Opening — intro by CEO Maiko and hosts Melvin & Minke
Speaker biography
Senior Lead Communications & Planning – WPP Media / Wavemaker | DEI – AMMA – VIA Netherlands. Host on stage.
The following text is generated with artificial intelligence. Accuracy is not guaranteed.
NextM 2026: Smart, Smarter, Smartest & The Future Of Intelligent Innovation
“What matters now is that we continue to build on the knowledge we bring together to make sure we keep getting just a little smarter ourselves.”
— Melvin Wongsodikromo, Minke Kliphuis
Description
NextM 2026 marks a decade of innovation, shifting focus from traditional search to AI-driven "answers" and future-gazing toward 2031. The event explores the "Smart, Smarter, Smartest" intelligence theme across four pillars: Smart Me, Society, Work, and City. Key discussions highlight the evolution of data integration and the adoption of spatial computing—specifically smart glasses—to overlay digital information onto the physical world. Balancing efficiency with quality remains the primary challenge in navigating rapid technological integration and evolving public expectations.
Summary
- The conference celebrates its 10th anniversary, reflecting on past themes like human-tech interaction and portfolio returns to build future insights.
- The core event theme, "Smart, Smarter, Smartest," focuses on how artificial intelligence and integrated data can enhance efficiency and daily life.
- Discussions emphasize shifting from traditional search methods to a model focused on the quality and completeness of AI-generated answers.
- The program is structured around four pillars: Smart Me, Smart Society, Smart Work, and Smart City to address individual, societal, and environmental evolution.
- Future innovation is explored through technologies like smart glasses, which aim to provide real-time digital overlays and data integration within the physical world.
Key points
- Attendees are encouraged to adopt a long-term vision by looking five years ahead toward 2031, rather than focusing solely on immediate technical developments.
- The event highlights a growing trend where users seek direct, comprehensive answers from AI rather than relying on traditional search-based information retrieval.
- There is a conscious focus on the intersection of human behavior and technology, specifically addressing how reliance on AI tools might impact personal learning habits and efficiency.
- A significant portion of the discourse centers on the integration of existing high-tech data sets, suggesting that "intelligence" is the key factor in making vast, siloed data sources actionable for end-users.
- The conference architecture facilitates a collaborative approach to innovation, requiring participants to balance internal company data with external public needs to remain relevant in a shifting technological landscape.
Things to learn
- Practice long-term strategic thinking: Train yourself to look five years ahead to anticipate future trends rather than reacting only to immediate, short-term challenges.
- Prioritize quality of inquiry: Shift your focus from simply searching for data to determining what constitutes a complete, high-quality, and meaningful answer to solve a problem.
- Reflect on past performance for growth: Regularly audit your previous accomplishments and historical projects to understand your trajectory and identify what knowledge is essential to carry forward.
- Balance daily routine with innovation: Proactively disrupt your habitual ways of working by experimenting with new tools and technologies that promise greater efficiency.
- Foster collaborative intelligence: Actively seek ways to integrate isolated data and resources from different platforms to create a more cohesive and actionable experience for others.
Notable quotes
- “We need to think for ourselves about how we are going to use search.”
- “What I am most curious about is not how we are going to search, but rather what kind of answer we want to get.”
- “We must pause and reflect on where we have come from, where we are going, and what information we need to keep in mind.”
- “We all have to keep trying to innovate, even when we tend to fall back on our daily routines.”
- “We should continue to build on the knowledge we bring together to make sure we keep getting just a little smarter ourselves.”
Questions to ask
- How will the transition from "searching" to "receiving answers" fundamentally alter the way we verify the truth and accuracy of the information we consume?
- In what ways will the integration of "smart" technology into our daily environments shift the responsibility of cognitive decision-making from the individual to the systems we interact with?
- Beyond efficiency and automation, what specific human values or creative processes are we prioritizing to ensure they remain at the center of this "smartest" evolution?
- How can we design the next generation of interconnected "smart" platforms to foster deeper collaboration between diverse professional sectors rather than creating more isolated data silos?
- As our physical and digital realities begin to merge through tools like augmented overlays, what new forms of social interaction or shared experiences will emerge that are currently impossible to achieve?
Keywords
Magazine article
NextM 2026: Smart, Smarter, Smartest And The Future Of Intelligent Innovation
A Decade of Reflection on AI and Data Integration
The NextM 2026 conference, held on June 30, 2026, in Eindhoven, Netherlands, marked a significant milestone as it celebrated its tenth anniversary. The event, led by CEO Maiko with hosts Melvin Wongsodikromo and Minke Kliphuis, attracted thought leaders, innovators, and tech enthusiasts all eager to explore the future of intelligent innovation under the theme of "Smart, Smarter, Smartest."
Melvin Wongsodikromo and Minke Kliphuis opened the day by inviting attendees to look toward the horizon of 2031, urging them to imagine a world where AI-driven answers redefine how we engage with technology. They emphasized the importance of pausing to reflect on past achievements to draw insights as we ready ourselves for the dynamic changes ahead.
Exploring the Evolution of Intelligence
The conference's central theme—evolving from traditional search methods to AI-generated responses—was articulated through engaging discussions focusing on four pillars: Smart Me, Smart Society, Smart Work, and Smart City. Each segment prompted attendees to think critically about individual and collective evolution in the context of technological advancements.
Wongsodikromo posed a compelling question: "What kind of answer do we want to get?" This challenge encapsulated the urgency for a shift in mindset towards quality and completeness of information, rather than mere retrieval through conventional search avenues. His insights highlighted not only the role of AI but also the necessity for users to navigate their intellectual landscapes thoughtfully.
The Role of Spatial Computing
A notable aspect of the conference was the exploration of spatial computing technologies, particularly the future integration of smart glasses. These tools promise to overlay digital information onto our physical environments, creating opportunities for enhanced real-time data accessibility. Minke Kliphuis remarked on the potential impact of these innovations on everyday life, igniting discussions on how they could significantly transform our interactions with both information and our surroundings.
Throughout the day, attendees engaged in rich dialogue around balancing technological efficiency with quality output, underscoring the need for innovative approaches that do not sacrifice thoroughness for speed.
Collaboration and Innovation Moving Forward
As the discussions unfolded, the emphasis on collective intelligence grew stronger. Wongsodikromo remarked, "We all have to keep trying to innovate, even when we tend to fall back on our daily routines." This call to action resonated with participants, encouraging them to embrace disruption and exploration of new pathways for innovation.
The event also served as a reminder that the journey toward intelligent evolution is collaborative. By sharing and integrating data from diverse platforms, organizations can position themselves effectively in an ever-changing technological landscape.
Conclusion: Anticipating the Next Innovations
NextM 2026 successfully encapsulated a decade of progress and set the stage for future innovations. By fostering an atmosphere of inquiry and reflection, the event empowered its participants to think beyond immediate challenges, championing a long-term vision that looks toward a smarter future.
As the conference drew to a close, speakers and attendees alike were reminded of the importance of maintaining a curious mindset and the relentless pursuit of knowledge—a mantra that will guide them as they navigate the next five years toward 2031.
“WHAT I AM MOST CURIOUS ABOUT IS NOT HOW WE ARE GOING TO SEARCH, BUT RATHER WHAT KIND OF ANSWER WE WANT TO GET.”
MELVIN WONGSODIKROMO
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