Demonstration experiment conducted on co-creation of "voices of the town" by AI characters

Livetoon Inc. (Headquarters: Chuo-ku, Tokyo; Representative Director: Kyosuke Kinoshita; hereinafter referred to as Livetoon), as part of its co-creation with the smart city concept "Minamachi Project" promoted by Obayashi Corporation (Headquarters: Minato-ku, Tokyo; President and CEO: Toshimi Sato; hereinafter referred to as Obayashi Corporation), exhibited a co-creation booth using the AI character "Minami" at the regional event "SST Fes 2026 ~Shall We Make the Future of This Town Interesting Together?~" held at Shinagawa Season Terrace from May 29 to 31, 2026. A demonstration experiment was conducted to elicit "voices of the town" through dialogue with visitors.

This initiative was a new challenge for both companies, but it attracted the interest of many visitors and provided a solid foundation for future full-scale co-creation.

AI character "Minami" having a fun conversation with visitors at SST Fes

Background - The "Minamachi Project" Aims for Resident Participation in Town Development

The "Minamachi Project" promoted by Obayashi Corporation is a smart city concept that aims to utilize the voices of individual residents in town development through technology. On the other hand, resident participation in town development faces common challenges such as "limited participation in surveys and workshops by active individuals" and "difficulty in verbalizing true feelings and latent needs."

This demonstration experiment takes a new approach to these challenges by providing an experience where residents can express their true feelings and life experiences without conscious effort, through natural "conversation" utilizing Livetoon's AI characters.

This demonstration is positioned as the first step in verifying this hypothesis in practice.

Experiment Overview

Event Name

SST Fes 2026 ~Shall We Make the Future of This Town Interesting Together?~

Dates

May 29 (Fri) - May 31 (Sun), 2026

Venue

Shinagawa Season Terrace

Exhibition Content

Co-creation booth through voice interaction with AI character "Minami"

Experience Flow

Voice interaction with visuals at the venue -> QR code distribution -> Continued interaction at home (online version)

Visitors enjoyed an experience where they could naturally talk about their lives and daily experiences while casually conversing with the AI character "Minami." Over 80% of visitors who engaged in conversation at the venue successfully completed the dialogue, exceeding initial expectations and demonstrating that the booth functioned as a "place that makes people stop and talk."

Findings from the Demonstration

Analysis suggests that the "presence" of the AI character lowered visitors' psychological barriers, making it possible to elicit life experiences and true feelings that are difficult to obtain through active surveys.

Furthermore, the fact that some visitors continued to interact with the AI character at home, starting from their encounter at the venue, indicates the potential for continuous connection between residents and the town beyond a one-time event experience.

These findings are valuable results showing that AI characters can serve as new touchpoints in resident-participatory town development, which is the goal of the "Minamachi Project."

Future Outlook

Based on the insights gained from this demonstration, both companies will proactively consider introducing AI characters into Obayashi Corporation's smart city platform "Minamachi DROP." The two companies will continue to explore the possibilities of co-creation to realize the connection of a one-time encounter at a venue to a continuous relationship with the town.

Comments from Stakeholders - Shunichi Funabashi, General Manager, Smart City Promotion Office, Sales Headquarters, Obayashi Corporation

Our smart city business, the "Minamachi Project," promotes "co-creative town development" where "everyone" involved in the area, including residents, companies, and government, takes the initiative to foster a well-being town using technology.

In this demonstration of an interactive AI agent in a public space, we are implementing Livetoon's cutting-edge technologies such as voice recognition, LLM, and natural voice synthesis in the field of town development to listen to the "voices" of residents, grasp continuous resident insights through this data, and utilize them for better town development.

We will continue to promote the creation of new value by combining the agility and innovative ideas of startups with urban assets.

We will further deepen co-creation with various stakeholders to ensure that future towns become "devices that weave the meaning of staying" by being attentive to each person's experience.

Comments from Stakeholders - Kyosuke Kinoshita, Representative Director, Livetoon Inc.

At Livetoon, we have implemented AI not merely as a tool for efficiency, but as an entity that stays close to people's hearts and draws out feelings they themselves may not be aware of.

I believe that people sometimes realize their true feelings only when they talk to someone. Life experiences and true feelings that might be missed in surveys and workshops can gradually be put into words through natural conversation with the AI character "Minami."

This demonstration experiment has given us a solid sense of that.

When AI that is close to people's hearts meets Obayashi Corporation, which has built people's "living spaces" for a long time, towns can become not just spaces, but "understanding listeners" that speak to and listen to their residents.

From a one-time encounter at a venue to a continuing relationship with the town.

Together with Obayashi Corporation, we will weave new stories of people and towns that lie beyond that.

Company Overview

- Company Name: Livetoon Inc.

- Location: 2F, Hatchobori Eight Building, 1-8-11 Minato, Chuo-ku, Tokyo

- Representative: Kyosuke Kinoshita

- Established: March 2024

- Business Activities: Development and provision of AI-related technologies, entertainment services, and content

- URL: https://livetoon.net/

Inquiries Regarding This Matter

Contact: [email protected]