Japan aims to enhance its position in the artificial intelligence (AI) sector with the help of Microsoft, which has announced a significant investment of $2.9 billion in the country over the next two years. The move comes as Japan lags behind other countries in AI development and seeks to strengthen its position in the industry.
During his state visit to Washington, Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida emphasized Japan’s determination to excel in AI, and this commitment coincided with Microsoft’s announcement. Last year, Microsoft made a mark in the AI space through its partnership with OpenAI, which helped propel it to become the largest company in the world by market capitalization, surpassing Apple.
Microsoft President Brad Smith highlighted that this investment is the largest the company has made in Japan over its 46-year history. As part of the agreement, Microsoft will provide advanced computing resources, including sophisticated computer chips (GPUs) crucial for training AI models. The company also plans to strengthen its cloud infrastructure in Japan and provide AI training for three million Japanese workers over the next three years.
Furthermore, Microsoft is set to open its first lab in Tokyo, called Microsoft Research Asia, focusing on AI and robotics. The company aims to work towards advancing AI technology in Japan and boosting its capabilities so that it can position itself as a key player in the global AI landscape.
With this significant investment and commitment from Microsoft, Japan can take steps towards becoming a leader in AI development and remain competitive globally.
