U.S. all-solid-state battery company Factorial Energy is partnering with Japan’s Mitsui Mining & Smelting to broaden commercialisation of sulfide-based all-solid-state batteries. The companies will combine Factorial’s Solstice platform with Mitsui’s sulfide solid electrolyte technology and push mass production. Factorial said it aims to strengthen materials supply for Solstice and lay the groundwork for global scale-up. It has also expanded orders and partnerships with automakers and other industries.

Demand is emerging among middle-aged and older people in Japan to learn AI. AI is being used not only for work purposes but also to try new hobbies such as writing novels, and as a way to interact with others at workshops. In Tokyo’s Shinjuku, a learning support program run by ScaleAI says about 90 percent of its users are aged 50 or older.