Japan has unveiled a revised national artificial intelligence (AI) strategy with the goals of enhancing security, fostering domestic AI innovations, and minimizing dependency on foreign tech providers. This new policy was authorized on July 14, just six months following the initial introduction of the strategy, underscoring the swift progress in AI technology and mounting cybersecurity challenges.
The Japanese government intends to reassess existing laws and frameworks related to AI while bolstering partnerships with international allies to counter emerging security threats. Officials have noted that the evolution of advanced AI models has made cyber threats more complex and easier to carry out, necessitating a more robust approach to AI regulation and security.
A significant aim of this updated strategy is to bolster Japan’s “AI sovereignty” by enhancing the nation’s capability to both develop and manage AI technologies within its borders. The strategy outlines an AI Transformation (AX) initiative, which seeks to embed AI into decision-making processes, industrial sectors, and workforce development. Japan plans to channel resources into vertical AI, targeting areas like healthcare and manufacturing, as well as physical AI, which encompasses robotics and autonomous vehicles.
In the context of its long-term growth strategy, Japan is aiming to draw 23.1 trillion yen in public and private investment for vertical AI and 10.5 trillion yen for physical AI by the fiscal year 2040. This ambitious investment target is designed to ensure that Japan remains at the forefront of AI development and integration, advancing its technological capabilities while safeguarding national security.