Exploring the Role of Design in Growth During the AI Era

On February 21, 2026, Cognitee Corporation, based in Shinagawa, Tokyo, participated in the Startup Career Fair 2026 held at the Tokyo Innovation Base in Yurakucho. During the event, Cognitee's CEO, Ria Kawano, took part in a startup pitch and a panel discussion addressing the pivotal topic: "The Role of Growth in the Age of AI."

Cognitee leverages knowledge representation AI to visualize organizational challenges through conversation and text analysis. This event not only showcased innovative solutions but also stimulated essential dialogues about the future role of humans amidst advancing automation.

Event Overview: Engaging with the Startup Community

The Startup Career Fair attracted over 100 startups, allowing attendees to engage in meaningful exchanges. Visitors explored various booths, leading to robust Q&A sessions and spontaneous networking. Cognitee's booth was especially popular, attracting a diverse range of visitors interested in flexible work arrangements and the technology behind their services.

Kawano introduced attendees to Cognitee's core technology, "CogStructure", along with services like "COG-EVIDENCE" and "COG-TRACKING". Participants expressed astonishment at how deep analyses can be derived from conversational and textual data. The intuitive nature of their offerings made a strong impression, highlighting the potential of their AI solutions.

Insights from the Panel: Human Roles and AI

During the panel discussion, moderated by Kenji Fujita from Mitsui Sumitomo Insurance Capital, Kawano joined other leaders from Innovatia and Urth, sharing perspectives on three significant themes:

Theme 1: Boundaries of AI Capabilities

The discussion began with a focus on AI's potential to replace tasks. It became clear that while repetitive processes such as inputting, processing, and document creation can easily be automated, the areas requiring final decision-making and creativity remain distinctly human. Kawano emphasized the importance of asking not just what jobs cannot be replaced, but rather what we will design after automating those tasks.

Theme 2: The Role of Humans in Operational Design for Growth

As the panel progressed, the discourse highlighted that successful AI integration isn't merely about adopting new tools, but also depends on the ability to design operational structures that ensure reproducibility, standardization, and trust. The consensus emerged that true growth stems from effectively designing operations, reiterating that human insight is critical in this domain.

Theme 3: Realities of "AI x Human" Integration in Startups

The discussion further tackled the common challenges startups face when implementing AI, including tool proliferation and security concerns. The panelists agreed on the necessity of initiating small-scale tests, ensuring organizational understanding as they broaden AI's application across their operations.

Kawano remarked that while AI offers decision-making assistance, the ultimate choices lie with humans, accentuating the necessity of human responsibility and judgment in the process.

Cognitee's Perspective: The Need for Design in an AI-Driven Future

The overarching message from the event suggested that in an era where AI can replace many tasks, the true enabler of growth is not simply AI adoption but effective operational design. This concept encompasses not only the structuring of work processes but also clarifying decision-making, accountability, and when human input is essential.

Cognitee translates qualitative data from conversations and texts into actionable insights and measurable indicators, providing organizations with analytical tools for setting priorities and implementing improvements. They aim to reformulate the implementation challenges of AI as elements of conversation and decision-making structures, contributing to designing reproducible organizational systems and fostering growth.

Event Recap

- Event Name: Startup Career Fair 2026
- Organizer: Tokyo Metropolitan Government (part of Global Innovation Strategy 2.0)
- Date: February 21, 2026
- Venue: Tokyo Innovation Base (Yurakucho)
- Official Site: Startup Career Fair 2026

Conclusion

The discussions at the Startup Career Fair 2026 illuminated critical insights into navigating AI's growing presence in the workplace. As organizations move towards integrating AI solutions, the importance of thoughtful operational design becomes increasingly clear, highlighting the necessity for human expertise in steering growth in an ever-evolving digital landscape.