a new world of possibilities for human development. How can they be used for good and make us happier, personally and professionally? Is happiness what we as a society really want and need? What does happiness mean exactly? Can it be defined universally? Is it lasting? This panel will discuss the potential of new technologies and what we seek from them as a society.

Kazuto Ataka (Professor, SFC, Keio University, Chief Strategy Officer, Yahoo! JAPAN)
Sheena Iyengar (S.T. Lee Professor of Business, Columbia Business School)
Yuka Shimada (HR & GA Director, Unilever Japan Holdings K.K.)
Moderator: Kazuo Yano (Fellow, Corporate Officer, Hitachi, Ltd.)