Inside Tokyo: Olaf Witkowski's Take on Human-Centered AI

Some conversations are too powerful to end when the tour does.

‍
After returning from the VOKA West-Vlaanderen Innovation Tour in Japan, one visit kept surfacing in our reflections: Cross Labs. More specifically — Olaf Witkowski.

‍

Tucked away in Tokyo, Cross Labs is a place where AI isn’t just engineered, it’s understood. And Olaf, the founder, isn’t your typical researcher. He moves between disciplines — psychology, computation, ethics — with a calm intensity that makes you want to listen longer.

‍

So we did.

‍

Weeks after the tour, we reached out again. We asked Olaf if he’d be willing to go deeper. To share not just what Cross Labs does, but how he thinks. Why he chose Japan. And what he believes the future of Human-Centered AI could look like — if we do it right.

‍

This is that conversation. A lookback. A deep dive. A reminder that some insights deserve more than a moment.

‍

‍

3 Things Olaf Helped Us See Differently About AI, Culture, and Leadership

🔹 In Japan, thinking time is sacred — and it shows

Olaf chose Tokyo for a reason. Japan embraces slowness, nuance, and the idea that not all answers need to come fast. That mindset has shaped how Cross Labs operates: with depth, patience, and a respect for the unknown. It’s a reminder that progress doesn’t always mean speed.

‍

‍

🔹 Innovation needs more than engineers — it needs artists, philosophers, and scientists too

‍Cross Labs brings together people from very different disciplines. Neuroscientists. Programmers. Designers. Philosophers. This mix is intentional — because if we want to build tech that truly understands humans, we need more than just code. We need curiosity, empathy, and reflection.

‍

🔹 Technology is never neutral — it’s shaped by where it comes from

Olaf pointed out something many overlook: every piece of technology carries cultural assumptions. What works in one context might fall flat in another. If we want meaningful innovation, we need to ask: who built this, for whom, and why?

✉️ ️ Let’s keep the conversation going

Talking with Olaf reminded us how valuable it is to step outside your usual bubble — to sit with ideas that shift your perspective, even just a little.

‍

That’s what we try to create with our tailor-made programs: space to slow down, meet people who think differently, and come back with fresh ways to move forward.

‍

If that sounds like something your team could use, we’d love to explore it with you.

‍

👉 Reach out and we’ll figure out what that could look like, together.