EXCLUSIVE: Japan, India Sign Memorandum on AI Development

Tokyo, June 29 (Jiji Press)–The Japanese and Indian governments have signed a memorandum of understanding on cooperating in the domestic development of artificial intelligence, Jiji Press learned Monday. The memorandum was signed by the Japanese industry ministry and the Indian Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology on Friday. It is expected to be announced during Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi’s three-day visit to India from Wednesday. From the standpoint of economic security, Japan and India have agreed on the need to develop homegrown AI that does not rely on the United States or China. Under the deal, Japan will provide the Indian side with access to an AI development-dedicated supercomputer managed by the National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and Technology, or AIST. While sending many personnel to U.S. technology giants such as Microsoft Corp. and Google LLC, India lacks infrastructure such as supercomputers and data centers. On the other hand, Japan faces a shortage of personnel in software design and development and hopes to accelerate domestic AI development by receiving personnel from India. The memorandum also calls for holding government-hosted business matching events, supporting Japanese companies in entering the Indian AI market and vice versa, and developing highly skilled talent. END [Copyright The Jiji Press, Ltd.]