Facing severe labor shortages, an aging population, and long-standing productivity issues, Japanese companies should have become a fertile ground for the application of artificial intelligence (AI). However, compared to other countries, the adoption of AI in many Japanese workplaces remains slow.
Japan's approach to AI is like the "slow-paced play" tradition of Japanese traditional kabuki theater - as described in a BBC article on August 13th. Kabuki, a form of traditional Japanese classical opera and dance, was cited by the BBC as an analogy for Japan's slow response to AI development. On stage, all characters wearing masks agree to take action urgently and say it together solemnly, but physically, the actors remain still.
According to a report by the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) at the end of last year, Japan is lagging behind, with only 8.4% of Japanese workers using AI in their work.
In comparison, in the statistics of other countries, the figure for the United States is set at 50%, while Singapore is said to have 56% of workers who use AI “more than once a week”.
So, why is Japan so slow? Austin Xu, co-founder of the American startup AI company Kuse AI, said that this is because Japanese companies are conservative and risk-averse. His company recently opened an office in Japan to sell its AI systems to Japanese businesses.
He said, “In some organizations, processes and a culture of consensus do slow down things. These organizations have almost zero tolerance for AI errors, especially in any matters involving customers. Some people would rather have positions vacant than let machines handle these tasks.”
He further added that Japanese companies need more evidence before they can trust AI enough to use it.
Kyoto University of Advanced Science International Management Professor Parisa Hajiian also believes that many Japanese companies tend to avoid risks and are reluctant to confront AI.
She said: “The challenges faced when using AI are the same as those encountered when implementing any changes in Japanese companies. This is why the use of AI in Japan is very limited and cautious, especially in the workplace.”
It is said that the Japanese healthcare industry is particularly slow in applying AI, and some hospitals have not even fully digitized their medical records. In response, an anonymous employee from a Japanese hospital complained: “Paper documents are piling up in huge amounts... it’s like living in the Stone Age!”
The Japanese government seems to have realized that the adoption rate of AI is generally low, and is trying to encourage more companies to use this technology. Last year, the Japanese parliament passed the AI Promotion Law. This law aims to encourage companies to invest more in AI through lax regulations. Tokyo has stated that Japan will become 'the best country in the world for developing and applying AI'.
The Japanese Ministry of Finance states that the proportion of companies using AI has increased significantly. Currently, 75% of companies are utilizing this technology, compared to only 11% five years ago.
However, critics believe that among these companies, only a very small portion of employees actually use AI, and the scope of use by those users is also very limited.
Professor Xiao-gāo-yán from Meiji University states that the number of skilled professionals in the workforce is insufficient. He said: "Although Japanese people enjoy fiddling with smartphones and other trivial gadgets, their technical proficiency remains relatively low."
A report earlier this year stated that by 2030, Japan will face a shortage of nearly 800,000 IT professionals. In addition, many companies are struggling due to outdated computer systems, with approximately 60% of the systems being over 20 years old.
Xiao'gasawan said, “Japan’s transformation is limited. Japanese society expects painless reform, therefore, radical reform is difficult.”
In conclusion, the BBC expressed concerns about the prospects of AI in Japan. The media wrote: "Subverting" may be an unpopular term in Japan, but without it, the required productivity improvement in Japan might still remain unattainable.
