RX Japan Ltd. (Headquarters: Chuo-ku, Tokyo; Representative Director and President: Takeshi Tanaka) will hold the "1st AI & Artificial Intelligence EXPO NEO," a new series, for the first time at the Tokyo International Forum for two days from August 5 (Wed) to August 6 (Thu), 2026, marking the 10th anniversary of Japan's largest comprehensive AI exhibition, "AI & Artificial Intelligence EXPO."

This exhibition is born to capture the trend of AI adoption shifting from the individual level to the "implementation and transformation" phase across entire companies, symbolizing the arrival of the "AX (AI Transformation)" era beyond DX.

Its greatest feature is the industry's first concept, designed around the visitor's "AX Phase (AI Adoption Maturity Level)." It provides a platform to discover the optimal products, services, and solutions according to AI adoption maturity, guiding companies' AI utilization to the next stage.

Visitors will select their company's AX (AI Transformation) phase from four levels during pre-registration. On the day of the event, a 4-color code (AX1: Orange / AX2: Green / AX3: Blue / AX4: Red) will be displayed on visitor badges and exhibition booths to clearly visualize AI adoption maturity.

This allows visitors and exhibitors to grasp each other's AI adoption phase and challenges at a glance, enabling more accurate business negotiations and information exchange. It is an industry-first practical exhibition format that optimizes matching based on AI adoption maturity.

Background: The "Four Walls" Facing AI Adoption in Japan

Several years have passed since the advent of generative AI, and AI adoption has rapidly spread among Japanese companies. However, many companies remain at the stage of "utilizing AI tools at an individual level" or "conducting PoCs (Proof of Concepts) at a departmental level," with full-scale business and management transformation yet to be achieved. Meanwhile, overseas, AI agents are taking over tasks and being incorporated into management decisions, evolving towards "AI-driven management."

The difference is not in the performance of AI tools themselves. A major factor hindering the AX (AI Transformation) of Japanese companies is the inability to visualize their "current position" and "next steps"—which stage of AI adoption they are in and what they should achieve next.

In fact, interviews with AI personnel at past "AI & Artificial Intelligence EXPO" events revealed the following challenges depending on AI adoption maturity:

- "I can use it, but it doesn't spread to the team" (Individual Usage Layer) - "We saw results with PoC, but can't go into production" (PoC Implementation Layer) - "Automation has progressed, but final approval returns to humans" (Automation Promotion Layer) - "We are using it, but it hasn't led to competitive advantage" (Implementation Completion Layer)

These are not isolated issues but "walls" that companies face sequentially as they advance AI adoption. Therefore, this exhibition systematizes these four walls as "AX Phases (AI Adoption Maturity Levels)." It is designed as a place where visitors can grasp their current position and take home "next steps" to advance AI adoption by discovering products, services, and solutions corresponding to each phase.

While traditional AI exhibitions are "places to learn broadly about AI," this exhibition proposes new value as "a place to practice AX" by providing optimal encounters based on AI adoption maturity and supporting corporate implementation and transformation.

What is AX Phase? Visualizing AI Adoption Maturity in 4 Stages and 4 Colors

This exhibition classifies corporate AI adoption maturity into four stages called "AX Phases." Visitors declare their company's AX Phase during pre-registration and wear a visitor badge of the corresponding color on the day. The floor of exhibition booths, seminars, and dedicated lounges will also be unified in these four colors, allowing visitors to intuitively find products, services, and solutions suitable for their company's phase.

- Phase 1: Individual Usage - Utilizing AI tools at an individual level to improve work efficiency. - Phase 2: Organizational Usage - Deploying AI utilization at a department/team level (prompt sharing, simple PoC, etc.). - Phase 3: Workflow Delegation - AI collaborates with internal systems to automate parts of business operations. - Phase 4: Autonomous Phase - Multiple AIs collaborate to autonomously execute entire processes and propose improvements.

Media Invitation (Advance Registration Required)

★Apply for media coverage here >> https://www.nextech-week.jp/aineo/ja-jp/attendee-registration/press.html

――― Feel free to consult with us ―――

- We can discuss interview targets and themes in advance upon request. - We may be able to arrange interviews before the event, depending on scheduling. - We will do our best to accommodate interviews during the event, so please feel free to contact us.

Media coverage is possible for the following at this exhibition:

- Coverage of the exhibition design based on the industry's first "AX Phase-centric" concept (matching visitors and exhibitors using color codes). - Coverage of the forefront of AI implementation, including generative AI, AI agents, and multi-agent platforms. - Coverage of seminars by implementing companies (speakers include AI promotion key personnel from various industries such as Mizuho Bank, Shimizu Corporation, and Lion). - Coverage of real-world case studies of companies that have moved beyond "stuck at PoC" (realistic approaches to departmental deployment, production, and company-wide rollout). - Organizer interviews, exhibitor booth interviews, visitor interviews, venue photography, etc.

This exhibition is a place to visualize corporate challenges based on AI adoption maturity using the unique "AX Phase" framework, allowing for a realistic understanding of "where Japanese companies are now, what they are struggling with, and what solutions they are seeking." With a wide range of visitors including management, DX promotion managers, IT department personnel, and business unit leaders, you can cover the current state of AI implementation and interest in the next steps, along with firsthand accounts.

Event Overview

Exhibition Name: 1st AI & Artificial Intelligence EXPO [NEO]

Dates: August 5 (Wed) - August 6 (Thu), 2026, 10:00 - 17:00

Venue: Tokyo International Forum

Organizer: RX Japan Ltd.

Number of Exhibitors: 100 companies (planned)

Admission: Free (advance registration required) *Some seminars require paid attendance (VIPs are free).

Official Website: https://www.nextech-week.jp/aineo/ja-jp.html

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  • Source: PR TIMES
  • Category: Event