Takaichi Aims at Holding AI Summit in Japan

Tokyo, Dec. 19 (Jiji Press)–Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi on Friday instructed relevant government agencies to work to hold a summit on artificial intelligence in Japan as early as possible. The envisaged summit would bring together government officials and researchers from countries around the world to discuss issues such as risks related AI. “AI will dictate our national power,” Takaichi told a meeting of the government’s AI strategy headquarters, chaired by the prime minister. She said it was time for the government to join hands with the private sector and “launch a counteroffensive” in the field of AI. The government will invest over 1 trillion yen in AI-related measures and make Gennai, a generative AI tool developed by Japan’s Digital Agency, available to more than 100,000 Japanese government officials starting in May next year, Takaichi also said. At the meeting, the headquarters drew up the country’s first basic plan to set the course for its AI policy. The basic plan says Japan will give weight to both innovation and responses to risks to become the world’s leading country for developing and utilizing AI. The government is expected to give cabinet approval to the basic plan Tuesday. END [Copyright The Jiji Press, Ltd.]