Rakuten AI Optimism showcases AI-powered ecosystem for everyday experiences
Between what is and what could be, there’s a powerful feeling: Optimism. That feeling took on a fresh identity as Rakuten unveiled Rakuten AI Optimism, the new name for its annual flagship event. The name change is more than cosmetic; it signals how AI has become deeply woven into the Rakuten Ecosystem. Held at Pacifico Yokohama from July 30 to August 1, 2025, the event gathered tens of thousands of business professionals, partners and innovators from across the globe.
Rakuten’s vision for an agentic future
Mickey Mikitani, Chairman and CEO of Rakuten Group, delivered the event’s opening keynote, reflecting on the company’s nearly 30-year journey. From its beginnings in e-commerce with Rakuten Ichiba to expansions into digital banking, travel and mobile services, Rakuten has built a vast ecosystem that connects more than 44 million users monthly across Japan.
During his presentation, Mikitani unveiled Rakuten AI, positioning it as the cornerstone of the company’s new agentic era. He described the launch of Rakuten’s new cutting-edge agentic tool as a transformative shift where AI acts as an intelligent agent, designed to decode user intent, unify fragmented data and take meaningful action across the Rakuten Ecosystem. Boasting deep Japanese context awareness, Rakuten AI combines proprietary Rakuten models as well as models from industry leaders, enabling it to provide more intuitive, personalized experiences.
Mikitani also spoke about Japan’s current pace of AI adoption, noting that while global usage accelerates, domestic engagement remains modest. Rakuten’s vision is to bridge that gap by making AI a natural and helpful part of daily life.
Rakuten AI takes center stage: The full-scale launch
Following Mikitani, Chief AI and Data Officer for Rakuten Group Ting Cai demonstrated how Rakuten AI functions as a unifying intelligence across the diverse Rakuten Ecosystem, enhancing user experiences in shopping, lifestyle, fintech, travel and education. He explained that the service is designed to be predictive and proactive, empowering users to think faster, make better decisions and execute with expert insight.
Rakuten AI is now integrated into the Rakuten Link app for mobile subscribers and accessible via a dedicated web app (beta). The service is free to use, underscoring Rakuten’s commitment to making intelligent technology both accessible and practical.
The Rakuten AI web app offers features including AI chat, deep-search, translation, image generation, coding and voice mode. It also leverages agents to help make personalized recommendations and connect users seamlessly with Rakuten Ecosystem services. Anyone with a Rakuten ID can log in for full access. Cai emphasized that by connecting the entire Rakuten Ecosystem through a common AI interface, Rakuten AI aims to simplify complex tasks and accelerate user decision-making and action.
The BIGGER picture
Building on the foundational vision shared by Mikitani and Cai, Day 1 discussions broadened to explore the wider implications of AI. That same sense of purpose was reflected in a compelling session featuring Professor Jun Murai, often called the father of Japan’s internet, in conversation with Akihito Kurozumi, Rakuten Group’s CIO and CTO. Their discussion touched on national infrastructure, digital sovereignty and the need for Japan to take a leading role in defining the ethical and practical boundaries of AI.
Other sessions explored how AI is being applied in fields like banking, e-commerce and health. From hyper-personalized financial services at Rakuten Bank, to AI-powered cancer research led by Japan’s National Cancer Center, the conversations revealed AI’s growing potential to transform both business and society.
A standout moment came from Careem CEO Mudassir Sheikha, who shared how intelligent platforms are helping simplify daily life across the Middle East. His conversation with Saemin Ahn of Rakuten Capital reminded everyone that the best technology works quietly behind the scenes, helping people without getting in the way.
Designing intelligence with people in mind
On Day 2 of Rakuten AI Optimism, creativity and design held the stage. Kashiwa Sato and Kazufumi Nagai, two of Japan’s celebrated design minds, explored the role of visual clarity and emotional connection in the age of AI. They reminded the audience that as systems become more intelligent, the need for human-centered design becomes even more urgent.
Michael Tamblyn, CEO of Rakuten Kobo, brought a literary lens, exploring how AI is transforming the way we read and discover books. From there, the day moved into commerce and connectivity. Leaders from Rakuten Mobile, including Sharad Sriwastawa and Shunsuke Yazawa, discussed the future of mobile infrastructure, powered by Open RAN and edge computing.
There were also thoughtful conversations on how to scale AI across a nation, with speakers like Shuzo Narita and Yusuke Kobayashi weighing in on the challenges of alignment between data policy and consumer insight. Economist Yusuke Narita closed the day with a timely reflection: Japan’s digital future must be built with urgency, but also with balance.
On leading, learning and staying human
The final day took on a more reflective tone. A session with Google Cloud and Rakuten Symphony explored Japan’s edge cloud opportunity. This was followed by a data-driven view from Kuniaki Matsumura, who mapped the bottlenecks slowing Japan’s digital momentum and how AI could help overcome them.
From there, the program turned to leadership. A special message from soccer legend Andrés Iniesta, paired with reflections from Yoshito Okubo and Mikitani himself, explored what it means to lead with adaptability and clarity, traits that matter as much in boardrooms as on the football field.
The closing panels moved into marketing and education, with speakers like Shinji Okuyama of Google Japan and Governor Shuichi Abe of Nagano touching on what it means to remain human in an increasingly automated world.
Optimism in action
What sets Rakuten AI Optimism apart is not just its view of what lies ahead, but its focus on spotlighting the transformative innovations beind applied across multiple industries and sectors today. It is, at its core, an example of what becomes possible when optimism is backed by purpose and action.
