An AI platform that creates new encounters

Issue

SAKURA internet, Inc., driven by the vision of turning "what you want to do" into "what you can do," launched BloomingCamp, a facility for open innovation. Centered around the online and this physical space, the company aims to create environments and opportunities where diverse individuals can connect—sparking encounters that fuel innovation.

However, today’s recommendation systems and algorithms, while convenient, often standardize user preferences and reinforce existing communities. This can lead to phenomena like echo chambers and filter bubbles, where access to diverse perspectives shrinks and social interaction becomes increasingly narrow.

This project was initiated as a pilot experiment to counter that trend—facilitating unexpected encounters and generating new ideas.

Creation

This project began with a focus on serendipity—the unexpected encounters that spark something meaningful—and aimed to reframe its value in a world increasingly shaped by algorithms. Unlike conventional matching services that rely solely on metadata to engineer logical pairings, we asked: What makes an encounter emotionally resonant? To explore this, we turned our attention to a metaphorical concept: “frequency”—a way to express human compatibility.

During our research, we found inspiration in a study by the University of Tsukuba, which introduced a technique to quantify interpersonal compatibility based on the synchronization rate of behavioral rhythms during communication. The research translated behavioral patterns into frequencies and calculated how closely they aligned. This synchronicity became a key to understanding the hidden significance of chance interactions.

At the same time, reflecting the vision of Sakura Internet Inc., we recognized that both the intent behind what someone wants to do and the skills that support what they can do are essential starting points for collaboration. When expressed through language, these intentions and skills can be translated into vectors—a domain where AI excels at analyzing relationships through spatial distances.

To resist the idea of “forced” or pre-programmed connections, our platform avoids recommending so-called “ideal matches.” Instead, it maps individuals on a graph based on distinctive attributes—those with high synchronicity, similar aspirations, or even stark differences. Users can freely choose whom they wish to meet, enabling encounters guided by curiosity rather than prescriptions. To turn these meetings into creative momentum, we use a large language model (LLM) to suggest project ideas that could emerge from each interaction—transforming serendipity into tangible possibility.

To visually represent the diversity of Blooming Camp's community, we designed a rich collection of characters called Buddies. These avatars are generated through varied combinations of shapes, facial expressions, and color schemes, resulting in 1,000 unique designs that celebrate individuality.

We also brought the Buddies experience into physical space by developing an interactive installation. Users can create custom stickers on-site featuring their nickname and Buddy character, which double as informal name tags during events. To add an element of surprise, He also produces plush toys of Buddies that have a 1/1000 chance of matching his characters.By seamlessly blending online and offline experiences, the project fosters new, unexpected opportunities for meaningful connection.

Technology

This project was developed under academic guidance from the University of Tsukuba, implementing their research into a web-based cloud application. Prioritizing security, all AI models run on Sakura Internet’s GPU cloud, using open-source frameworks without relying on external services. These models automatically generate personalized nicknames that reflect each user's unique traits.

We built a system that vectorizes users' “Wants” (what they aspire to do) and “Hows” (what they excel at), calculating distances between them in a vector database. By analyzing the combination of frequency, Want, and How through cognitive neuroscience principles and natural language AI, the system identifies individuals with strong potential for collaboration.

Beyond identifying promising connections, the platform also generates “Serendipity Projects”—concepts for potential co-creation that could emerge when two users meet. This transforms chance encounters into concrete collaborative opportunities.

Future

Buddies is a platform designed to spark collaboration by using human connections as a starting point. Each user is matched with eight potential co-creation partners, and for every pairing, the system generates a unique collaborative project idea based on their relationship.

This structure allows for exponential creative potential—if 10,000 users engage with the platform, it could generate up to 80,000 unique project seeds. Each encounter holds the possibility of growing into a meaningful initiative, with the potential to create real social impact.