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This blog is part of the AI worldwide tour series, which highlights customers from around the globe who are embracing AI to achieve more. Read about how customers are using responsible AI to drive social impact and business transformation with Global AI innovation.
AI is rapidly accelerating Japan’s transformation—driving innovation, unlocking new opportunities, and helping organizations reimagine what’s possible. Across industries such as manufacturing, financial services, healthcare, and IT, we’re seeing businesses embed AI into their core operations to improve efficiency, enhance service, and stay competitive. At the same time, government agencies at every level are embracing AI to modernize how they serve citizens and meet the needs of a changing society.
One of the most exciting developments is the rise of AI agents—autonomous systems that can reason, respond, and act with minimal human input. These agents have the potential to play a central role in Japan’s future. Interpreter agents, for example, could help overcome long-standing language barriers, enabling Japanese companies to participate more fully and confidently in the global economy.
At Microsoft, we are proud to support this momentum. Through our growing ecosystem of AI tools, cloud platforms, and strong local partnerships, we are committed to helping Japan lead in this new era. That commitment includes one of our largest-ever investments in the country, focused on expanding cloud infrastructure, advancing cybersecurity, developing talent, and deepening research.
These themes came to life at the recent Microsoft AI Tour in Tokyo, where I had the privilege of joining thousands of business leaders and developers to explore the future of AI. The energy and ambition on display made one thing clear: Japan is not just adopting AI—it is shaping the future with it.
Japan Airlines transforms inflight events reporting with AI-powered app
Japan Airlines (JAL), Japan’s flagship carrier, is developing the JAL-AI, an AI-powered app that streamlines how cabin attendants document inflight events. Previously, reporting events like medical emergencies or delays could take up to an hour and were prone to omissions. Now, using Microsoft’s Phi-4 small language model, attendants can enter keywords and select relevant options, and the AI is designed to generate detailed reports—even offline.
The tool has cut reporting time by up to two-thirds, allowing crew to spend more time with passengers and enhance service quality. JAL’s future objective is to facilitate the automatic generation of reports based on transcribed verbal accounts from cabin attendants.
The app is part of a broader generative AI rollout launched in mid-2023. All 36,500 JAL Group employees now can assess AI tools with JAL-AI on Microsoft Azure OpenAI Service platform for tasks like email drafting, document summarization, and translation. JAL sees generative AI as central to transforming operations and customer service, with people and AI working together to improve performance.
Sumitomo Corporation gains productivity and operational efficiency with Microsoft 365 Copilot
Sumitomo Corporation implemented Microsoft 365 Copilot company-wide as part of a strategic push to boost productivity, empower employees, and drive sustainable business growth. The rollout followed Sumitomo’s participation in the Early Access Program (EAP) in September 2023, where executives and tech savvy employees tested Copilot in practical, day-to-day scenarios and reported high satisfaction, especially from those managing heavy information loads.
Copilot has since been deployed to all 8,800 Sumitomo employees and temporary staff, supported by a robust change management strategy including everything from posters and videos to seminars and prompt templates. In addition, the Copilot Champions appointed within each strategic business unit (SBU) act as on-the-ground advisors to build confidence and drive momentum. Likened to such essential infrastructure as phones and PCs, Sumitomo has encouraged employees to adopt generative AI early and take advantage of being ahead of the curve.
By embedding generative AI directly into the Microsoft 365 tools employees already use daily, the company aimed to eliminate time-consuming, repetitive tasks and unlock greater creativity and efficiency across its workforce. These efforts have already delivered measurable impact, with the company reporting annual cost savings of JPY1.2 billion through improved efficiency and productivity, bringing the company closer to their vision of being “No. 1 in Each Field.”
Turing accelerates autonomous driving with Microsoft Azure
Turing Inc. has leveraged Microsoft Azure to accelerate the training, development, and deployment of advanced AI models, with the goal of achieving fully autonomous driving. By harnessing Azure’s scalable computing power and robust infrastructure, Turing has streamlined complex AI workflows, reduce development time, and push the boundaries of safe, self-driving technology.
Tokyo Metropolitan Board of Education equips student with AI hackathon
The Tokyo Metropolitan Board of Education organized a hackathon for public junior and senior high school students, focused on building digital skills through hands-on experience with Microsoft Copilot and Power Platform. Students used the tools to plan and complete their own projects, applying AI and low-code technology in a practical setting.
Every participating team successfully completed their project, resulting in a 100% completion rate. The outcome underscores the effectiveness of integrating generative AI and accessible development platforms into education, enabling students to move from concept to execution with real-world tools.
Aisin expands accessibility with AI-powered speech transcription tool
Aisin Corporation, best known for automotive components, has extended its innovation efforts to develop the YYSystem—an AI-powered application that transcribes speech into text in real time for individuals who are deaf or hard-of-hearing. Built on Microsoft Azure’s AI tools, including generative AI and translation services, the system provides highly accurate transcription, summarization, and translation.
Initially created during COVID-19 to help employees document meetings, the tool proved especially valuable for staff who were deaf or hard-of-hearing. It can recognize and transcribe the unique speech patterns often associated with hearing loss—a breakthrough that has given many users a renewed sense of connection and inclusion.
Encouraged by its impact, Aisin expanded the technology for broader public use, deploying it in government offices and retail settings to promote more inclusive communication.
AI for everyone in Japan
The promise of AI in Japan goes far beyond technology—it’s about creating opportunity for every individual, every business, and every community. Whether in classrooms, public institutions, or corporate offices, AI is already reshaping how we work, learn, and serve. And the momentum is only growing.
At Microsoft Japan, we are deeply committed to making this transformation inclusive and far-reaching. That’s why we are investing not only in infrastructure, but in people. The launch of Microsoft Research Asia–Tokyo in late 2024 marks an important step forward—establishing a hub for advanced research in areas like embodied AI, societal AI, and neuroscience, tailored to the needs and aspirations of Japan.
At the Microsoft AI Tour in Tokyo, we also introduced CyberSmart AI, a new initiative to support small and midsize businesses with AI-powered cybersecurity tools—free of charge for eligible organizations. And through AI Skills Navigators, we’ve set an ambitious goal to help 3 million people in Japan build AI fluency by 2027.
These efforts, together with our USD2.9 billion investment in cloud and AI infrastructure, expanded developer workshops, AI seminars for subject matter experts (SMEs), women-in-tech programs, and a new micro degree in partnership with the United Nations University, reflect our long-term partnership with Japan.
Our vision is clear: to ensure that AI in Japan is not just powerful, but empowering—for everyone.
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