Japan encourages AI to ease manpower shortage

According to Japanese media reports, the content of artificial intelligence (AI)-related cross-departmental policies written by the Japanese government into the second supplementary budget for 2016 has been exposed recently. In agriculture, AI technology will be used to pass on the wisdom and technology of senior farmers to cultivate successors. The shipbuilding industry employs automated welding robots. As Japan's society ages, the government is striving to adopt cutting-edge technology on the front lines, which often rely on experienced people, to increase productivity and overcome manpower shortages, Japanese media pointed out. According to reports, the Japanese government’s move is aimed at expanding the scope of AI applications, which are rapidly developing in the financial and communications industries, and promoting Japan’s economic growth. The supplementary budget, prepared to implement the economic stimulus package compiled this month, will be submitted to Japan's interim parliament in the fall. Some policies will be included in the 2017 government budget application for continued support. Agriculture 'dealing' with nature requires many years of accumulated experience to find a sense, so far, most of them have been immersed in the technology by the successors. In the future, AI will analyze such indescribable technical essentials, and build a system that allows agricultural 'non-professionals' to grasp the skills in a short period of time. Regarding the shipbuilding industry, which is highly competitive with Asian companies, we will support technological innovations, mainly welding robots, to increase productivity. In addition, the latest technology will be used in the measurement planning of civil engineering and the development of new drugs. The Japanese government will strive to develop new businesses by improving an environment in which AI-related information accumulated so far by relevant national agencies can be used nationwide. In order to integrate AI technology with Japanese manufacturing, a new 'industry-government-academic' collaboration base will be established, and it will be promoted all the way from research and development to practical application. The core institutions will be assisted by the University of Tokyo to settle in Kashiwa City, Chiba Prefecture. A robotics research base centered on the Institute of Industrial Technology will be set up in the coastal areas of Tokyo. In Tsukuba City, Ibaraki Prefecture, research will be carried out centered on the Substance and Materials Research Institute.