“null 2” at the Osaka-Kansai Expo, where approximately 200,000 people created digital copies of themselves
The WebX Executive Committee held “WebX 2026,” a global conference on cryptocurrency and blockchain, on July 13–14. On the morning of the second day of the event, a panel discussion titled “null2, Reborn. Toward EXPO 2027: Yoichi Ochiai Discusses the Future Society Unlocked by AI and Web3.”
Mr. Ochiai not only creates media art works using cutting-edge technologies such as blockchain and AI, but also serves as a researcher—including as a professor at the University of Tsukuba and an associate professor at the University of Tokyo—and as the founder of Pixie Dust Technologies.
null2 looked as if it were made up of multiple cubes combined, and its surface was composed of a mirror-like membrane. That mirror-like surface was constantly moving due to speakers and actuators, vibrating while reflecting the surrounding scenery. It also occasionally emitted a distinctive roar, making it seem as if the building were alive.
The interior features an even more intriguing design, consisting of an “LED room”—where the floor, walls, and ceiling are made of LED panels and mirrors—and a corridor separated from it by a one-way mirror. Inside the LED room are a rotating monolith and a mirror cube moved by a robotic arm, creating an experience that feels tangible despite being digital.
Although null2 has three modes, its main mode—”Dialog Mode”—was designed based on Mr. Ochiai’s philosophy that, in a future where advancements in AI render humans no longer “Homo sapiens”—meaning “wise beings”—”humans will abandon symbols and return to the world known as ‘Null.'”
While it may sound quite difficult to explain in words, the overwhelming torrent of visuals that visitors can experience at “null2” is precisely what Mr. Ochiai excels at, and countless visitors found themselves captivated by its charm. From the opening to the closing of the Osaka-Kansai Expo, it was the most sought-after pavilion—one where reservations were virtually impossible to secure—and there were likely many people who could only look on from the outside without ever getting in.
On that day, Mr. Miyagi Norikazu of Sustainable Pavilion 2025/Macnica joined Mr. Ochiai on stage, and together they looked back on null2.
null2 featured a structure that was rare even on a global scale, in which the building itself moved. The exterior walls were made of a flexible, mirror-like material, and stepping inside the building gave visitors the sensation of being swallowed up by a giant living creature. At the center of the building was a massive LED room. With walls entirely composed of LEDs and mirrors, and combined with images projected onto them, the space created the sensation that the projected images were actual physical objects present right there in the room.
Reflecting on this project, Mr. Ochiai said, “We aimed to create a sense that, even though it is a video, it feels as if it were physically present there.”
At null2, visitors were also able to create their own digital copies (3D avatars). During the Osaka-Kansai Expo, approximately 200,000 people reportedly created their own digital copies.
With its unique architecture, immersive visual experience, and a “digital copy” initiative that engaged many visitors, null2 became a highly popular pavilion at the Osaka-Kansai World Expo. However, after the Expo closed, the building was demolished, and the site has since been cleared.
© Source travel watch